I am going to a costumed stroll with friends in January, and I can’t wait. Now while I have an ensemble already, I desperately needed outwear. My originally plan was to make a capelet out of wool, but when I saw this faux fur coat in Goodwill, I knew that I could turn it into a capelet. I actually left the store without it, got home and sat for about 20 minutes, before deciding to go back! This is what it looks like:
So to convert this, I first cut out the lining from the jacket, and then used a seam ripper to open up the arm seams all the way down the side seams.
I then laid the open sleeves flat, and pinned them to both side seams of the jacket, basically making the sleeves into gores. This now turned a jacket that was a bit too small for me into a capelet that closes all the way in the front. I also cut out the pockets, but left the pocket slits open so I can have a place to slip my hands through.
Now all that’s left to do is stitch up the seams (they are currently clipped together right now), and sew on two pieces of ribbon to the collar so I can tie it closed. I am torn between a wide black satin ribbon or a thinner velvet ribbon. So based on a lot of the garments I have seen, the length of this should be a bit shorter, so I may cut it to even the length out, but I am not sure. I have until the end of December to decide. I still need to make a muff to go with this though. I have the sleeves from a friends fur coat that he wanted me to cut the sleeves off, so I can do that.
But all in all, this project is coming along quite well, and I’m sure that hand stitching the seams with silk thread will go along quickly.
I’ll be sure to post it when it’s done.
The Plush Seamstress 