sew a classic cape

1 Download and print the pattern. Cut out the pattern pieces as indicated in the cutting guide. Attach interfacing to the wrong side of the two front facing panels. Iron interfacing to the back of the fabric collar and with the right side of the fabric and the lining facing, pin and stitch around the outer edges with a 1cm seam allowance. Trim away the bulk from the corners and turn the collar out to the right side. Tease out the corners and press. If you are using faux fur for the collar, press the edges from the lining side instead as the iron may mark the main fabric.

2 Find the centre of the collar and the back neck edge, and match these points together. Pin the collar around the neckline, matching the front edges of the collar to the notches marked on the front neckline of the cape, then stitch to the cape with a 1cm seam allowance. Position the cape lining to the main cape fabric, right sides together, matching the necklines, front edges and curved hems. Note that because the cape is almost a circle, the pieces will have a different grain throughout, so will stretch in some places but not in others. Lay each fabric and lining piece out on a surface and pin the edges together, so the lining follows the cape exactly.

3 With a 1cm seam allowance, stitch around the neckline, down the front and around the curved hem, leaving a gap for turning out on one of the straight front edges. Trim away the bulk from the corners and clip around the neckline. Turn the cape out to the right side through the gap in the front edge, then tease out the corners and seams. Press, then slipstitch the gap closed by hand.