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2012 Challenge -- Circle Cape
This cape is made of a circle of 45", 54" or 60" fabric. The fabric can be wool, linen or other types of fabric, but it must be reversible or lined to make two finished sides. The only limit is your imagination!
Begin with a square.
Fold the square into a triangle by folding the corners together. The fold must be bias. Locate the center of the fabric on the fold and mark with a pin or chalk mark. Using the center of the fold as a pivot, mark/draw a circle with a chalk on a string. Cut the circle.
Measure the width between the shoulders of the person who will wear the cape by placing your hand on the shoulder joint and feel where the arm moves in the shoulder socket. The width across the back between the sockets should be the width between the armholes. If it is not possible to get an exact measurement, 15" to 16" should be a good measurement.
From the center mark, measure 7 1/2" (if 15" between shoulder sockets) or 8" (if 16") or whatever is half between the measured width of the wearer. For a much larger size, this could be up to 12".
Mark and measure down the fabric from the fold 5 1/2". At the bottom of the 5 1/2" measure, move the point 1" toward the center. Mark this line. The cape will fit better if the 5 1/2" line is slightly curved.
Slash this slightly curved line. Repeat on the other side of the center mark. These are the armholes.
If the fabric is loosely woven, stay stitch by sewing around the slash 1/4" from the cut edge. Complete the arm holes with fold-over braid, bias binding, crochet or whatever. Again, the only limit is your imagination.
The cut, outer edge of the circle can be finished with a fringe, bias binding, fold-over braid of hand-tied fringe, or whatever. You may find it easier to apply the finishing braid or binding to the curved edge by placing the cape on a flat surface and pin the trim/fringe in place.
Yardage: 45" fabric - 1 1/4 yards to make 45" circle
54" fabric - 1 1/2 yards = 54" circle
60" fabric - 1 2/3 yards = 60" circle
For armholes - 1 1/2 " yards
See the FASA February newsletter for four drawn Figures depicting the descriptions above.
