How to Make a Fashion Cape

When you hear the word “cape,” you might think of a costume or a superhero. But a fashionable cape is a dynamic and versatile piece of clothing that you can throw on over any outfit to make it more elegant. Instead of spending a ton of money buying one from the store, you can make your own fashion cape in a single afternoon and customize it however you’d like.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Measuring and Cutting the Base

1. Measure your arm length and from your shoulder to your knee. Extend your arms straight out at your sides and measure from your fingertip to fingertip to get the width of your cape with a soft tape measure. Then, stand up straight and measure from your shoulder to your knee, or wherever you’d like the cape to hit. If you’re in between measurements, round up slightly to give yourself more room.^[1]
   
   
   
   • You can measure in inches or centimeters, whichever you prefer.
2. Cut a rectangle of fabric using your measurements. For most people, the fabric will be about on all 4 sides. Use your exact width and length measurements to get an even square or a rectangle for your cape.^[2]
   
   
   • You can use any type of fabric that you’d like, but one that is double-sided and resistant to fraying is the best.
   • Reusing old blankets can give you a warm flannel cape, while using silk or lace will give you an elegant, fashionable cape.
3. Fold the fabric once lengthwise and once widthwise. This creates a smaller rectangle so that it’s easier to work with. Make sure it’s even when you fold it so that it will hang evenly when you wear it.^[3]
   
   
4. Measure a mark from the folded corner to the center. Find 1 of the folded corners in the fabric that has all 4 layers of fabric connected. With a ruler, measure away from the corner extending out to the center.^[4]
   
   
   • If you think won’t be large enough for your neck or you’d like to make your neck hole wider, you can add onto your measurement.
5. Make 4 to 5 markings along the mark. Keeping your ruler in place, move it from side to side and mark where is on either side of your original mark. This creates a curved line of dots on your fabric.^[5]
   
   
6. Cut across your measurements with sharp scissors. Keep your fabric folded and use sharp scissors to snip along the curved line you measured. Make sure your line is curved, not straight, so that the fabric comes out in a circle.^[6]
   
   
   • Try on your cape now to see if the neck is wide enough. If it isn’t, lay your cape out flat again and make any adjustments you need to.
7. Round out the bottom of your fabric. Keep the fabric folded with the neck hole pointed upwards. Use a fabric pencil to draw a curve or semicircle from the neck hole to the bottom left corner. Cut along this line to round out the bottom of the cape.^[7]
   
   
   • This cut creates the circular, swooping shape that most fashion capes have.
8. Slice down the center of the cape if you want it to open in the front. Lay your cape out on the floor so it’s flat, then mark a straight line from the neck downwards. Use sharp scissors to cut the top layer of fabric only to make an opening for your cape.^[8]
   
   
   • You don’t have to cut an opening in your cape if you don’t want to. An opening allows you to attach zippers or snaps to the front, but it also means you may have to hem it to keep it from fraying.

[Edit]Attaching a Hood

1. Trace a hood pattern that’s about long onto spare fabric. You can find free hood patterns online that you can trace and use as a guide. Place that on your excess fabric and either keep it in place with pins or mark it with a pencil.^[9]
   
   
   • Adding a hood is completely optional, but it can elevate your cape into a fancier, more expensive-looking garment.
2. Fold your fabric so it’s in 2 layers, then cut out the hood. You’ll need 2 pieces of fabric for your hood, so make sure your fabric is doubled up. Then, cut out your identical hood pieces, leaving a seam allowance on all sides.^[10]
   
   
   • A seam allowance gives you some room in case you need it while sewing. It’s always better to cut your pattern a little too big rather than a little too small.
3. Sew the 2 pieces of the hood together using a straight stitch. Keeping the pieces of fabric on top of each other, sew them together with a straight stitch using a sewing machine or by hand. This will give the hood a nice hem to ensure that it doesn't fray.^[11]
   
   
   • If you’re sewing by hand, you can do a straight stitch by pushing your needle in through both layers of fabric, then pulling it back up through the layers about away from your first stitch. Keep going until you’ve reached the end of the hood.
4. Pin the hood to the back of your cape. Spread your cape out on the floor so that it lies flat, then situate the bottom of the hood on the back of the cape. Pin it in place with sewing pins so that it says in place while you sew it on.^[12]
   
   
   • You can choose which direction you want the front or back of your hood to be. Take into account any patterns or seams that your fabric has so that it sits correctly on your body.
5. Sew the bottom of the hood in place using a straight stitch. Keep the pins on the hood as you sew so it doesn’t move around. Use a sewing machine or a needle and thread to sew the hood on with a straight stitch.^[13]
   
   

[Edit]Adding the Finishing Touches

1. Pin bias tape to the raw edges of your fabric. Bias tape is an easy way to hem edges and hide any uneven cutting. Grab a roll of bias tape and place it around the bottom and edges of the fabric of your cape. Place sewing pins every of the tape to keep it in place.^[14]
   
   
   • You can find bias tape at most sewing supply stores.
2. Sew the edge of the bias tape to your cape. Using a straight stitch again, attach the bias tape to the edges of your cape. Keep the tape as straight as possible as you sew so the tape doesn’t bunch up. You can sew by hand or with a machine to keep your tape in place and give your cape a finished look.^[15]
   
   
3. Add snaps, buttons, or a zipper to your cape for a finished look. If you cut an opening in the front of your cape, you can make it more versatile by adding closures to the front of it. Spread your cape out and statue the opening so the 2 pieces touch each other. Either sew buttons in a row, sew a zipper onto each side of the opening, or sew snaps up and down the cape to keep it closed when you want it to be.^[16]
   
   
   
   • Sew-on snaps are by far the easiest option to choose, and they can easily be sewn on by hand.

[Edit]Tips

• Once you have the basic body of your cape cut out, you can personalize it however you’d like.

[Edit]Things You’ll Need

• Fabric
• Scissors
• Measuring tape
• Pencil
• Ruler
• Sewing needle and thread or sewing machine
• Bias tape (optional)
• Snaps, zipper, or buttons (optional)

[Edit]References

1. ↑ https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/winter-fashion-cape
2. ↑ https://sewguide.com/cape-diy-patterns/
3. ↑ https://sewguide.com/cape-diy-patterns/
4. ↑ https://sewguide.com/cape-diy-patterns/
5. ↑ https://sewguide.com/cape-diy-patterns/
6. ↑ https://sewguide.com/cape-diy-patterns/
7. ↑ https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/winter-fashion-cape
8. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8leuvGX2GeU&feature=youtu.be&t=233
9. ↑ https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/winter-fashion-cape
10. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TX1RIXFli7A&feature=youtu.be&t=24
11. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TX1RIXFli7A&feature=youtu.be&t=77
12. ↑ https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/winter-fashion-cape
13. ↑ https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/winter-fashion-cape
14. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwpkYrs2FYE&feature=youtu.be&t=97
15. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwpkYrs2FYE&feature=youtu.be&t=97
16. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwpkYrs2FYE&feature=youtu.be&t=1261