Kids' Halloween Capes - 101

A cape is the most versatile Halloween costume piece imaginable. Depending on your fabric and color choice they can be used for super heroes, super villains, vampires, princesses/ queens/ kings, knights, Robin Hood, fairy tale heroes and heroines, etc…..

Kids Halloween costume making should be quick and easy, and very customizable. 

I came up with these two simple patterns (one for little kids, and one for big). The most important feature of these is the stand-up collar. It’s much more dramatic (and not any more work) than the ones I’ve seen in Martha Stewart which are collar-less.

What you’ll need:

 
Two contrasting fabrics for the inside and the outside. (These capes are completely reversible.)

My guys chose a super shiny wet-look for one side (one chose gold and the other red) with a black satin on the other. 

 (1 yard each for the small cape, 1 ½ yards for the long one)

 
1 yard decorative cord or ribbon for the tie
½ yard interfacing (I used black)

1/4 yard 1 inch wide elastic (optional)

 
Note: Sewing shiny fabric to shiny fabric requires LOTS of pins – get more if you don’t have a ton.

Cape #1:

 
Measure the width of your fabric folded (it’s probably about 30 inches).

 
Measure this length along the fold and place a pin on the fold. Cut a semi circle as per sketch (see below).

If you are very bad at free handing, you can tie a thread (30 inches long) to a pencil, hold the thread end at the top of the fold with one hand and sketch a semi circle with the pencil onto the fabric. Do this with both fabrics. 

Cut out the collar pieces – 11 inches long by 3.5 inches high (from both fabrics). Cut a piece of interfacing  11 inches long by 8 inches high and fold (the fold gives the collar extra oomph).

Find the center of the collar pieces, and the center of the cape pieces, and sew the collar pieces to their matching cape pieces (right sides – or shiny sides – together). 

 

Pin both sets of shiny sides together, and pin interfacing ½ inch below top edge of collar (you won’t be stitching the top fold). Stitch all around cape and collar edge using ½ inch seam allowance (leaving 6 inches unsewn at bottom cape edge).

 

  

Flip the cape right side out. Use your scissor points to get the collar tips good and pointy.
Topstitch the open bit of hem closed. Pin decorative cord over one side of the collar seam and topstitch down (leaving enough on either side for tying).

 

 

Cape #1 used for this Dr. Jekyll Cape (he has a vest on in photo 2):

Cape #2:

 
Measure the length you want the cape to be and cut (we did 42 inches long). Do this with both fabrics.

Cut out the collar pieces – 11 inches long by 3.5 inches high (from both fabrics). Cut a piece of interfacing 11 inches long by 8 inches high and fold.

Find the center of the collar pieces, and the center of the cape pieces, and sew the collar pieces to their matching cape pieces (right sides – or shiny sides – together).   

 

Pin both sets of shiny sides together, and pin interfacing ½ inch below top edge of collar (you won’t be stitching the top fold). 

 
Note: Alternative tie method - pin two pieces of decorative cord (long enough to tie in front) with 1 inch sticking out, away from the collar, and the long ends going into the body of the cape (you’ll have to be careful to only sew the ends into the collar, and not accidentally sew the cords into the seam anywhere else – pin it to the center of the cape if you have to).

 
Stitch all around cape and collar edge using ½ inch seam allowance (leaving 6 inches unsewn at bottom cape edge).

 

Flip the cape right side out. Use your scissor points to get the collar tips good and pointy.
Topstitch the open bit of hem closed. Topstitch the collar seam.

 

Measure wrists and cut elastic this measurement. Sew ends together to make two cuffs. Tack or sew these cuffs into the corners of the cape for added drama.

  

Cape #2 used for this Heavy Metal Demon Costume:

Apron Attempt #2 (Apple Cider Challenge)

This season the Apron-based Blog Tie One On's apron project theme is "Apple Cider".

Instead of using fabric I already have stockpiled, I wanted to start fresh this time - inspired by the colors associated with cider (and hoping to end up with an apron I could host Thanksgiving in as well).

I started with what I saw as a cider-colored, lightweight corduroy, and a vintage looking mini-plaid in red, pale yellow and dark green.

I collected a bunch of apple red do-dads (giant rick-rack, a red ruffle trim and an apple appliqué) and some bright apple-red thread.

I found a vintage apron photo that inspired me, printed it out and drew over it the changes and measurements I needed.

I couldn’t help but further indulge my current obsession with vintage labels, so I searched for the perfect apple crate artwork online, and printed it onto cotton printer sheets. Now, because these sheets are very expensive (I got them at Hancock, which can be overpriced, for about $3 a sheet - Hobby lobby may be cheaper) you should first print on regular paper to check color and size. I used cream cotton sheets for a more vintage look. I planned to make the sheet into a pocket.

After removing the paper backing, I folded the edges back and stitched an apple red border around the printed label.

I sewed the pocket on skewed (I thought it looked a little too fussy straight).

I used the plaid for ties, and trimmed the waistband top and bottom with the rick-rack (leaving room for my apple appliqué).

I stacked large green and a tiny red buttons at the straps (non-functional).

I sewed the ruffle to the skirt, and gathered the skirt into the waistband.You can almost smell the mulled spices!

Apron Attempt #1

[Update to "I'll Be Sewing Any Minute Now..."]

Ok. So I rummaged through my intimidating bins of fabric, (purchased or pilfered but never used) and came up with two possible apron color/ pattern schemes:

On the top is a vintage inspired palette using different textures (cotton eyelet and a heavy printed twill – one stripe, one floral).

The second possible combo was partly an unfinished quilting project I started when my youngest was born….7 years later, let’s just let that go, shall we?

Plus a couple of pops of crazy fun color from fabric I keep around to wrap presents that the boys give their friends for birthday parties (which at this age, never end – must we all have parties EVERY year? I never get a party. Stamp foot.)

I decided to start with the crazy bright one (which, by the way, includes a lady bug print), which was probably not a good idea…and you’ll see why.

I usually just wing sewing projects (no patterns, not much pinning and no stopping to iron as I go which you are supposed to do), so don’t follow my lead, because I am lazy.

Maybe it’s because I went to school for it, do it for a living (well, tell people what I want them to sew anyway – patient overseas professional sewers), but it shows in my work, inevitably, and I have to claim that whole “Persian Flaw” philosophy….I’ll talk about that some other time.

Back to aprons.....

I used the started, striped portion of the quilt as the bodice and added contrast rounded patch pockets and waist sash (which ties) as well as a ruffle at the neck.

The final result: clowny, sorry to say.

Too silly for even me to wear, but at least cute and fun enough to hang in the kitchen and brighten like a piece of art. So then I was discouraged and never sewed the next one. Soon…soon….. At least it goes well with my hot sauce collection.

UPDATE: Tie One On's apron making contest theme this month? Well what d'ya know? CIRCUS! Crazy. I entered. We'll see......

I'll be sewing any minute now.......

I have a little obsession with frilly aprons. I collect fabrics with grand plans of sewing vintage looking aprons until I have an impressive collection. The dream is to have enough so that each piece both compliments what I am wearing and my kitchen decor (all in the hopes of furthering my goal of morphing into Donna Reed).

Not that I've ever actually put any kind of physical energy into this dream....

Now I've found a competitive push to beginning this endeavor (competition is always very helpful in jump starting these types of pipe dreams).

Tie One On is a blog that asks its readers to send in photos of their homemade aprons to be judged and deemed blog-able.

The hostess also provides themes for each gallery she's assembling, which is helpful because design constraints usually produce the best creative juices.