How to make a plush cape

1. Materials & tools

Materials (one outfit for a 20 cm plush)

• Main fabric (felt, fleece or light cotton) — about 25 × 28 cm (scraps are fine)
• Size 9 needle and fine 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 “Fandom” → “Plush cape” from the tabs at the top.
2. Enter the size
   Enter the chest, length and the rest. Presets cover 10, 15 and 20 cm plushies and a 27 cm doll.
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. Measure the plush
   Chest at its widest, and the length you want from the shoulder. Two plushies both sold as "20 cm" can be quite different, so measure yours.
2. Trace the pattern
   Lay the pattern on the wrong side and trace both lines. At this scale a fine chalk pencil works better than a marker.
3. Cut the pieces
   If the fabric frays, seal the edges or zigzag them straight away.
4. Transfer the notches
   The smaller the garment, the more the notches matter. Do not skip them.

4. Sewing

4-1. Finish the outer edge

1. Felt and fleece can be left raw.
2. In woven fabric, turn the outer edge and both front edges under 5 mm and stitch.
3. It is a curve, so it resists folding — ease it round with your fingers a little at a time.

4-2. Finish the neck opening

1. Clip the inner curve's allowance every 5 mm.
2. Turn it to the inside and stitch all round.
3. Without the clips the inner curve drags and ripples.

4-3. Add the ties

1. Fold both ties in four and topstitch.
2. Stitch one to each end of the neck opening.
3. Backstitch two or three times at the root — they get pulled every time it is tied.

✏️ Always clip the inner curve at the neck. Unlike the outer edge, an inner curve runs short of fabric when turned. Without clips it drags, ripples, and never sits properly at the throat.

5. Tips & variations

• Raw edges in felt: no finishing needed, so about fifteen minutes start to finish.
• Add a hood: the hood from the plush hoodie turns it into a cloak.
• Line it: a contrasting lining looks good when it flips open.
• Seam allowance is 5 mm: at 1 cm the allowances collide and the garment will not turn out cleanly.
• Size 9 needle, fine thread: a heavy needle leaves holes in the fabric.
• Mock it up in paper: assembling it once in interfacing or copy paper shows up any problem with length or ease.