I finished the cape! Here are some photos of the finished Tartan Plaid Cape, made from a vintage pattern from 1964, Simplicity 5669. It’s cosy, warm, and feels fun to wear – like the best mix of comfortable and dramatic. What do you think?
I had a hard time styling this cape, mostly because I don’t own the things that fashion magazines would put with it: skinny jeans or leggings with tall boots. So I settled on regular jeans. Ideally, I’d love to wear it over a slim navy dress!
Kind of woodsy, don’t you think? I don’t love it with the jeans, but I really wanted to share the finished cape photos. Love the top half of my outfit, not crazy about the bottom half. Ah well! Pretend I have a cute navy skirt on instead.
Olympic mittens! Yes, they’re a little too sporty for the cape, but they’re super warm, and work with my woodsy look.
I had a lot of fun posing in a cape, can you tell?
For a pattern from 1964, it looks rather modern. Would you believe it was a sixties pattern if I didn’t tell you so? Perhaps that’s because capes are in fashion right now, so it seems current. I hope they stay ‘in’ for a while so I can get some use out of this one! Although, I’ll wear it anyways, fashion rules or not!
Take a look at the beautiful plaid matching. It matches pretty close along the seamlines and along centre front, and around centre front to the facings. If you cut the plaid carefully, the sewing part is easy.
For the button placement, I decided to ignore the pattern markings and instead, centre the buttons in a plaid square. This was after marking the top buttonhole and thinking, does it work out that the buttons are in the dark navy square every time? When it didn’t work out like that on the pattern tissue, I decided it would look nicer if I lined them up anyways.
I originally thought of doing hand-worked buttonholes, mostly because I’d missed the window for bound buttonholes. When I did a sample buttonhole, it was not good, let me tell you! So I went with machine-worked buttonholes and luckily, all three turned out just fine.
Want to see the inside-out shot? You got it! I set the lining in by hand after constructing the cape body. This Kasha lining – with the flannel backing – is so easy to work with, and makes the cape extra-warm. (As warm as something with open hand-holes can be!)
Here’s the back-story on the cape, to see more of the inner workings:
- Next up: Vintage Tartan Cape
- Matching Plaids: A Step-by-Step Guide
- Pressing Darts in Thick Coating Fabric
- A Cape Update: Padstitching
- How to Sew On a Button
Final verdict? It’s not an everyday piece, but it sure is fun to wear!
Beautiful, love it! you are a sewing star for sure!
So stylish, I love everything about it! The color, shape, everything! What a wonderful addition to a wardrobe, I’m sure you’ll enjoy it for years to come. :)
Beautiful inside and out! I’ll definitely be using your matching plaids tutorial in the future.
The cape looks fabulous!! I actually think it looks cute with jeans, and of course the slim navy skirt would be great too! Well done!
Gorgeous! Love it with the jeans, and it will be even better with a skirt, in the future =)
Linda, a cor é perfeita e o xadrez deu um toque ainda mais retro, mal posso esperar para ve-la com um belo vestido marinho.
Abraços
Eilane – Brasil
I actually really like it! It looks super cozy… the perfect thing for this strange weather we are having lately.
This is lovely, I love the colours of the fabric you chose and you did a brilliant job making it look so neat and professional.
The cape looks lovely however you style it. It’s perfectly made inside and out. Beautiful work!
If you only ever made “every day pieces” sewing wouldn’t be nearly so fun. Good job, it looks cute with jeans but would look great with the navy dress also :)
This is one of my favourites out of all your creations. I bet you get strangers stopping you in the street to ask where you got this – I would!
So pretty! The mittens made me laugh. Man I want some of that fabric, pretty plaids are simply too hard to find around here. :-(
aw, it turned out adorable! i love love love the plaid and kudos to you for matching it up so perfectly – i know this is going to make me sound like an ass, but mismatched plaids are the first thing i look for (and cringe at) when i see handmade stuff. which is why i won’t even sew plaid hahaha. your cape is perfect, though! i especially love how the tailoring paid off on your collar :)
Hi ! This is a really nice work. I recently made my own cape too but chose a simpler pattern and much simpler as it is plain black :)
Have fun wearing it !
Charlotte
I picture you wearing this with a slim skirt and white gloves! Very nicely done!
So stylish! And the way the plaids are level on either side of your collar stand is amazing (and the whole coat). Loved the button tutorial – I have so many of your posts bookmarked for future reference!
@Clare: Ooooh, me too! I’m experiencing some extreme covetiness right now. SO cute and love it with the jeans and your kicky boots!
It looks great! You really got those plaids matched perfectly!
Gorgeous cape and a fabulous job on the details, to boot! lol
i had dreams of making a cape this season – they didn’t really materialise….
your’s is gorgeous!
Awwww, congratulations! You look so happy and proud, as you should be! What an inspiring project.
I love it with jeans! You may not wear jeans often and therefore feel a bit funny in them, but they are really cute with the cape. The stripes line up so well! And you’re right, I wouldn’t know it was a pattern from the ’60s if you didn’t say so, especially because capes are back in style now. I’ve been thinking I should make a mod ’60s shift dress for myself since they’re easy and all things ’60s seem to be in right now…
Absolutely adorable, and what a great sewing job! You are so talented; that happy glow you have showing off your new cape is well-earned.
So adorable, Tasia!
Tasia, your cape is adorable – great job!
What do you plan to sew next please :) ?
Adorable! And I LOVE it with jeans!
It turned out beautifully! What a lovely plaid material, and I really like your spacing choice for the buttons. Everything is just gorgeous. Now I want to make one!
I love it – and you are a great cape model!
I bought some fabric for a cape recently and can’t wait to make it up. I’m trying to decide what length to make it, but that seems to change with whatever I decide to wear under it!
LOVELY! It turned out sooo great! I adore the plaid you used! I’m actually going to go back and redo my cape collar following your lead and padstitch it! :-)
This is a splendid cape! I agree it will look lovely with a slim skirt and the idea of long slender gloves, mentioned above, sounds nice too.
It’s adorable, even with the jeans :-) I really like your detail to attention & the way you made sure to get the plaid to line up & match. Well done (again).
Looks fantastic! I think lining up the buttons on the blue squares was a great idea- they just belong there!
I didn’t think I’d like the cape look, but I love how yours looks with jeans–very cute!
Really cute!
I LOVE it! You did an amazing job lining up the plaid and it looks so warm!
I love your cape and the sewing is impeccable. You stitched it up quickly considering you have also done 3 Pendrells and your schoolwork! I have googled “fashion cape” for some styling inspiration and there aren’t very many images. They seem to be teamed with skinny jeans and a good look is having a nice long straight neat jumper so there’s something going on in the middle. Also a straight mini skirt with thick tights or a nice pencil skirt.
Thanks everyone!! :) I’m pretty happy with this cape, it’s so different from what I usually sew, which is why I like it so much! I’m totally going to make a navy dress or skirt to wear with it. So it’s a real outfit, like the pattern illustration. Yay!
@Claire (aka Seemane): What am I going to sew next? Probably the Vintage Vogue dress that my friend gave me as a present. I have a feeling there will be lots of potential tutorials in the construction of that one!
Thanks everyone who said it looks good with jeans. You’re right, I don’t wear jeans very often, and I don’t usually like how I look in them. I suppose I just need a fun cape on top as a distraction! :)
Tasia its awesome!!!
I think it would look great with a nice navy pencil skirt and tights.
looks great with jeans too. bravo!
*adding a cape to the ‘to sew’ list*
What a fun piece! Excellent job matching the plaids and you definitely made the right decision on button placement. I made a cape several years ago but never wear it due to the purse issue. If I have a small purse, it’s night time and too cold for just a cape. I don’t think my daytime backpack would look too good under my cape. Please update us on tips for wearing when you’ve had it for a while.
Oh, you are ROCKING that cape, girl! You could totally pull that off for everyday. I love it with jeans and it would look great with a skirt, tights, and boots. :)
You’ve done a brilliant job (naturally) of putting it together. Everything looks amazing – a true couture garment.
And the Olympic mittens? From one Canadian to another – I HEART them big time!
@The Slapdash Sewist: Definitely! I do have to say my purse does not stay on my shoulder properly, it kept slipping off. I suppose you have to carry a handbag with a cape – literally! In your hand, not over the shoulder. Well, there’s definitely space for a backpack under there :) but not sure you’d feel comfortable like that.
It IS easy to drive in, though! Instead of having a coat all bunched under your rear end, the cape falls just to the seat of the car, and my arms move easily in it.
This is one of those ‘fantasy life’ pieces, where I get to carry a tiny white purse, a slim navy dress with this pretty cape on top. Practical? Not so much!
@Sarah: Yay!! I knew other Canadians would appreciate the Olympic mittens. They’re super warm, too! I keep them in my trunk/tailgate for extra-cold driving days. Thanks so much for the nice comments! :)
It’s darling and you did such a fantastic job on the plaid matching! Really gorgeous work! The finished product truly does look modern, yet in that vintage cool sort of way! It will be spectacular with a navy skirt, or even a bright red wiggle dress! Love it!
xoxo,
Sunni
I love it (especially with the jeans! … and of course the Olympic mittens.) Can I whine about how lovely and springlike it looks there? And I definitely think you made the right call on the button spacing.
@TanitIsis: Those pictures are misleading – it’s thunderstorming and snowing right now! I can whine right along with you. It’s cold! I need the mittens for warmth :)
I love your cape! The plaid is perfect. Now you have to make a slim navy dress to go with it!
Tasia,
i love the cape! You did a terrific job and the plaid matching is awesome. I have always been scared of plaids but love the look. I am happy to see they are coming back in. My daughter is now lobbying for full lengh cloaks to come back in!
LOVE IT! Looks great and super professional like everything you make. Great job!
Looks fantastic!!! Makes me want to sleuth out a cape pattern of my own!
Love the cape! Now I want to make one of my own. Well done. Dare I call you Sherlock? Maybe you need a cap to go with it.
Ack! Super jealous! I am in love with the cape, the plaid, all of it. Well done!
Hi Taisa! That cape looks awesome! I love your mittens! I have the same ones. I’m an ex-pat Canadian living in Germany, but my aunt sent me a pair of Olympic mittens in a surprise care package. What a wonderful reminder of home. Thanks for wearing them in your photo shoot!
Oooh, I love the tartan fabric! I usually don’t wear capes but this one sure is beautiful!
It’s absolutely stunning! And I love it with the jeans, but perhaps that’s because I’m a Pendleton kind of girl so I have three plaid coats, even if they’re not capes! I definitely think you’re working the dressed down way to wear it. :)
Your attention to detail is amazing. I don’t know if I’ll ever have it in me to be as precise as you’ve been on this project. It came together like a dream!
Oh wow, this looks gorgeous on you! I love the style, the colour and the excellently matched plaids…impressive ;o)
@Tasia:
Mmmm… dresses – practically your speciality I can’t wait :) !
I love, love, love this cape… beautiful work! I agree about the slim navy dress… are you thinking of making one soon?
Beautiful cape. Just the thing for my ‘scoccer Mum’ look – Saturday morning sport can be a bit chilly.
love love love it! i think it would look gorgeous over one of your red dresses or a red skirt!
I think it looks great with the flared jeans and boots! Even without a navy pencil skirt!
Too cute! You used a vintage pattern? That’s amazing. I couldn’t even imagine working with one.