PROJECT BY AMANDA WALKER | SUITABLE FOR BEGINNERS | SHOULD TAKE A FULL DAY OF STITCHINESS

ESSENTIAL KIT
Lightweight wool
fabric, 3m x 160cm
Matching or contrasting
lining, 2m x 150cm
PLUS:
Cape fastening
Matching thread
Sewing machine
Iron
MEASUREMENTS:
Custom to it: our project
88cm long, 48cm split

Find guide
online makeit
today.co.uk

RELEASE YOUR INNER GODDESS WITH A

no-pattern
DRAPE CAPE
GET THE LOOK! TOP, £12.99, H&M (0844 736 900)

you can make in a day

From the icy majesty of Anna Karenina to the iconic superhero Wonder Woman, all kinds
of women get an extra dash of cool with the addition of a well-cut cape. As Amanda Walker’s
project demonstrates, you don’t even need a pattern to create a look with instant swish appeal.
Complete with shapely splits, a vintage clasp and lots of elegant drape, this garment is an
instant classic. So go on, give us a twirl and become a caped crusader!

Make it Today!
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 CUTTING GUIDE:
See diagram at
makeittoday.co.uk
Main fabric: Cut One on Fold
Lining: Cut One on Fold
Facings: Cut Two
Cut 10cm circle in main fabric
Cut two splits 40cm from nape
to hemline

drape cape
1 Using the online diagram as a guide,
cut one three-quarter circle in wool
fabric. Snip a pair of facings, and cut
the half-circle lining, adding 1.5cm seam
allowances to the straight edge of lining
and one side of the facing.

2 Stitch the facings to the lining as far as

indicated on the diagram, 40cm on both
sides, to create a three-quarter circle.

3 With the right sides of the lining-facing

piece and the three-quarter wool fabric
circle piece facing, pin together. Match
around the neckline and the hem. Stitch
with a 1cm seam allowance from the
edge of the facing at the hem, up the
two front edges and around the neckline.

4 Sew around the hem using a 1cm seam

allowance, stitching the lining and main
fabric together. Work from the base of
one split around to the other.

5 Stitch the open part of the facing

and main fabric together as far as the
40cm point of the seam, using a 0.5cm
seam allowance. Sew the other side,
attaching the lining to the main fabric.
The stitching line should look like an
arrow head. Leave a gap in the stitching
line in one of these straight edges on the
lining sides.

6 Cut the main fabric through the centre

of the stitching lines to the point. Clip
Doing the splits
If you’d prefer not to make large split
FABRIC L VE
sections that go all the way to the
the neckline and trim around the hem.
hemline, a neat alternative is to create
Turn the cape right sides out through
small slits that are just long enough to
the gap left in the stitching line. Tease
put your arms through. Make the cape
out the seam line and press lat. Sew the
up as per the other instructions, cut
gap in the lining with hand-slip stitches.
through the main fabric, turn in the raw
Attach the cape fastening to the top-
edges and stitch to the lining and facings
front opening to inish.
on the inside of the cape.

Amanda SAYS... SHOPPING BASKET

Give your cape another
“The fabric’s width will determine the length stylish lourish with a
of the cape. Cut the cape out in scrap material copper or brass clasp
irst to make sure it suits your size and shape such as this vintage-
style hook-and-eye set
before committing to an expensive fabric.”
from Vogue Star. £1.60,
AMANDA WALKER, DESIGNER ohsewcrafty.co.uk
WOOL SUITING
HERRINGBONE GREY
This lightweight wool with its classic
herringbone weave gives a gorgeous
drape effect, which is very important
for this type of garment. Available for
£28 per metre from trurofabrics.com

NO-PATTERN DRAPE CAPE

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