Outer Cape

Outer Cape reference picture
Click for larger image

The Chain

I found this stuff with the help of a local Aussie bloke.  I knew I had seen it somewhere before but I just couldn't think where.  Then from the Vader Creations Board he says that it's garden chain.  It's used to tie plants to stakes.  I saw it in the drive-thru of Macca's one day.

Anyway, the stuff is called Maxi-Loc.  You can find it at the nursery or garden centre.   It's only $4 for about 10 metres. 

I did have a heap of it and was sending it out to anyonw who needed it.  I can no longer do this as I'm getting too many requests and it will end up costing me a lot of money.  So here are the details for contacting the distributor of the garden chain. You'll need to ask for "Maxi-Lok all purpose chain tie".

Fertool Distributors Pty Ltd
99 Abbott Road
Hallam VIC 3803
ph +61 (03) 9796 4433

The Cape

The material I'm using is a wool fabric.  It can be expensive but I purchased mine during summer when it wasn't popular and got it half price (normally $24.00 p/m).

The pattern is very simple and I suggest you start learning some geometry for this. 

Measuring and cutting the material

READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS IN FULL BEFORE YOU START.
You need to get an idea of what you are doing and remember
MEASURE TWICE........CUT ONCE.

You need to measure yourself from the nape of the neck to the floor.   Before you do, make sure of the following:

• Make sure you are wearing the boots you'll be using for the costume
• Stand as straight as you can
• Add an extra few centimetres to the length as you can always trim it off later

Then measure the width of the base of your neck.  This is hard to explain so here's a rough diagram.  This measurement doesn't need to be exact, just fairly close.  A collar will be attached to this. 

My cape will be approx 150cm (it's actually 145 but it'll be easier to explain it in round figures).

Now you need to cut out two semi-circles in the fabric.  Easiest way to do this is to fold your fabric in half and pin it together.  Take the first measurement (neck to floor), double it and mark it on the material.  You will need to leave about a 5cm clearance from the base of the material to the base of the semi-circle.  Now you have to mark out the semi-circle.  The easiest way to do this is get a stick of white tailors chalk (don't use normal chalk as it won't come out in the wash) and tie a long piece of string on it.  Place the point of the chalk at the base of the where the semi-circle will start and the other end of the string at the exact centre of the base of the semi-circle.  All you need to do now is get someone to hold the material flat and tight and move the chalk in an arch (keep your finger on the other end of the string).   When you come around you should have a perfect semi-circle.  Before you start cutting.  It's a good idea to pin the material together INSIDE the semi-circle.  You can now cut out the material.  You should have a shape similar to this:

The next part can be tricky.  Mark the centre of the semi-circle (remember the 5cm extra at the bottom).  We'll call this the central point.  With the neck measurement, halve it and draw a circle (use the string again).   From the central point, mark a 45 degree point and mark a straight line from there to the outer edge of the semi-circle.  We are trying to get this:

Again, pin it all together before you start cutting it out.   You should now have two pieces like the ones above.  Unpin them and lay them together so the front of the material is facing together.  If you have a sewing machine, sew the two pieces together along the dotted line.  Don't worry about the seam as it should be reasonably inconspicuous when it's finished.  Once you have done that, you should have a piece that looks similar to this:

Now that's done, you are best to let the material hang for a few days.  Use a wooden coathanger as the wire ones will just bend.  This lets the material drop and deform.

Here is what the cape will look like at this stage.  Click on the image for the bigger picture.

 

Cutting out the lining

This is easy.  I'm using a satin lining.  Satin isn't cheap but there is some stuff at Spotlight that looks like Satin called Bemsilk.  It's not as heavy as normal Satin but at $3.49 p/m compared to $10.50 p/m, I chose the cheaper one.  After all, it's only lining.  All you need to do is cut out the same pattern as the wool material.  Easy Peasy.  

If the lining isn't as wide as the wool, then you can cut triangles of lining and sew them together.  If you have 6.5m of lining, fold it on half and then in half again so you have four layers.  Make sure all the sides are even and pin it all together.  Cut the fold at both ends.  Now fold the material over as shown........

Cut along the fold and unpin everything.   You should now have 8 pieces of lining.  Lay out your cape and, like a jigsaw puzzle, fit the lining to the cape.  Just make sure the lining covers the cape.   Now very carefully, pin the lining together the sew it up.

When it comes to attaching the lining to the cape, sew it right to the front edges (both pieces of material will be turned in of course).  The easiest way to do this is to have the two pieces together (faces to each other), sew the seams and then turn the whole thing inside out..........or is it right way out.  Now to stop the lining from creeping forward, sew another seam about 2.5cm from the front edges.

Don't sew the bottom or the neck just yet.

The Collar

All you need to do is measure the diameter of the inner circle and cut a length of fake leather about 7.5cm wide.  You will then have a piece of leather, rectangular in shape measuring 7.5cm x the diameter of the circle.  On the inner circle of the cape, mark a line approx. 1cm around.  This will be the where the collar starts.  Now take a pair of scissors and cut into the material to just before the marked line (see diagram).  DO NOT GO OVER THE LINE.  Those who failed at colouring-in in pre-school may want to practice staying in the lines before commencing.  This makes it much easier to sew the collar on. 

You don't want to pin the leather to the material as you will get pinholes in it.  What I did was painstakingly hand sewed the leather to the cape, and then ran it through the sewing machine.

To start, hand sew the leather to the back side of the cape (so you have the back of the leather on the inside of the cape).  Run it through the sewing machine twice to get a really strong stitch.  Now with a needle and waxed thread (get it from the fly fishing shop), stich the plastic chain onto the inside of the collar.   Make sure you get a good load of thread on there to make sure it stays, but no too bulky so it shows up when you fold the collar over.  Sew a dress hook onto the other side of the collar.  Fold the collar over until the leather meets the line and hand sew it on.

Hemming and the leather strip (optional)

Once you have the collar and the chain worked out and the cape is sitting right, you are ready to hem it.  If you are going to add the leather strip to the bottom of the cape then you will have to cut off a bit more than normal.  Have about 5cm off the ground.

BEFORE YOU START MARKING THE HEM LINES

You MUST wear the shoulder armour and the boots while you are wearing the cape, and get someone to mark the hem lines.  Stand straight and don't move until all the hem lines have been marked.  If you don't wear the boots or the upper armour at this stage, once you wear the costume the cape will not reach the floor. 

Now speaking from experience, if you have the cape touching the floor there is a tendancy to tred it on it.  I took mine up si it was about 1cm off the floor.  This is much better and safer as you won't be tripping over it all the time.

To add the leather strip (I took it off as for the reasons above), you'll need to lay the cape out fully and cut sections of the leather to the curvature of the cape.  Then you siomply sew them on.  If you don't want to use leather, you can use some satin that's been doubled over.

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Updated: 28 October 2001