How To Make A Super Hero Cape

When Derek and I were engaged, we had a long and fervent discussion about super hero capes. Derek claims to have never worn one as a little a boy unless it was Halloween. I was horrified. I was then and continue to be a champion of little boys and super hero capes. I declared, "Our boys will have capes if they want them!" If I ever have girls, if they want them, they'll get them too.

And it appears that my boys love them. Spencer, more often than not, wears his where ere we go, grocery shopping, children's museum, the park, etc. He loves his. Henry likes his as well, but not with the same deep and unending love. And then Mr. Oliver decided he needed one too. And that is where this post came from.

So, without further ado:

How to Make A Super Hero Cape

First: Decide on the shape of your cape.
If you are newer to the sewing thing, I'd suggest going with a regular old rectangle cape. It's the easiest way to go. If you're more advanced, then a rounded edge makes for great swirling ability. See?

From The Diet Coke Diet

But for today's demonstration, we'll just be doing a rectangle.

Second: Decide on a size.
Measure your kid from shoulder to where ever you want the cape to hit. Then add 4 inches to make room for neck-drapage. For a 14 month old toddler, I only needed 22 inches.

Then measure how wide you want the cape to be, if it's a rectangle, then just measure your kid's back and add 8 inches, give or take. (Have you noticed this is not an exact science?)

Third: Choose your fabric
For Oliver's cape, I am just using cheap cotton broadcloth (gold and royal blue), but Henry's and Spencer's are made out of a slippery nylon that they love. Don't go with stretch anything or fleeces. One of the CUTEST capes I ever made was for a little boy who loved frogs. I did two different frog materials on the inside and outside. ADORABLE. Make sure you take your measurements with you so you get enough material. I got a half a yard of each color for Oliver and that was enough for 2 toddler sized rectangle capes.

Fourth: Get some felt for the "super letter" and a a 1/4 yard of some material for the shield. You can use whatever you want for the shield, felt or fabric or whatever you want. If you want the shield to be stiff you can get some iron-on interfacing, but it's not strictly necessary.

Now for the sewing part:

Cut your cape's shape by using the measurements you took. Cut the inside and the outside at the same time, so they match exactly, just lay them together, measure and cut.

From The Diet Coke Diet

Then, based on your cape's size, cut out your "super letter" and shield. How?

Well, go to Microsoft Word on your computer and find a font you like, the right size, and print. I believe my "O" was Arial sized 700. It may take a couple of tries to get the right size. No worries.

For the shield, go to Google images and google "Cartoon shield" and pick one that works for you. Save it to your computer and put it in either Microsoft Word or Paint.net or Photoshop and resize it. And print.

Now you have your stencils.

If you want to do the interfacing for your shield, pin all the layers together, paper stencil, fabric and interfacing, cut it out and iron it. If you don't want interfacing, then, just pin the stencil to the fabric and cut it out.

Same with your letter stencil and the felt.

From The Diet Coke Diet

From The Diet Coke Diet

If you used fabric for your shield, you'll need to turn the edges under and sew them, so it won't fray. If you used felt, then you're fine, no turning under needed.

From The Diet Coke Diet

Then, center the letter on the shield, pin and sew. I usually go around the outside of the letter and the inside, for a nice finished look. Plus it's more secure that way.

From The Diet Coke Diet

Once your shield is done, find the dead center of your cape (the outside of course) and the dead center of the shield, line the centers up and pin the shield to it.

From The Diet Coke Diet

From The Diet Coke Diet

Sew the shield in place, all the way around.

From The Diet Coke Diet

Now for the neck curve.

Right sides together, and pin.

From The Diet Coke Diet

And now, measure the neck of your little one, plus 3-5 inches on either side. 

From The Diet Coke Diet

Fold the cape in half, hot style so the curve matches all the way around. Then you can just eyeball the curve, too little and you'll have to do it again, too much and you'll just have a droopier cape, no biggie.

From The Diet Coke Diet

From The Diet Coke Diet

Now sew all the way around the cape, leaving a small (6 inches)corner on the bottom unsewn.

From The Diet Coke Diet

And flip right side out. You'll have to really jam your fingers in the corners and edges to get it all square.

From The Diet Coke Diet

Turn your 6 inch seam you left open closed, pin and sew.

From The Diet Coke Diet

From The Diet Coke Diet

Now, for a closure, either sew on a a big button and add a button hole on the opposite side, or a snap or a hook and eye or make a tie and sew it on, or just tie it by hand, whatever you want.

I did a hook and eye type closure for this one, cuz it's what I had.

From The Diet Coke Diet

If your kid will let you, iron the cape and then top stitch all the way around. Oliver woke up from his nap right as I was finishing, so this step did not happen.

SUPER OLIVER!

From The Diet Coke Diet

From The Diet Coke Diet

Cool, eh? And easy. This took me less than a hour from start to finish, and that included printing my "stencils." Easy. Quick, and your kid will think YOU are the super hero.

What's better than that?