Cape with Slit Openings
Presenting an elegant women's cape pattern featuring a collar on a stand, a three-button front, a full lining and discreet slit openings for the arms in the front seams.
When To Wear
This cape offers a sophisticated layering option, perfect for:
- Versatile Outerwear: Ideal for adding a chic layer over both casual and formal outfits.
- Transitional Seasons: Provides elegant warmth during cooler weather without the bulk of a heavy coat.
- Polished Professional Look: Elevates business attire with a distinctive and refined silhouette.
Key Design Features
Silhouette: An elegant A-line cape silhouette with long vertical seams joining the front and back to the side (sleeve) panels, giving a graceful, flowing drape.
Collar: A shirt-style collar with softly rounded ends, set on a separate interfaced stand.
Closure: a single-breasted front secured with three prominent buttons.
Arm Openings: Vertical slit openings left in the front seams provide comfortable arm movement.
Front: Bust darts and topstitching 1 cm from the vertical seams.
Back: Shaped by vertical seams joining the back to the side (sleeve) panels, topstitched for a tailored look.
Length: Falls to a versatile mid-thigh length, ideal for layering.
Level Of Difficulty
Intermediate. Involves techniques such as collar and stand construction, buttonhole creation, princess seams, and lining assembly.
Fabric Recommendations
Choose fabrics with a moderate weight and soft drape to achieve the intended silhouette:
Additional Supplies
- Lining fabric
- Fusible interfacing
- 3 buttons
Cutter's Must
- From main fabric:
- Front – 2 pieces
- Back – 1 piece
- Back Sleeve – 2 pieces
- Lower Sleeve – 2 pieces
- Collar – 2 pieces
- Stand Collar – 2 pieces
- Center Front Facing – 2 pieces
- Back Neckline Facing – 1 piece
- From lining:
- Front – 2 pieces
- Back – 1 piece
- Back Sleeve – 2 pieces
- Lower Sleeve – 2 pieces
- From fusible interfacing:
- Back Neckline Facing – 1 piece
- Center Front Facing – 2 pieces
- Collar – 1 piece
- Stand Collar – 1 piece
Attention: front and back lining pieces are cut without the width of the Center Front Facings and the Back Neckline Facing, respectively.
Sewing Instructions
- Fuse interfacing to the Collar, Stand Collar, Center Front Facings and Back Neckline Facing.
- Stitch the bust dart on the front pieces. Press darts upwards.
- Stitch the vertical seams joining the Front to the Lower Sleeve, leaving the section between the marks unstitched for the arm slit. Overlock and press the seams open. Stitch the vertical seams joining the Back to the Back Sleeve. Overlock and press seams open.
- Place the Center Front Facing on the right side of the Front, right side down, and stitch along the front edge, working from the front side up to the notch that marks the end of the collar seam. Stitch the lower edges of the front facings to the front strictly along the marked hemline. Trim the seams of the upper and lower corners of the front edge. Turn the front edges to the right side and straighten the seams.
- Stitch the shoulder seams. Overlock and press seams open. Topstitch the sleeve panels 1 cm from the vertical seams of the back and front.
- Place the Collar pieces right sides together. Stitch the ends and the outer edge of the collar. Trim the seam. Turn the collar right side out and press. Place the Stand Collar pieces right sides together, insert the finished collar between them, match the notches and stitch, stitching the ends of the stand at the same time. Turn the stand right side out and press.
- Stitch the shoulder seams of the Back Neckline Facing and the Center Front Facings. Overlock and press seams open.
- Place the facings and the cape right sides together with the stand collar between them. Stitch the neckline, attaching the stand at the same time. Turn the facings to the inside and press.
- Overlock and press up the hem of the garment. Hand stitch the hem with blind stitches.
- Sew the lining pieces in the same way as the outer pieces. Fold the lining with the garment right sides together and stitch to the inner edges of the front facings and back neck facing, stopping 10 cm from the hemline. Stitch the lining to the edges of the arm slits. Align the lining hemline with the garment hemline. Turn up the lining hem twice and topstitch. Stitch the remaining section of the lining to the front facing. Overlock the seam. Secure the slit allowances to the main pieces with hand stitches or fusible web.
- Topstitch 1 cm from the edge along the front edges and the collar.
- On the right front, make buttonholes, on the left front, sew on buttons.
