After making two black capes for last year's Halloween, you would think that we had enough of these things. Not so. This years' request is a Dementor or witch (she keeps changing her mind) and a bat.
I can repurpose the Witches Cloak for the Dementor/witch, but the Vampire Cloak, with it's lining and white bow tie is too specifically Dracula to make it work as a bat. How ironic. But I have been able to lend it out to a friend instead.
I made the size 8 hat, because my kids seem to have extra large heads. The fit is quite difficult to get right and, I confess, I did not spend a lot of time even trying. It is very small around the face. The distance from the point of the forehead to the chin is tiny and even her petite face can't make it. I folded the chin part in and stitched a diagonal line through it to make it fit under her chin. The hem around the front of the hood could have done with better execution. I did a French Seam through the centre line of the hood and I didn't continue the first seam far enough down. There is a part where you can see some of the raw edges. It could probably do with some interfacing or stabilising at the edge, since it is just turned under and hemmed. What would really make it great would be a full facing. But I'm not about to do that.
The ears are really great, they are the perfect size, shape and position and are instantly recognisable as bat ears (Batman, even). The instructions have you sew them on to the hood downwards, fold up and sew over the bottom seam to get them to point up. Even with heavyweight interfacing, I had to sew about 3 lines of stitching at ever increasing heights to make them stand upright.
I decided to sew the hood to the cape because the weight of the cape helps the hood sit better. Then we went to the Making of Harry Potter, and a second witches cape was required, so I had to unpick and add ribbon ties to both the cape and the hood.
I wanted to add sticks to the front edge of the cape so she can flare out her bat wings, but the hem of the cape is long and it would be too awkward to actually climb the front steps of houses-that-have-candy. Instead I added loops for her wrists. She made them herself from Loom Band bracelets. They didn't work when I tried to machine sew them to the front hem. The needle pierced the rubber bands and made them break so I had to sew them on by hand.
The hem is shaped at the back, to make it more bat-like and the cut out pieces at each side make it more uneven. I didn't realise the first two times I made this, that the front is actually cut on the crosswise grain. I can only imagine it is to get it on to the fabric. I've certainly never had enough width to get the whole thing out of one piece, and I am too frugal to bother getting a beautiful circle cape.
I confess that I am a little disappointed with my finishing along the front edge. It is not my best work and is completely on show. After last year's festival of lining and bias facing, I was a bit jaded, but the turned under and hemmed effect is not quite good enough, especially on a light polycotton. It is worth taking some time over the finish on the front edge.
The fabric amount was quite generous (2m vs 2 yards) so I had enough left to eke out another Doll's Cape and bat hat too!
Costs:
Fabric: 2 meters black polycotton, £5.63
Pattern: Simplicity 1584. Used many times previously. £0.00
Thread: Stash. £0.00
Interfacing: Heavyweight. Scraps. £0.00
Ribbon: Salvaged from gifts. £0.00
Total: £5.63
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