No matter the occasion – Halloween, birthday party or just casual dress up fun – DIY capes make great accessories that can last for years! Not only is making one simple but they look fantastic as well!
Start by cutting out a square of fabric. Measure from one corner down using a tape measure until a half circle has been created, using your tape measure as needed.
Let’s dive into how to make a cape!
Fabric Selection
Cotton, polyester, silk satin and wool fabrics can all be used to craft capes. Which fabric you select depends on its purpose for wear – for instance if the cape will be part of a costume it should be durable enough to withstand wear and tear.
For formal events, it is advisable to choose an expensive material such as wool, fleece or flannel for your cape.
Silk, satin and velvet fabrics make great choices for creating capes as these soft materials feel wonderful against your skin.
To determine the right fabric type to make a cape, it’s advisable to visit your local fabric store and view their available offerings in person. This way you’ll get an accurate impression of their appearance and how well they match with one another.
Once you know which fabric type you intend on using for your cape project, the next step should be preparing its materials. Prewashing fabrics to prevent future shrinkage that might make your cape too large or small may also help.
Cutting fabric for your cape is the next step in its construction, which can be accomplished easily using sharp scissors or a rotary cutter.
Mark your fabric using tailor’s chalk or another temporary marking tool so you have a straight cut on both sides. Once this cut has been marked, use scissors or a rotary cutter to cut along its drawn lines.
Once your fabric has been cut to size, the next step should be sewing your cape together. When finished, hemming its edges is highly recommended to prevent unraveling on hands or shoulders.
Finally, attach the neck strap. Attaching this will make it easier for your child to take on and off their cape with no difficulty; plus it helps encase their neckline so it does not droop when wearing their cape.
How to Make a Cape Pattern
Capes make for an easy addition to any costume or outfit and come in various fabrics that allow for the desired length and style. They make for the perfect finishing touch in both formal and casual settings!
Consider what look and fabric will best complement your costume when choosing fabric for your costume project. For instance, when creating a superhero cape you’ll require durable materials that can withstand repeated use over time.
If you are creating a costume for more formal events, silk and fleece fabrics make excellent options.
Once you’ve chosen your fabric, cut it into two pieces (one outer and one lining). Additionally, it helps to have a pattern either printed out or drawn by hand for easy reference.
Prior to cutting out your pattern, be sure to mark the desired length. While this may depend on your costume and personal preference, a good way to measure is usually from shoulder down.
Right sides together, place both pieces right sides together with right sides together and sew up the back of the cape from bottom edge to top edge leaving an opening of 5-10 inches to turn it right side out later.
Fold one of the long edges over by 1/2 an inch and press flat; repeat on the other side.
Follow that up by topstitching 1/8-inch from the inside fold to give your hem some structure and prevent its lining from coming loose.
Use decorative ribbon to complete the front of your cape. Zigzagging it may add structure and help prevent its lining from coming loose.
Add more detail to your cape without adding extra fabric – just be sure to keep your zigzags to a minimum to prevent fraying!
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Sewing Cape
Sewing is a craft which uses needle and thread to attach or fasten objects together. Sewing is one of the oldest textile arts and is widely utilized across a range of crafts such as shoemaking, upholstery, sailmaking, bookbinding and creating sporting goods.
Sewing is an ancient fabric-related artform, and remains a favorite pastime among both adults and children since its introduction. Sewing has traditionally been associated with clothing production but can also be utilized in numerous other industries or for special purposes – including military and law enforcement agencies.
Contrary to other textile arts, weaving does not require any particular level of skill and is thus suitable for beginners. Furthermore, completion can often take only a short amount of time.
First, select a fabric that you can easily work with and that has good drape. This type of material will ensure that the finished cape will be soft and comfortable to wear.
Cut two cape pieces – one for the exterior and another for the lining. Pining both pieces together with right sides together, sew across their seam allowances to complete assembly of your hood exterior and lining pieces.
Once the hood is complete, stitch the front and back pieces of the cape together using either hand sewing or machine stitching – either way will work equally well in preventing unraveling. I recommend doing it by hand as this ensures no unraveling takes place during production.
Before beginning sewing, make sure your sewing machine is set at an appropriate stitch length – for me this was 6.
Grab two gathering stitches on your bobbin, pull them along the top edge of your cape piece, and cinch tight until they gather evenly with the base width of your hood.
Sewing can sometimes present challenges, like accidentally sewing through the wrong part of fabric. Although these errors are part of the process, they can easily be resolved with minor alterations that alter size or shape of cape or even include adding a lining.
Finishing Cape
Capes are large pieces of land which extend into the sea from shoreline. Capes have become iconic pieces in many beloved heroes’ wardrobes such as King Arthur and Sir Lancelot; not only can they protect from harsh elements but can also serve to dress up and enhance appearances.
To create the ideal cape, you will require both an eye-catching pattern and suitable fabric. Select wooly fabric that is lightweight yet sturdy – for optimal results it should weigh equally on both sides of your garment.
Your cape will also require bias tape for added stability. Bias tape can create a neat hem and arm slit. Use one length of bias tape per strip when binding these areas or use two different lengths on separate pieces.
This cape features an intricate yet simple slit detail that’s more complicated than its hem; however, sewing it still doesn’t present too many obstacles! Simply fold over the bottom edge of the hem, creating a fold over. Sergers can even help!
Topstitching the slit using a regular sewing machine is also straightforward, using thread to match your fabric and an allowance of one eighth of an inch (0.32 centimeter).
Nicki shows us how to achieve an intricate hood using simple yet clever construction methods. Starting with a hem, she then shows how to affix the hood, providing some helpful hints along the way before finally finishing with an impressive topstitching job!
