How to make a hooded cape

1. Materials & tools

Materials (For the adult size (90 cm length))

• Main fabric (fleece, felt or light blanket fabric) — about 110 cm wide × (length + hood height + 20 cm)
• Optional: lining (for the hood lining and facing)
• Sewing thread

Tools

• Sewing machine (or needle and thread)
• Fabric marker or pencil
• Ruler and scissors
• Iron
• Pins or clips

2. Make the pattern (auto-generated in Katagami)

With the Katagami pattern tool, you just enter the finished size and it drafts a seam-allowance-included pattern, tiled to print at actual size on Letter or A4.

1. Open the tool
   Open the pattern tool and choose “Accessories” → “Hooded cape” from the tabs at the top.
2. Enter the size
   Enter the body width (before gathering), length, neck measurement and hood height. Presets for child, adult and long.
3. Set the seam allowance
   Use the slider at the bottom (beginners: 1.0–1.5 cm / about 3/8–5/8 in).
4. Print
   Press “Print (actual size)”, then in the print dialog set Scale = 100% and turn “Fit to page” OFF. Check the 50 mm calibration box on the first guide sheet with a ruler.

3. Cutting the fabric

1. Decide the measurements
   Set the length, the body width (2–3× the neck for fullness) and the hood height. The hood must actually fit over the head, so make it tall enough.
2. Cut
   Cut one body, two hood pieces and one neck band / ties.

4. Sewing

4-1. Make the hood

1. Right sides together, sew the two hood pieces along the center-back (curved) edge.
2. Hem the face edge (the front).

4-2. Gather the body

1. Run two rows of long stitches across the top and gather it down to the neck measurement.
2. Match the bottom of the hood to the same neck length.

4-3. Sandwich hood and body in the band

1. Fold the band in half right sides together, sew the ends (ties) and turn out.
2. Layer the hood bottom and the gathered body top and sandwich them in the middle of the band, then stitch. Hood on top, cape below.

✏️ If the hood is small it will not go on. Hold just the hood to the head before sewing to check the size. A lining makes the inside neat when the hood is up.

5. Tips & variations

• Change the character: red for Red Riding Hood, black for a reaper or wizard, purple or stars for a witch.
• Contrast hood: a different color for the hood or lining frames the face when it is up.
• Fastening: besides the neck ties, a button or snap also closes it neatly.