How to Sew a Child's Batman Cape

You can use an old bedsheet for fabric instead of buying material.

At some point, every kid wants to be a superhero, and Halloween is the perfect time to act out that dream. Making a Batman cape for your own caped crusader is as straightforward as the cape itself. Though Batman's cape was solid black, allow your little one to customize and embellish the cape. Every superhero is an original, and your superhero is no exception! You can find all of the supplies in a craft store, but look around your home for items that can double as cape supplies.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Black fabric (3 to 4 feet)
• Scissors
• Chalk
• Straight pins
• Bowl
• Thread
• Needle or sewing machine
• Ribbon or cord (1 yard)
• Embellishment, as needed

Instructions

1. Measure your Batman-to-be from shoulder to ankle. Cut your fabric to this length.

2. Position the fabric (or yourself) so that you are looking at it vertically (longways). At the short edge in front of you, measure in 6 inches from the corner. Place a straight pin or chalk mark at that point. Do the same from the other corner.

3. Cut a diagonal line from each pin or mark, down the long side, to meet the corner on the other end of the fabric. Pin your tape measure in a diagonal line from the mark to the corner, if needed. The fabric will resemble a pyramid without a point after you have made the diagonal cut on both sides.

4. Position the wider end (the bottom of the cape) in front of you. Beginning at a bottom corner of the fabric, place the bowl halfway onto the fabric, obscuring a bowl-wide semicircle. Mark this semicircle in chalk. Repeat this process all the way across the hem. Each bowl mark should touch at the sides, but not overlap.

5. Cut along the scalloped chalk line.

6. Fold under 1 inch of fabric at the top of the cape. Pin the fold in place across the side. Hem this portion of the fabric. Leave the sides unhemmed.

7. Feed the cord or ribbon through the hem. Trim excess, if necessary, depending on how loose you would like the cape to hang. Embellish the cape as desired.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are concerned about the safety of a cord tied around the neck, make the cord long enough to loop under the shoulders and tie behind the back.

References

• Halloween Costumes: SuperKid!
• Craftiest Things: Batman cape tutorial