Spider Man Wears a Cape? A Tutorial!

So a little while back a friend of mine's little boy turned 4 years old.

What do you get a 4 year old you might ask?

Well I was thinking the same thing and then it hit me.

Little boys like capes.

Little boys also, typically like super heros.

So what better than a Super.Hero.Cape?!

I messaged said friend to ask what little man's favorite super hero was.

She replied, "Spiderman".

"Doh"!  Spiderman doesn't wear a cape.

Hmmm...

Oh well!

As previously stated little boys like capes, I can make it work.

So I made up a spiderman cape and thought that with Halloween a few weeks away I should share it.

This is a fairly easy project and it was my first time doing applique´

Here Is What You'll Need:

1 yard of costume satin preferably 1/2 of a yard of 2 different colors.

Coordinating thread

Coordinating 8x11 sheet of felt

Velcro (I did velcro because in the event your adventurous cape wearing friend decides to get caught on something, it'll tear away vs. something worse).

Since I was doing Spiderman I chose blue and red satin for my cape...

 ... and red and black felt for my emblem and

 I started by taking the largest bowl that would fit and tracing my circle on the red.

Then I cut it out.

I did all my tracing with a piece of gray sidewalk chalk that I keep in my sewing box.

Who wants to use the gray sidewalk chalk anyways?

 Next I found a spiderman-esque drawing on Google images and printed it out.

This took a little playing with to get the right size to properly fit my circle.

I cut the spider out of the paper, traced with the chalk and...

 VOILA!  I had a perfect pattern to cut a spider from.

 Here he is all cut out.

 After that I took a black permanent marker and drew my webbing.

I first drew a main center line and then added a few more on each side.

Then I added the horizontal web portion.

Most of this was just eye-balled.

Depending on your super hero you might get away with no drawing!

 My next step was a little scarier for me.

Appliqueing the spider to the 'web' and then the web to the cape.

Having never done applique before I watched a few videos and then just dove in.

My best advice is that you first sew straight lines to attach your spider to the web.

 Then you can come back and adjust your stitch direction and width.

I put mine in a medium zig-zag relatively close together.

 I then proceeded to carefully trace around my spider again making him permanently affixed to the web.

After completing that I was glad I could take a break from sewing for a minute, to cut fabric.

 When you make a cape you obviously need to make sure it is wider at the bottom than it is at the top.

Folding your 1/2 yard of fabric in half measure the width you'd like the cape to be and draw a chalk line, similar to the one pictured above.

 Now going to the toop of the cape measure from the fold to about 7" and draw a chalk line.

*I know mine was measured at 6-1/2", but just know that I am teaching you after learning my own mistakes!  :) 

 Now find a straight edge of some kind and connect your 2 lines.

This will be where you cut. 

 Next I found a bowl and used it to make the perfect 3/4 circle in my cape.

I only allowed myself a 1" strap, but I recommend you give yourself at least 1-1/2"

Chalk your line and cut the fabric.

 Once your cape is cut you can place your applique where you like.

Because I had the spider-web I sewed a black line down the center 'web' to hold my applique in place.

This isn't 100% necessary, but if you dont' want to use pins it's a nice alternative.

 Keeping my sewing machine on the same settings as earlier, I carefully traced along the outer rim of my circle with black thread, affixing it to the blue portion of my cape.

 Now, here is why you will be happy you gave yourself 1-1/2 to 2" of strap.

I did not and I had to fix this mistake by tediously cutting and adding fabric.

And, well, it was a pain so give your straps more than 1" because you need the seam allowance later.

 Affix your velcro to the cape.

Assure that you have the male and female portions of the velcro on the appropriate straps so that they meet up once sewn.

 Pin your cape together...shiny sides touching.

Proceed to sew 1/4" to 1/2" along your fabric.

I suggest 1/4" on your straps and 1/2" everywhere else.

Leave a 2-3" opening to turn your cape insdie out.

 The picture above is around the collar of your cape.

You will want to go in and cut small slits in the seam allowance so that when you turn this inside out it doesn't bunch up.

Once completed turn your cape right-side out and sew a single line along the bottom in a coordinating color thread.

Ta-da!

So what did my little 4 year old friend think of his Spiderman Cape?

Well...let me just say that it was the best reaction to a gift I have EVER seen!

There was a shriek and a squeal and the happiest smile I could have asked for.

I've since heard rumor that this Spiderman Cape has made a trip to the grocery store, because as his Mom stated, Everyone shops like that, right?!

So if you have a little friend in your life who has a special birthday coming up this is a great way to give them something personal and fun.

It's also great for this coming Halloween!

Maybe I need to make one for myself..... ;)

Will you dress up this year?

Trick-or-Treat or hand out candy?

I think we will hand out candy, after all it's our first time in a neighborhood with kids in YEARS and I'm excited to see all the little ones in costume!

I hope you have a Blessed Thursday!