Skip to main content

Made by a Fabricista: Cape

Image
By


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. MlsewsNovember 24, 2019 at 8:50 AM

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

    ReplyDelete
  2. MaricaNovember 27, 2019 at 6:52 AM

    This is really nice. Beautiful!

    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

Help Our Buyers Shop!

By
  Comment on this post with what you are looking for right now and our buyers will seek it out!  I am craving wool gabardines and ponte knits in fun autumn colors. What about you?
129 comments
Continue Reading »

Sewing Vintage for Summer

By
Hello sewing friends!  I was highly motivated to try another one of the vintage Polynesian Pattern dresses I’ve collected during our hot weather. The patterns are all dramatic and fashionable and really apropos for summer styling. This one is number 204, the Pilialoha Dress.  The gown includes a wide boatneck that many of them feature, plus a very beautiful back gathering and wraparound closure. I always find that the special details on the back are such a chic surprise compared to the simple front.  I chose a lemon covered cotton lawn . I am really delighted with the quality of this cotton, it’s luxuriously soft and smooth. The scale of the lemons and blossoms are just right and not overwhelming, and the soft yellow background is beautiful. This could not be more charming and summery!  I also chose some excellent lightweight interfacing for my facings, and the real highlight is these Dritz Floral Sew-On Snaps that I’ve had my eye on for months! Finally, the perfect ...
4 comments
Continue Reading »

Athletic Wear Refresh: A Bold New Gym Set

By
There’s something especially motivating about refreshing your workout wardrobe with pieces that feel like you. As part of my ongoing athletic wear refresh, I’m adding another handmade set to my gym wardrobe—and this one might be the boldest yet. Lately, I’ve been taking a closer look at my handmade wardrobe and thinking more intentionally about what I actually wear in this season of my life. Athletic wear has become a big part of that. Instead of treating workout clothes as an afterthought, I want my gym wardrobe to have the same personality, color, and style as everything else I make. And this fabric made that very easy.  The Fabric That Started It All   The moment I saw this vibrant multicolored paisley, I was immediately drawn to it. The mix of warm reds, oranges, greens, turquoise, and golden yellow against the light background feels bold, energetic, and a little unexpected for athletic wear . There’s something about the print that reminds me of Etro and other higher-end f...
7 comments
Continue Reading »

A Yard And Change

By
Do you have a fabric that you love and has been hanging around but is too small to use? Maybe you found a wonderful fabric with a super cute print but there's only a yard left.  I've got a few projects I worked on all with roughly a yard of fabric. And I have a few tips for making that yard and change go further! Cutting Layout: You can get a lot more mileage out of a yard of fabric if you can get creative with how you lay out your fabric. Cutting things single layer will give you the most control. My favorite thing to do is unfold the fabric and fold the selvages in to meet in the middle. That gives me two folded edges to work with. I had to overlap these to get enough width for the tank top. Just make sure that your pattern pieces don't also overlap!  This one was especially fun for me because I really loved the print on this swimwear knit but am not yet up to sewing swimwear. But a nice flowy hiking tank is perfect for this! In the future I'd love to experiment with...
3 comments
Continue Reading »