Easy Hooded Fleece Cape for Children or Adults

This cape is super easy to make, even for novice sewers! I made it first for a friend on request, then used scrap materials from a different project to make one for my niece. The pictures for this Instructable are of the baby cape, although I'll provide measurements for both.

Step 1: Supplies

For this cape, you'll need the following:

Fleece- 1 to 2 yards for adults, 1/2 yard for babies

Sewing supplies/sewing machine- Needle, thread, pins, sewing machine (optional). I've made this cape both with and without a machine, and both ways turned out nicely.

Scissors

Measuring tape

Button or Closure

Step 2: Cut and Hem Hood

Cut a rectangle off of one end of your fabric that measures approximately 30 by 15 inches (about 16 by 10 for babies). With the right side of fabric down, fold over both short ends about 1/2 inch and pin. Sew down in a straight line on both ends to create hemmed edges. Set aside.

Step 3: Cut Cape

Take the remainder of your fabric and decide which way you want your cape to flow. Most fleece is about 44 inches wide off the bolt, which is sufficiently wide enough for most adults. If you want a larger cape or more flow, use the yardage as your width instead of the 44 inches (for instance, if you purchased 2 yards of fabric and cut 15 inches off the end for the hood, your cape will be 57 inches wide).

Fold the fabric in half widthwise, right sides out, and lay flat. Decide how long you want your cape to be, measure that height on the fabric and cut in a straight line across to trim of the excess fabric (I used a rectangle approximately 25 by 18 inches for the baby cape).

Trim the bottom and front edges of the fabric so that the bottom front corner of the cape is rounded. Keep the top edge of the cape straight and even.

Step 4: Baste and Gather

Open your cape and baste stitch the top straight edge, leaving enough thread on the ends to pull when finished. When the entire width of the cape is basted, gently and evenly gather the cape edge until it is the same width as the hood.

Step 5: Sew Hood to Cape

Pin the hood to the gathered edge of the cape, right sides together, and sew. Be sure to keep your gathering even during the sewing process.

Once the hood is attached to the cape, fold the hood in half widthwise, right sides together, and pin along the top edge. Sew a straight line all the way across the top of the hood. At this point, you can decide if you want to sew a short line across the upper back corner of the hood to keep it from being pointed (see last photo).

Step 6: Add Button

Turn your cape right side out and decide where you want the button to sit. I suggest keeping it about mid-sternum to prevent it from choking the wearer. Place approximately 1/2 to 1 inch from edge and sew button in place.

On the opposite side of the cape, create your buttonhole by snipping the fabric with you scissors in a straight line. It's better to cut too short and have to add length to your buttonhole than to cut too long and have the button constantly slipping out. Test the buttonhole before sewing it to make sure it's the correct size for your button. Sew around the opening of the buttonhole for strength.

Step 7: Strut! Pose! Vogue!

There's no need to finish the edges since we used fleece, so as long as your trimming lines aren't jagged I would skip hemming the edge.

You're now ready to wear your cape!