DIY Superhero Cape Tutorial

Every Child Needs To Be A Superhero!!

I've been wanting to start a blog for a few years now. I always thought it would be about "birthy" things. Go figure my first post would be about the Superhero Capes I made for my boys for Christmas! You'll have to forgive me for my {ahem} terrible picture taking skills. You will see food on the table or toys on the floor, ya know, glimpses into my extremely unorganized life! I don't have photoshop and wouldn't have the slightest clue how to use it. I also wasn't very good about keeping track of my steps. I got uber excited about how awesome they were coming together and forgot to stop and snap the pics! 

Lets start with the materials needed:

- 20x26 rectangle of felt {I made four capes and logos with 1 yd of material!} 
- two 6'" pieces of elastic 
- 10" piece of ribbon
- thread 

This was so easy-peasy. You don't need a pattern, not a lot cutting..oh wait..depending on your superhero, your logo might take a bit. {I really need to get me one of those fancy cutting blades} 

Step 1: So you are gonna start by cutting your felt into a 20x28 rectangle. You will also want to cut an 10" piece of ribbon. Next you will want to fold the short end of the rectangle over by about and inch, pin it, and sew across, making a loop. 

Next you will thread your ribbon through the hole you just created. Lucky for me, I bought a pair of ring forceps for my birth kit that were super jankie. One of my preceptors told me I could just use them for crafts. I thought, "Yea right, what can I use those for?". UM TO THREAD A RIBBON THROUGH MY SUPERHERO CAPE, THATS WHAT!! 

Step 2: Using a bodkin, {safety pin, chopstick, ring forceps..ya know whatever you have on hand} gently pull the ribbon through the tube until the end is even with the edge of the felt. Pin in place and then sew over felt and ribbon 3-4 times.

So really, you have two options here. Most capes have ties that come around the neck. I'm not too concerned about the tie around the neck leading to accidents. I just REALLY don't like things around my neck and the thought of having something tied AND hanging behind me, naw, no thanks! So if you would like a tie, just cut a much longer piece of ribbon, thread it through, pin in the same places and VOILA! Ya got yourself a cape with a neck tie. 

You are now finished with the neck of the cape and it should look like this. 

Step 3: Flatten out one of the gathered sides of the cape. Take you elastic and pin it about 1" in from the edge. 

Step 4: Take the bottom part of the elastic and pin 4" down from your first pin and 3" in from the edge and of the fabric.

Step 5: Sew both ends making two seams, each with  3-4 passes of the machine. This will keep the elastic secure.

On to the logo. I did the super legit thing...I found the logos that I wanted online, zoomed in, taped some paper on my computer screen and traced it! 

Step 6: I pinned the logo to a scrap piece of felt and then cut it out. Thinking back, it would have been way easier to just fold the felt and the cutout in half..this would have saved me time {and sore fingers}. Did I mention I need one of those fancy cutting tools? Scalpel anyone? 

I made Batman and Spider-Man. Yes, I know, Spider-Man doesn't wear a cape, but still, these guys are my boys' favorite Superheros so that is what I made.

Step 7: Pin your logo to the cape and sew. 

This sounds way easier that it is. Now don't get me wrong, this IS a super easy project, but the logos by far, took the majority of the time. I've only started sewing a couple years ago, so I'm still new at this. Let's just say that I am happy I was working with black felt and thread!!

Once you're finished attaching your logo, add any finishing touches your Superhero will need and your done!!! I wanted to add the trim to the bottom of the Batman cape. I folded it in half, pinned and then cut.

I had so much fun making these!! Batman is my FAVORITIST Superhero {yes that's a real word}. So much so, I had a Batman birthday party when I was 5. I still remember the super sweet Gotham City cake and cool Batman sweatshirt I got, man I wish I still had that... {sad face+tear}

Do y'all have any idea how hard it was to get him to hold still long enough to actually get my camera to focus AND snap the picture? This kid was so excited the second I put it on!! He immediately flew away, jumping from the chair to couch, getting "all those bad guys!" I had so much felt, I made two of each, the others are going to my niece and nephew. 

What I'm about to tell you makes me feel bad, just a little bit...I really wanted to make sure the cape would fit. Even though it is supposed to be a Christmas present, I wanted to see it on him. I told him it was really for his cousin in hopes that I could take it off of him, stick it up in the closet and he would forget all about it. The joy on his face when he put it on, and then the complete and udder sadness when I told him he couldn't keep it, just really broke my heart. {But I giggled too} He is such a sweet boy and will be so happy when he sees it on Christmas!!