A Study in Fuschia - Sherlock Holmes' Pink Cape

Remember the cape that I made for my friend's winter wedding?  It was simplified from Simplicity 2285 (the irony!).  I removed the gunflaps, omitted all of the buttons, and removed the confusing pocket/hole detail (more on that later).

For the complete version of this cape, I found a really interesting fabric at the swap meet ($2/yard), which I thought would be fabulous!  Remember last week when I asked for some advice on button choice?  Well I ended up going with the fabric buttons, which were about 50 cents total.

Here's the final result!

Overall, I'm feeling just okay with the results.  Why?  First of all, it's a pretty bold piece and it kind of scares me!  Second, I accidentally put on one of the gunflaps the wrong way...  Oops, but it's actually difficult to tell in real life!  Third, it was such difficult fabric to work with that I still have some ill feelings towards it.  Not fair I know, but I can't help it!  The fabric shredded up like crazy.  Not fraying, but the fibers completely pulled apart like monkey bread!

Fourth, these pockets almost sucked the life out of me.  I couldn't figure out how they worked because I haven't done welt pockets before, which would have been helpful.  The most annoying part to figure out was the diagram that showed the hole that you leave for your hands to poke through.  I definitely stitched once and ripped twice and possibly more times than that...

A peek inside the pocket/hole combination...

Fifth, I feel like it's a little overwhelming for my frame since I'm so short, but maybe I just feel that way because of the bold print.  Lastly, the weather here has certainly warmed up to the 70s and 80s, so I probably can't wear this until next fall!  Boo.

Enough complaining!  Here are a few things that I actually love about the cape.  The gun flaps (or storm flaps)!  I didn't know they even had a name, but I think they're awesome looking.

To finish the seams, I normally use my overlock foot to avoid adding extra bulk, but this time I decided to finish with bias tape.  I like how this looks, and reminds me of the original plans I had to put in piping for this cape.

I definitely think it would have looked better with piping.  However, it would have been a pain in the rear to deal with, considering how much I used my seam ripper on this project.

By the way, I titled this post "A Study in Fuschia" because I am seriously obsessed with Sherlock Holmes in all his incarnations from Basil Rathbone to Robert Downey, Jr.  I would make a hat with my extra fabric just to be funny, but I'm seriously shuddering thinking about that crazy, messy fabric.  Too soon, too soon...

Considering that my materials cost about $5 total, I'm happy with the way this turned out!  It's a decent wearable muslin (my fur cape doesn't count as one), and I'm happy now that it's done!  The next version will be a more subdued fabric and have piping.  But that will definitely wait until next fall.  On to the next project!

Have you made a cape lately?  I think they're so vintage looking.  Also, if you haven't, they're fun to twirl around in....  :)