Adult Hooded Cape
Sew an adult hooded cape with a generous hood, clean finishes and plenty of costume potential. A versatile project for fantasy, theatre or Halloween looks, with choices for length, hood shape and fabric combinations.
Video class
This video is for members
Join Lulu Ferris to watch the complete class and sew along at your own pace.
A dramatic cape for costumes and character looks
In this class, we sew a Hooded Cape for Adults: a semicircular cape with drape, a statement hood, and a tie closure. It’s an ideal base for many costumes, from fantasy characters to more theatrical looks.
The result is clean inside and out: we make the hood lined, although it can be unlined. The length adapts to the effect you want to achieve. It’s a simple sewing project, but very striking when you choose the right fabric.
What you’ll learn
- Plan an adult semicircular cape and decide its length according to your taste/costume.
- Sew a large hood, lined or unlined, for a more polished finish.
- Choose between a rounded or pointed hood depending on the character’s style.
- Join the hood and cape by matching the centers and neckline lengths.
- Finish the seam with bias binding to clean up the inside and create the ties for the closure.
Fabrics and key supplies
It works well with costume or novelty fabrics with good drape. The hood can be lined, and the neckline is finished with bias binding. Clean finishes with a serger, zigzag, or equivalent stitches are also used when the fabric needs them.
Options for your character
You can adjust the length of the cape: shorter, mid-calf, or down to the heels, depending on the measurement you need and the available fabric width. The class starts from a semicircular cape; if you want a full-circle cape, the main difference in fabric consumption is explained.
You can also make the hood rounded or pointed, lined or unlined. The project allows you to combine colors between the outer fabric and lining, use the same fabric for the entire cape, or even skip the hood and finish the neckline with bias binding.
Size and useful measurements
This is an adult project with an adjustable length. The pattern is based on the measurement from the nape of the neck to the point where you want the cape to end, so you can adjust the garment to the final effect you’re looking for.
As a reference, for a height of 160 cm, 3.5 m of 150 cm wide main fabric were used, plus an additional 50 cm for the hood lining, also 150 cm wide. The width of the fabric determines the maximum length if you don’t want to piece it.
What’s included in the class
The video class guides you through the project’s key choices: planning the cape shape, handling a large piece of fabric, building the hood and finishing the neckline so it looks neat and works as a tie closure.
You’ll receive a downloadable home-print PDF in A4/Letter format with the hood pattern, hood shape options and the diagram for calculating the cape. The supporting pattern information also helps with print checking, assembly and fabric-use planning.
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