Cape Tutorial

I knew that I wanted to make a cape for my nephew's Christmas present.  All of my nephews love football, but this particular nephew is obsessed with football.  He loves the Packers and Aaron Rodgers!  So I knew that the cape would have to be Packer themed!  I got this wonderful tutorial from The Pleated Poppy.

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Materials:
2- 3/4 Yards of Fabric (matching or two different)

1/4 Yard Fabric (For Oval behind the G)

Felt

Pattern for Appliqué

Fusible Webbing

Basic Sewing Materials

Directions:

Start by laying each of the 3/4 yards of fabric on top of each other with their folds lining up. The  folds will be the center of the cape.

 Next, take the the selvage edge of the top fabric and pull it towards the fold so that there’s about 4 inches at the top.  Flatten the crease a bit so that it creates a line in the fabric.

 Cut along that crease, and then cut the bottom fabric using the top fabric as a guide. (save these scraps for the ties)

 Now, draw an arched line from about 2.5 inches down from the top of the folded edge to the corner of the piece that you have just cut.  I used a circular Tupperware lid to trace.

 This will be the neckline of the cape.  

 Next, draw another arched line along the bottom of your cape, it's hard to see the line I drew, so I added arrows.

 Cut along your line to create the bottom of your cape.

 Next, grab the triangles from the first pieces you cut.  Here's where you have a little bit of an option.  you can eaither cut two sets of straight pieces (yellow and green) for ties, or you can cut two curved pieces that you can put velcro on.  I chose to do the curved lines to be a little more safe because my nephew is only 2 1/2.  

 Cut through all four layers so that you only have to cut once!

 Then you should have two ties/velcro straps to strap the cape on.

Sew around the edges using a 1/4 inch seam allowance, and leaving one short side open.

 The right side of this strap is left open, so that I can flip it inside out.  After you have flipped the strap, iron it so that it lays flat.

 Next, grab your stencil, contrasting color (yellow in my case), felt, and fusible webbing.  Measure your  fusible webbing and fabric to the size of your stencil.  

 Iron your fusible webbing to the fabric and then cut out.

 Next iron your cut out onto the right side of the cape.

 Again, measure your next layer and iron the fusible webbing to the felt.

Once the felt and webbing are ironed, trace your next stencil and cut out.

Then, iron your piece on top of the other part.

  Because you or the person you are gifting the cape to might want to wash this, it is best to reinforce your embellishment by sewing it.  I used a 1/4 inch seam allowance along the edge.

 I because I forgot to get some gold thread, I decided to use a green zig-zag stitch along the green and gold edges.

  Once your embellishment is secure, lay your first piece (with the embellishment) right side up.  Then place your two strips contrasting color up with the open seams on the outside.  After I finished, I decided that I think I would like the straps to come from the top of the cape, hence the arrows.

Now place the next layer on top of the other.  If you are using a patterned fabric here, make sure to put the pattern down, as you will be flipping the cape right-side out after sewing.

 While pinning, leave a spot open on the top neck part of the cape.  This is where you will pull the cape inside out.

 Sew using a 1/4 inch seam allowance all along the edges. Make sure to reinforce the area where the straps are by using your backstitch.  Once finished sewing, cut off the corners so that they look better when flipped.

 Flip the cape inside out, fold your hole in and pin.  Sew as close to the edge as you can.

 Here's the finished product!  I somehow lost the photos of putting the velcro on.  Just pin the velcro in the places where you want it, and sew using a 1/4 in. seam allowance around the edges.  I did it at the end, so that I could see where it laid.

Whew, that was a lot of explaining!  Let me know if you misunderstood something or need a little more clarification.  Hopefully the pictures help!  Thanks for visiting!

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