The Nearly No-Sew Batman Cape

We are a little bit into super heroes right now. It’s my fault – Elliot’s prize for finishing reading lessons was a 5-pack of super hero easy reader books from Costco.

So yeah.

Batman for Halloween.

Halloween aside, this Nearly No-Sew cape is so easy (nearly no-sew, in fact), that it’s a great little piece for the year-round costume box.

MATERIALS

1 – 1 1/2 yard black fleece (read on for details)
tape measure
marking chalk
rotary cutter

1. Stand your child up and have him hold one arm straight out to the side and measure from the hollow of his neck/throat to his wrist – Gus measured 16″ (I’ll use that measurement in my instructions – insert your own. Mmmkay?)

2. Fold the fleece in half, matching up the selvages (just like it comes off the bolt) and, starting at the very top of the fleece, measure and mark out 16″.

3. Measure down the fold 36″ and mark.

4. Holding the tape measure at the very top corner along the fold, measure and mark 36″ a bunch of times until you have a nice arc that meets the selvage edge of the fabric.

5. Using a ruler, connect the top line (marking the arm span distance) to the point where the arc meets the selvage and cut along the marked lines.

6. This is what your cape should look like.

7. Grab a t-shirt and use it to make the neckline curve…

…like so.

8. Along the bottom edge, use a football or similarly ovalish object to make some Batmanish scallops. Make them good and pointy.

9. Cut ’em out and admire.

10. Now for a teensy little bit of sewing – fold the top edge down 4″ and start sewing 3-4″ in from the neckline all the way to where the fabric ends. This step creates the sleeves so do on both sides.

11. Grab a hoodie and trace the hood part to make a pattern. Remember to add seam allowances! Cut 2 from the fleece – you may have enough scraps left over. I didn’t so I had to buy a little more than a yard of fleece.

12. Sew following my very faint arrows to create the hood.

13. Lay the cape inside down on the table. Match up the center back of the cape with the center of the hood and lay the hood down right sides together. Pin and then sew in an arc 3-4″ back from the neckline edge of the cape.

14. Draw a bat ear on the fold and cut out.

15. Use the first one to cut the second one.

14. Mark on the hood about 3″ back from the front edge of the hood and about 3″ from the center hood seam. Pin the ear so the fold is on your marked line and sew straight up the center of the ear.

15. Fold the ear in half so wrong sides are touching and sew all the way around the edge. 1/8″ – 1/4″ from the edge is good.

And that, my friends, is it!

A Batman cape with only 4 bits of sewing. Easy! And fleece is so inexpensive AND the edges don’t fray so you don’t have to finish them! I use fleece whenever possible for making costumes.