Super Hero Cape Tutorial

Look!

Up in the sky!

It's a bird! It's a plane! No...

It's a...

Super Hero Cape Tutorial

I've fallen in love with making these very simple, very fun capes. And the little boys in my life have fallen in love with wearing them.

And so that you don't think I'm participating in gender stereotypes...the little girls in my life will love them too. As soon as it's their birthdays.

Difficulty Level: Easy (Think about it. This is me we're talking about. Of course it's easy.)

Materials:

2 yards cotton (1 yd each of two colors)

Thread

Felt - coordinating colors

Super Sticky Velcro

Stitch Witchery or Fabric Glue

Step 1: Lay your two pieces of fabric on top of each other. Since I made a few of these, I cut out a simple pattern from muslin. You can either do that or draw the shape on the fabric with a chalk pen. Ignore the fact that I'm committing a serious sewing crime by not pre-ironing my fabric.

Step 2: Cut out your capes. Match the right sides of the fabric together and secure with pins.

Step 3: Sew around the fabric, leaving a two inch space in the bottom seam open. This is so that you can turn your cape right side in.  Ignore the fact that my cape isn't lined up. That's why I add a half inch to my seam.

Step 4: Trim excess fabric, being sure to cut little notches at the curves.

Step 5: Feed fabric through the hole until your seams are inside and your right side is out. If you are a beginner and I just lost you, let me know. To be honest, it'll become apparent what you need to do as you stare at a cape with showing seams. If it doesn't, email, tweet or Skype me. I'll walk you through it.

Tip: When you get to the neck area, use a chopstick to help push the small bits through.

Step 6: Iron. I know...I've committed yet another sewing crime by not pressing my seams, but to be honest, it still works.

At this point, you've begun to realize why it is that I can't sew very well. I have a hard time following the "rules". Very un-Virgo of me.

Using a bit of fabric glue, seal the hole at the bottom of the cape.

Step 7: Cut out a felt star or lightening bolt or sun or whatever shape you want to feature on the back of the cape. The star and lightening bolt are my two favorites, but really, your imagination is the limit.

Step 8: Cut out a felt letter representing the kid in your life. Here's an "L" I used for Laners.

Step 9: Sew star, bolt or other shape to the cape. You're going to sew through both layers of fabric. This will help the cape keep it's shape.

Step 10: Using Stitch Witchery or fabric glue, adhere the letter on top the shape. If you're super talented, you can also just sew it on, but don't tell me if you do. I'll just get jealous of your mad skillz.

Step 11: Adhere sticky Velcro to the neck. If you want a little extra security, sew an "x" across the Velcro.

And that's it! Your little superhero is ready to go save the world.