How to Make a Zorro Cape

Zorro is timeless, sexy and cool. Whether you are a fan of the old black-and-white movies or the more recent ones starring Antonio Banderas, Zorro costumes are a perennial Halloween favorite for young and old. But no Zorro is complete without a genuine, swirl-able black Zorro cape. With a little time and sewing effort, your Zorro will have his trademark cape and you will have a costume staple in your collection that also works as a Dracula cape and a Batman cape.

Things You'll Need

• Two yards of black fabric
• Sewing machine
• Iron
• Ironing board
• Pins
• Thread
• Pencil (colored pencil, chalk)

Instructions

1. Choose your fabric. For an adult cape, you will need 2 yards of 60-inch wide fabric. For a kid's cape, 45-inch wide fabric will work. Choose a light to medium weight cotton or cotton blend material--black, of course.

2. Cut out a large half-circle. Pin a length of string or ribbon to the 1-yard point on one side of the fabric. Tie a pencil (colored pencil, chalk) to one end of the string, and adjust the string so the pencil point exactly touches the exact opposite side of the fabric. Draw a half-circle on the fabric, arcing the pencil, for a cutting guide. Once the large half-circle is marked, cut it out.

3. Hem the edges. Fold over all edges 1/4 inch, and press with a hot iron. Repeat. Stitch the folded over hems.

4. Add a tie. With your leftover scraps, make two ties about an inch wide by a foot long. Find the center of the long straight edge of your cape, and sew the ties about a foot away from the center point each. Settle over the wearer's shoulders, and tie in place.

Tips & Warnings

• Run your fabric through the washing machine and dryer before you begin sewing. Iron your fabric before you begin sewing.