This weekend we had a frolic in the woods with a squirrel, fox, salamander, two bunnies, a raccoon and a skunk! I designed quick and easy animal capes from our Eco-fi Shaggichic felt. It is soft, warm and comes in several colors. The grandlittles loved their hooded capes and when it became misty and damp they were kept dry and warm.
Basic Cape
(I did use a sewing machine to sew the hood to the cape but that could also be sewn by hand. The remaining features can be glued)
You will need:
- 1 ½ yards of Eco-fi Shaggichic (for contrasting ears and tails add ½ yard)
- 1 ½ yards of 1” satin ribbon
- Fabric glue, glue gun and glue sticks
- 8 oz. polyester fibrefill
- Wonderclips by Clover or pins
- Scissors, measuring tape, ruler, chalk or pencil, sewing machine and matching thread, heavy duty thread and embroidery needle.
1. Measure child from neck to midcalf for length of cape. Use a hood from a rain or winter coat for hood pattern. Fold Shaggi piece in half with right side inside. Measure along fold for length. For the five to seven year olds the cape length was 32”. Draw across bottom 20” and across top of cape 15”. Draw a line from the bottom to top. Round at bottom corner and cut along the bottom, side and top through both layers.
2. Place hood pattern on raw edge of folded Shaggichic. Draw around hood pattern by an extra inch. Cut through both layers.
3. Right sides together sew hood curved seam leaving straight side and bottom open. Fold front edge of hood under 1”, use fabric glue to hold in place.
4. Pin or clip center seam of hood to center of cape. Pin ends of hood to cape ends. Adjust excess cape evenly between clips. Sew, gathering cape into seam and trim.
5. Cut ribbon in half, fold over ends and glue one end to inside edge of cape as shown.
This is the basic cape. Now to adding ears and tails for each different animal.
Basic Ear
6. The ears for the raccoon, raccoon, squirrel and skunk are all the same. Draw on a folded piece of Shaggichic two triangles as shown 4” by 5”. It is easier to sew around ears and then cut out. From contrasting Shaggichic or Eco-fi Classicfelt cut two inner ear pieces 1” smaller than ear.
7. Turn ears right sides out. Glue inner ear piece to each ear front.
8. Make a pleat in each ear bottom and hot glue to top of cape as shown. Hold in place till dry.
9. For bunny ears extend pattern a few inches and round tips. Add chenille stems inside for bendable ears.
Animal Tails
10. The tails for the skunk, fox and raccoon are all similar. The squirrel tail I would make the same way next time. The curved tail was a little awkward. The bunny tails are just large gathered stuffed circles. For the other tails a rectangular shape approximately 7” by 18” curving the bottom to a center point.
11. Add details to front of tail before sewing, black stripes for raccoon, white stripe for skunk, spots for salamander. Sew tails right sides together and turn.
12. For fox tail sew as in Step 11. From white sew a half tail, cut the upper edge with a wavy edge. Insert over bottom of main tail. Glue in place.
13. Gather open ends of tails. Pull threads tightly and secure.
14. Place glue in the sewn end. Press in place on cape back. Make sure tail is centered and is glued at least 2” from bottom of cape.
Other details were added like a stripe down the center back of the skunk.
For different sized capes add or subtract from cape lengths. The fox cape is for a teen or small adult and measures 40” in length.
Design Team member Jennifer Priest continues to share DIY You Tube Videos and tutorials of a Halloween Costume every day! Get inspired at http://www.jenniferppriest.com/category/diy-crafts/halloween/
For more inspiration check out our newest Pinterest board for Halloween Family crafty costumes!
https://www.pinterest.com/kuningroupgeorg/family-felt-costumes
You can now find an expanded color line of Kunin Eco-fi Classicfelt; Eco-fiPlus™ Premiumfelt and ShaggiChic non-wovens fabrics in cut by the yard at your local Walmart; please inquire as to what is available in your area.
These capes are not only perfect for Halloween but for many years of dress up play. The grandlittles were very happy with them and ready to be a woodland animal for Trick or Treating!
Thank you for stopping by!
Debra
