Hooded Cape Tutuorial

Easy Versatile Costume: Hooded Cape

Capes are the best costume piece! They can go with just about any character and can be used from year to year as part of so many different types of costumes!

A simple cape is no big deal- add a fastener to any rectangle piece of material and viola- instant cape!

But there's something fun about having the extra hood whether you wear it up or let it drape down your back. 

I was nervous at first, but once I gave it a try and realized how simple hoods are I think I might just add them to all my future sewing projects! 

Here's a super simple Hooded Cape Tutorial for you:

1.) Start with a rectangle piece of pretty sturdy material. Cut it to your desired length and width. For this cape I wanted it to reach my husbands ankles and be wide enough to drape over and down the sides of his shoulders. 

2.) Fold the fabric in half lengthwise and curve the bottom edge cutting both layers at a time This will make sure your curve is equal on both sides. 

3.) Hem raw edges.

4.) Next cut the shape of the hood you want. Here's where things get fun. You could make a long and pointy hood, a super oversized drapey one, or a snug to the head one depending on the look you're going for. I chose to keep this hood somewhat shallow in depth but longer from the top to the neck, that way it would almost give a triangle shape on the head when it's up.

5.) Pin and sew right sides of hood together along curved edge.

6.) I didn't line mine so next I hemmed around the face edge of the hood.

7.) Now here's where yours might differ from mine. Because I knew my husband wouldn't be wearing the hood up and I didn't line it I needed to find a good way to sew the two pieces together with a nice seam showing. Generally you would sew right sides together with the hood pointing down. But I decided to pin a hem on the bottom edge of the hood then attach the hood to the inside of the cape and sew the hem and the two pieces together in the same stitching. 

 8.) Attach a fastener. You could use ties, buttons, toggles, or pretty much anything. I used left over trim from some window treatments I made years ago.

When we dress up again for trick or treating I'll take a picture of the back view of the cape. I'm really happy with how well it turned out and I love that I'll be able to re-use this cape over and over each year for pretty much any costume theme we have!