I wanted a cape that didn't tie across the throat, so I made one that attaches to a shirt.
*Note: if I had to make this again, I would round the two corners at the neck.*
First mark a straight edge on your pattern paper. Fold the shirt exactly in half at center back, keeping the side seams, shoulder seams and neckline evenly matched. Lay the center back of the shirt along the straight line on the pattern paper. Flatten down the shirt as much as possible. Mark the neckline and shoulder seam on to the pattern paper.
Mark the straight edge as center back, it is to be cut on the fold so make a note of that also. At this point, choose how big you want the cape. I didn't want too much swing, so I just extended the shoulder seam line. If you want a more swishy cape, move the line (starting from the point where the shoulder seam meets the neckline) more away from the center back at the hemline. You could go perpendicular to center back for a half circle cape or even further towards the front. Add seam allowance to the neckline and hem allowance to the outer edge of cape (shown in red pencil).
Figure out how long you want the cape and add seam allowance. Mark that measurement at the two straight edges and along the entire width of the pattern, moving your yardstick along the arc of the neckline.
Trace the neckline and several inches of the center back and side edge on to another piece of pattern paper, to make the facing pattern. Mark 2.5" from the cutting line at neck (I am using 0.5" seam allowance and 0.5" hem so the finished width is 1.5").
On the facing pattern, mark the center back and indicate that it needs to be cut on the fold. Cut 1 out of your cape fabric and 1 out of interfacing.
After you have cut out the cape piece and fused the interfacing to the facing, press up the 0.5" hem of the facing. Right sides together, stitch facing to cape, backstitching ends. Clip corners and clip into the seam allowance all along curve of neckline.
Turn and press.
Hem the bottom. I used a traditional roll hem, turning the fabric twice over and topstitching. Of course you can do any type of hem you feel comfortable with.
Press up the seam allowance and press half of the seam allowance under again (like how I did the bottom hem, but using the iron instead of the roll hem foot). Topstitch the side hems and neckline, going from one end to the other. Stitch along the edge of the facing.
I did buttons, but any type of closure would do. Snaps, velcro, etc. Mark where you want the closures to go and add on.
Lay the neckline of the cape over the back neckline of the shirt and mark the other end of the closures.
Sew on the rest of the closures and you're done!
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