Bell Cape
Introducing a chic women's cape pattern, featuring a flowing bell silhouette with a distinctive double-layer construction and a stand-up collar with a keyhole front.
When To Wear
This elegant cape offers versatile styling, making it a sophisticated choice for:
- Elevated Everyday Wear: Perfect for adding a touch of refined flair to casual outfits.
- Transitional Seasons: An ideal lightweight outer layer for spring and autumn.
- Semi-Formal & Evening Events: Its luxurious drape and unique design make it suitable for special occasions.
Key Design Features
Silhouette: a short, loose, bell-shaped cape with a graceful double-layer design.
Neckline: Features a sophisticated stand-up collar with a keyhole opening at the front.
Closure: a refined front placket with hidden snaps, finished with a soft, decorative tie.
Sleeves: Wide and flowing, seamlessly integrated into the cape's bell silhouette, allowing for elegant movement.
Hem: a distinctive two-tiered hem, with a sheer underlayer extending gracefully beneath the main cape.
Level Of Difficulty
Intermediate. Requires experience with placket construction, attaching interfacing, and working with delicate or sheer fabrics for a refined finish.
Fabric Recommendations
Select lightweight, flowing fabrics with an elegant drape to enhance the cape's silhouette:
- Crepe-satin (for the main cape)
- Satin (for the main cape)
- Chiffon (for the underlayer)
Additional Supplies
- Fusible interfacing
- 2 snaps
Cutter's Must
- From main fabric:
- Back - 1 qty
- Front - 1 qty
- Sleeve – 2 qty
- Trim strip – 2 qty
- From chiffon:
- Back - 1 qty
- Front - 1 qty
- Sleeve – 2 qty
- From fusible interfacing:
- Trim strip – 2 qty
Sewing Instructions
- Fuse the trim strip pieces with fusible interfacing.
- Mark the attachment lines for the trim STRIPs on the outer front. Press the trim strip pieces in half lengthwise, right side out. Place the trim STRIPs with the outer side onto the right side of the outer front, with raw edges towards the center front. Stitch, ending the seams strictly at the limiting line. Cut the closure similar to cutting welt pockets. Fold the trim strip attachment seam allowances to the wrong side of the front, press, and overlock.
- Mark the attachment lines for the trim STRIPs on the inner front. Place the trim STRIPs with the inner side onto the wrong side of the inner front, with raw edges towards the center front. Stitch, ending the seams strictly at the limiting line. Cut the closure similar to cutting welt pockets. Fold the trim strip attachment seam allowances to the right side of the front, press, and overlock.
- Place the outer and inner front pieces right sides together, and the trim STRIPs folded in half lengthwise. Stitch the upper corners and the neckline of the front, stopping 3 cm before the shoulder edge. Trim the seam allowances at the corners, clip at curves. Turn the trim STRIPs to the right side, straighten the closure. Secure the corners at the end of the closure at their base with a double machine stitch and overlock. Press the finished closure. Topstitch the trim STRIPs into the attachment seam, thereby securing the outer and inner sides.
- Stitch the shoulder edge on the outer cape. Press the seam allowances open and overlock.
- Attach the sleeve to the garment. Press the seam towards the sleeve and overlock.
- Press the bottom edge of the garment to the wrong side, fold under, and topstitch.
- Place the back and front pieces made of chiffon right sides out and stitch the shoulder edge. Press the seam allowances open and overlock. Attach the sleeve to the garment, placing them right sides out. Press the seam towards the sleeve and overlock. Place the wrong side of the chiffon cape with the right side of the upper cape and stitch along the neckline. Clip the seam allowances at curves, turn the cape to the right side, press. Topstitch along the neckline edge.
- Sew buttons to the closure. Tip: velcro hook-and-loop tape can also be used as a closure.
