Made by a Fabricista: It's Cape Time!

Hey there! It's been a while, but I'm Jess, and I'm back with some more maternity-able garment delight for you.

When planning this project I originally had another pattern in mind; the Butterick 6301 maternity and baby wearing coat. But once I got this beautiful cashmere/wool coating in my hands, I felt like the silhouette of the coat just didn't do it justice.

When Vogue released their Holiday 2017 patterns, I saw 9288 and I knew...

...I knew it had to be mine. By that point I'd already gotten the fabric for the coat, and by some sewing miracle I had JUST enough to make the medium length cape (3 3/4 yards, which is exactly what view B calls for with 60" fabric). Destiny, amirite?

But, a cape? In cold, cold Wisconsin? Is that really a good choice? We'll just say I'm often way too practical in my sewing and I have wanted to try sewing a cape for YEARS, but the thought of time put into a not-oft-worn garment has always stopped me.

That said, I'd heartily argue that the silhouette of a cape is the perfect baby bump accompaniment. Plus, with where the closures end at this cape (just below bust on me) it can be easily worn belted or not, regardless of your midsection's current state!

In a nutshell: I used my pregnancy as an excuse to make this wonderment happen. Practicality be damned!

If this fabric looks familiar, it's because it is! Ann made a beautiful duffle coat with it. It's a dusty purple Armicale wool/cashmere blend that is quite deliciously soft and has a wonderful drape. It's currently sold out, but you can find some alternatives here.

And, what do I think of the finished product? It's a little cumbersome to get on and off, with all of the buttons. And, it's a little hard to use one's arms even with a front opening that high and generous. This is a show-cape y'all.

Those specks on my cape? Not lint; it was lightly snowing as I took these photos.

But, I do enjoy the drama of it. It's so far from my typical wheelhouse. I mean, how do you not do this when you're wearing a cape?

I had originally planned to line the cape with a "warm" winter lining that I purchased for another project, but with only 2 yards on hand, it just wasn't enough. I think I could've squeaked by with 2 1/2 yards to line, but alas it was not meant to be.

In an effort to make it look nice on the inside still, I decided to finish my seams with pre-made bias tape. Not as nice as I could've made myself, but my time and energy is at a premium these days. I used the tape on every seam and also the hem, to the tune of four packages: about 16 yards of bias tape. Mama mia!

And there it is...one picturesque lavender cape, one 3/4 baked baby, and a whole lotta glorious cashmere blend warmth.

Thanks for reading! Until our next sewing adventure...

Jess

The Sometimes Sewist

Made By A Fabricista: A Wooly Wearable Blanket.

Twirling in a me-made outfit! I live in a small town where the nearest fabric shop is a road trip away, so I almost exclusively shop for fabric online. Having access to an online shop like Fabric Mart with a solid search engine is incredibly helpful. But by far my favorite aspect of Fabric Mart is what I call the “Drape Picture” included in each listing! This picture gives me all the information I need and I find it more helpful than the exact weight per yard/square meter. Seeing how the fabric falls close or away from the body gives me a clear idea of how it will behave and inspires me to make it into something that will highlight the fabric’s nature. When I saw the drape of this “Baked Plum” wool suiting , I immediately wanted to immortalize those beautiful folds into a skirt! I opted for a simple self-drafted pleated skirt with a deep hem. I wear my dresses year-round and rely on wool skirts that I layer under or over my dresses for warmth. I cut two panels for the front ...

Made By A Fabricista: Which comes first – the fabric or the pattern?

Ah, the age old question garment sewers are often asked – do you choose the pattern first and then look for fabric, or do you buy fabric and then later decide what it will be when it grows up? If you are a sewist with a large fabric stash (like myself), then perhaps you are on Team Fabric. I would say I definitely lean that way, but there are also times when I land somewhere in the middle – I see a fabric and I think, I’ve just seen a pattern and these two would be perfect together! And that’s how gorgeous dusty rose stretch velvet and a recently released cardigan pattern came together to create the newest addition to my wardrobe. And had me improvising a few things along the way. First. I have to admit - I have a stretch velvet problem. I see it pop up on the website and I almost always grab it, especially if I see a sale. It’s not the easiest fabric to sew (it’s slippery as heck!), but I love it so much and I especially love using it in non-traditional ways. In my last blog post, I...

Made By A Fabricista: Simplicity 8847

Hi everyone, this is Byrd with my latest Fabricista make! Is it too early to start thinking about Valentine’s Day? Because this fabric is giving all the heart vibes. With rich red hearts scattered across a dark base, it feels festive without being over-the-top—and completely wearable well beyond February. This time around, the fabric completely stole the show. I used a Dark Navy/Crimson/White Polyester/Lycra Hearts Print Brushed Sweater Knit by a NY Designer , and it was love at first sight. Even though it’s labeled navy, in person it reads more like a deep black base with these beautiful red hearts throughout. When you zoom in, you’ll also spot the designer’s name and a tiny smiley face woven into the print - such a fun, unexpected detail. This fabric immediately spoke my name when I saw it online, and it absolutely lived up to the hype. Before sewing, let’s talk fabric care and prep - because it matters. This sweater knit is wash and dry friendly, which makes it practical for e...

Fabric Mart Fabricistas

Search This Blog