Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Doll Cape--from Santa Hat!


This dollar store Santa hat almost begged to become a Christmas cape for my 18" doll!



This particular hat had some appealing pluses that add to it's transformability: the reverse side of the fabric is attractive and looks like lining, and the furry border is only one hemmed layer of fabric. Here's how to do it:

1. Fold your hat with the side seams together, fur trim folded down, and slash along what will be the center front-- if the hat has a pompom, snip it off first.


2. Turn under and stitch a 3/8" hem along each side of the center front. Leave the fur unhemmed.

2. Cut off the pointed end of the hat so you can


3. Turn it inside out and wrap it around your doll. Pin along what will be the shoulder seams.



4. Stitch and trim the shoulder seams.


5. Fold along the center back, matching the seams and neck edges. Lower the front and back neckline by triming curves from the center front and center back to the shoulder seam.


6. Staystitch the neck edge: stitch a line 1/4" from the cut edge of the neckline you made. Clip the curve by making snips from the raw edge to the stitching line, about 1/4" apart--this will allow the fabric to lie flat when turned under.


7. Make the finished neck edge: with the wrong side up, turn the clipped seam allowance to the wrong side along the staystitching and stitch alongclose to the fold. Almost finished!

8. To finish the furry edge, turn up the fur strip, right sides together, and pin along the raw edges. Stitch, and turn the fur right side out.


9. On the right side, pin the long edge of the fur up, covering the seam where it's stitched to the cape. Machine or hand stitch. Add a hook and eye or ribbon ties for the closure. That's it!Felicity is ready for Christmas.

17 comments:

  1. This is so cute! I really need to get an 18" doll even though I don't have any daughters!

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  2. It's too, too perfect! GENIUS!!

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  3. I love your mind! Is there anything you can't turn into doll clothes?

    I featured your tutorial on Craft Gossip Sewing:
    http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-victorian-cape-for-an-18-doll-from-a-santa-hat/2009/12/23/

    --Anne

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  4. What a clever idea! My granddaughter is getting Felecity from Santa, and I am going to look after Christmas for a hat, and then make her one. Thank you for the wonderful directions and idea.

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  5. This is so pretty. I just bought a hat for a buck to make my doll one. Did you make the hat too? I bought an extra hat to make one out of. Or try to anyway.

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  6. Genius! I love this idea! I'm buying a Santa Hat today!

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  7. I am in awe that someone could even make the creative leap from hat to cape!! I came across this article quite entirely by accident while looking for a stock photo of a santa hat. I'm not into dolls and cannot sew (wish I could), but this was very cool. My hat's off to you.

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  8. I linked to your tutorial on my blog. Thanks for sharing such a creative idea.

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  9. Thanks so much for posting this! I came across it tonight and decided to whip it out for my niece's 18" doll. Super easy and good directions. I also linked to your pattern from my own blog: http://amylynn98.blogspot.com/2011/01/ive-said-it-before.html.

    Thanks again!
    Amy Lynn

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  10. This is fantastic! I found you via Dollar Store Crafts, and I have to say that this is my favorite 18" doll cape ever!

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  11. Just saw this on Pinterest! I love the idea to use a dollar store hat! Great job!

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  12. My daughter would love to see this! I buy doll accessories online for her dolls. Honestly, that shop has a really nice line of doll accessories. If only I knew how to sew, I would make even one for her. A downside of being a man, I guess.

    Chris Jeffery

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  13. Totally adorable, can't wait until December 2013 to make this. Thank you for sharing this great idea. Also for telling us about Dollar Store ideas - So Cute!!

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  14. I'meant uncertain about the hat. Where dI'd the fabric come from for the hat?

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