How to Make a Masquerade Cape

A half-circle cape will fit better than a towel.

You have probably liked capes since you were little. A towel around you neck made you into a superhero and flew behind you as you ran around. A cape was the final touch for your princess costume, and it fanned out as you twirled around. A black cape is essential for Dracula or the Phantom of the Opera to hide behind, or for Zorro to toss behind him with a flourish as he enters the room. A simple cape for these fantasies is easy to make.

Things You'll Need

• 2 yards of felt
• Yardstick
• 2 yards double-fold bias tape
• Pins
• Sewing machine
• Thread

Instructions

1. Fold the fabric in half by bringing the short sides together. Lay it out flat with the fold on the right side. Make a 45-degree angle by bringing the folded edge down to meet the bottom edge.

2. Measure 3 feet from the angle along each folded side. Draw a curve connecting these two points and cut along the curve. Make another cut in the same way 3 inches from the angle. The smaller curve is the neck. The large curve is the hem. Unfold the fabric and cut the curves into an even half-circle, if necessary.

3. Unfold the center fold in a 3-foot length of double-fold bias tape.

4. Pin the center of the tape to the center of the neck of the cape. Fold the tape around the edge of the neck and pin it in place.

5. Sew the tape to the neckline by sewing close to the inside fold with a straight stitch. Be sure to catch both folded edges of the tape in the seam.

6. Sew the folded edges of the remaining tape together to make the ties.

Tips & Warnings

• If you use a fabric that frays, use fusible hem tape to hem the bottom edge. The sides of the cape will be selvage edges, so you will not need to hem them.