Cat Cape

Turn an old trench coat into an adorable cat cape!

Posted by Cat Morley

About

Share

You Will Need (10 things)

  • Hemming Tape
  • 4 Military style metal Buttons
  • Embroidery Floss in a matching colour
  • Ribbon
  • Tailors Chalk
  • French Curve
  • Old trench Coat with a hood
  • Fabric Scissors
  • Needle
  • Foam

Steps (30 steps, 120 minutes)

  1. 1

    For this project, you'll need a trench coat with a hood. My one was looking a bit ratty but this would be the perfect refashion to bring it back to life.

  2. 2

    Decide how long you want the cape to be and mark a rough line with tailor's chalk.

  3. 3

    Use a French curve to get this line perfect.

  4. 4

    Cut along the line, saving some of the excess coat fabric for your ears.

  5. 5

    Check the length of your cape.

  6. 6

    Cut the sleeves to the correct length.

  7. 7

    Use a seam ripper to unpick the seams underneath the arms and then, with the wrong side facing out, sew the sides of the underarm to the front and back of the jacket.

  8. 8

    Finally, pin ribbon or hemming tape around the bottom of the jacket to give it a neat edge.

  9. 9

    Sew the hemming tape in place.

  10. 10

    Now it's time to pick out some nice new buttons for your cape.

  11. 11

    Unpick the old button and thread a needle with embroidery floss in a colour that matches.

  12. 12

    Stitch the new button in place.

  13. 13

    Repeat for the remaining buttons.

  14. 14

    Cut a length of ribbon to make a tie for the cape. Luckily, I was able to thread mine through the old button holes but feel free to add new eyelets or slits if needed.

  15. 15

    Now for the ears, cut a piece of foam into the shape of a cat ear and check the size against your hood.

  16. 16

    Cut a second matching ear.

  17. 17

    Fold a piece of coat fabric in half twice and pin the foam ear on top.

  18. 18

    Cut this out leaving a 1/2" seam allowance around the top edges and an 1" at the bottom.

  19. 19

    Unpin and then match two sets of the fabric ears, with the wrong sides facing out and pin the foam ears back in place.

  20. 20

    Sew around the outline of the ear, being careful not to stitch through the foam.

  21. 21

    Unpin the foam.

  22. 22

    Trim off the excess fabric from the top edges.

  23. 23

    Turn the ear inside out and insert the foam.

  24. 24

    Neatly fold in the bottom seam allowance and pin in place.

  25. 25

    Sew along the bottom edge.

  26. 26

    Sew an inner ear line about 1" in from the edge of the ears.

  27. 27

    Repeat for the second ear.

  28. 28

    Pin the ears to your hood. Checking the look good when worn.

  29. 29

    Stitch the ears in place with matching embroidery floss.

  30. 30

    Your cape is ready to wear!