Skip to main content

Made by a Fabricista: Cape



The temps in the south have finally cooled down and I have began to sew some fall/winter items like this cape! I love capes and find them great for chilly weather that don't quite call for a coat. McCalls 7477 has been on my "to sew" list for years and I'm so glad I finally whipped it up. The pattern itself is a quick and straightforward sew and this wool really sewed up nicely.


I chose this 100% wool suiting mainly because I loved the checkerboard weave. Additionally it was a listed as a medium weight which was perfect for this cape as it was heavy enough to create some warmth yet still light enough to have some drape. There are still a few yards left so grab yours quickly! here If you love the checkerboard weave also see this heavier coating. I also love this houndstooth suiting. Or just check out ALL the suitings as there are several great options.


The only issue you may have with this fabric is fraying due to the loose weave, to prevent this I simply serged the raw edges before construction. If you don't have a serger, the zig-sag or overlock stitch on your machine will do the same things. Fraycheck is also an option.

The fusible interfacing I used for the collar and facing bonded smoothly to the wool, though I suggest interfacing both inner and outer collar for more structure. Another suggestion is to under stitch the collar to prevent it from rolling on the top edge. I'm not sure why the instructions skip this step.


Although sold out, I'll mention that these extra large gold snaps are also from Fabric Mart so don't forget to check out the Buttons and Findings section before checking out with your fabric purchase as there are some real gems there.




Although some hand stitching was required along the collar and the belt opening, McCalls 7477 sewed up quickly and easily. This cape can also be worn with a store bought belt or be worn beltless. 



I am not a fan of cold weather, but I must admit I love sewing coats, capes and jackets. Which do you prefer; capes or coats?

See you next month,

Tiffany
TipStitched

Comments

  1. Tiffany your make looks great on you!!! beautiful construction!! love the fabric choice!!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Thanks for leaving a comment! All comments are reviewed before posting to help us eliminate spam. Your comment will be posted within 24 hours.

Recent Posts You Might Like

Sewing With Intention: New Look 6106 and a More Coordinated Wardrobe

Sometimes a sewing project begins with a beautiful piece of fabric or a pattern you just have to make. This one began with my closet. Recently, I did a major closet purge. I took a good look at what I actually wear, what I kept reaching for, and—maybe more importantly—what was missing. Once the pieces I no longer loved or wore were gone, something became very clear: I want to be more intentional about what I sew next. Instead of sewing individual pieces that I love but don't necessarily wear together, I want to build a wardrobe where my handmade garments coordinate with the clothes I already own—and with the pieces I'm planning to sew next. For this month's Fabricista project, this beautiful lightweight shirting from Fabric Mart turned out to be a wonderful place to start. The Fabric That Started It All Fabric Mart provided this beautiful oatmeal and black heathered shirting , along with the matching thread for my project. One of the things I love most about this fabric is ...

The Perfect Plan for this Linen Blend! Until I Changed My Mind.

Hello Sewing Friends!  It’s Sharon from Sharon Sews with another Fabricista make.  When I saw this linen blend designer fabric on the Fabric Mart Fabrics website, I was intrigued.  After all, I, like many of you, love to find designer fabrics at an affordable price. It is a linen/nylon/rayon/Lycra blend, and I wondered what the designer had created with the fabric as I wasn’t familiar with that combination of fibers.  Surprisingly, I discovered a sleeveless, lined, mid-length vest in the same color with an almost identical fabric composition. Perfect! I’ve been wanting to sew a longer vest with matching pants, and that discovery confirmed this fabric would work beautifully for the look I had in mind.  The vest I’m wearing, from the June 2026 Burda Style magazine, it is not what I was originally going to make.  You see when I found the designer’s vest, I remembered seeing a Butterick pattern that was almost identical.  I ordered the pattern excited to...

Meeting Endless Summer Energy with a Maxi Dress

How are the temps still so hot?! I’m trying to make the best out of a blazing situation with a gorgeous swishy dress made in a splendid graphic print in an attempt to keep my cool when I am very much not. The heat persists, but so do I (while wearing sundresses)!  I really wanted a full length, all-fancy-design-details-included version of the new Chalk & Notch Noe Tank Dress since testing the pattern. This is View C. This version features a beautiful open back with a tie closure and the long gathered hem for maximum impact.  I chose the higher of two necklines. The pattern features full lining and I used the same fabric for both. I prefer to avoid any peeking-issues the easy way.  As I was scrolling through the challis options on the Fabric Mart site, this one stood out immediately, a beautiful kelly green with big abstract swipes of aqua. Simple, bold, (non-directional!), all of my favorite characteristics necessary for a showstopping dress. I wanted something very ...

Fall + Flannel = Shacket

If there is one piece that transitions easily between crisp fall mornings, mid-day warmth, and chilly autumn nights, it’s a shacket. Today, I’m excited to share my latest Fabric Mart make: the Ellie and Mac Patterns Connie Casual Shacket, sewn in a dreamy plaid flannel coating fabric . Here’s a glimpse at how it came together, along with a few construction tips for planning your own version! The Ellie and Mac Patterns Connie Casual Shacket pattern offers plenty of options needed to make the perfect transitional top layer for fall. With a relaxed body, oversized sleeves, three lengths, and a curved or straight hem option, you can make your dream shacket a reality.  For this sew, I selected a plaid flannel coating fabric with a soft blend of sage green and cream tones from the Fabric Mart website. Heavyweight flannel is ideal for a shacket because it provides structure and added warmth. As a bonus, this particular fabric is extra soft and snuggly, which I love. In addition to the fa...