1950s Jacket-Cape for TMS

When I heard about The Monthly Stitch* I promptly threw my hat in the ring - monthly challenges sounded feasible, and I was excited to mingle with a new-to-me group of sewists.  What's more, the August challenge was capes, and capes sound easy, right?

* Have you heard of The Monthly Stitch?  If you haven't, follow the link, go have a look (then come back for the show and tell). It's a similar idea to The Sew Weekly, but it's brand spanking new, it's monthly not weekly (d'oh) and - well, go have a look, join in, sign up! 

Here's my cape - goodness knows what my hands are saying, perhaps "it took me THIS long!":

It looks easy enough, but it took me ages!

Cape patterns weren't so much a problem as a distraction - I had too many lovely vintage cape patterns to choose from. Fabric was the next concern... your traditional cape devours fabric, and I wanted to sew from my stash. Since I don't usually buy huge cape-like quantities of anything I had to pick a pattern that would work with less.  

Vogue 2934, you look a reasonable sort of chap - not too demanding... Think you can wrap your head around working with this 1.85m Plaid fellow? 

     You'll do it?  - - Can I rely on you?

Excellent!  How soon can you start? 

Pattern and fabric started work that very evening.

The work was harder than anticipated, but with a jolly atmosphere, spirits remained high.

I used Vogue 2934, a reissue of a 1950 pattern - a loose, lined cape with a flared back, funnel neckline and dolman sleeves:  

Oh look, no wonder my sleeves are so long - I forgot to turn them up!

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I started sewing a week out from the due date. My planning skills are appalling - there wasn't enough time! Luckily I was able to get a late pass from Mel, so I chugged away for a few extra evenings and handed it in about 3 days late.

In my defense, I did spend quite a bit of time matching the not-square plaids across fronts, backs, sides and facings.  It took a long time as I only just had enough fabric, but the resulting symmetry and plaid matching make me feel good:

Plus I had to learn how to make a bound buttonhole (woohoo!!! I even got the fabric in the bound section to line up!):

Had to? Well, from the experience on my cashmere jacket I knew that my machine wouldn't manage a regular buttonhole on 2 layers of wool and interfacing. All good though, bound buttonhole-making is a skill worth gaining!

I will definitely need to do a PatternReview of this pattern as I didn't think the instructions were particularly efficient - perhaps they were sticking close to the originals though. [For example, I like to bag my sleeve linings by machine, and this requires a change to the order of lining construction - don't sew the centre back lining seam first!] On the plus side, this pattern sews up a much smarter little cape than I was expecting - and the airy style means it's perfect for in-between seasons. 

Better go - roast potatoes and vintage pattern surfing are calling :)

See you anon
- Gabrielle x