Kamala Cape

Not officially affiliated with the Harris/Walz campaign.

Whip out a couple of these to show solidarity at rallies, marches, fundraisers. These can be customized with initial(s) or appliqués. If time is tight, the capes can be made/worn/laundered, and embellishment applied before the next event.

Questions? Comments? I would love to see where you take this! Use the Contact Me link at left of the menu bar. Any photos, etc. remain your property and will not be used without written permission.

Supplies:

Sheets are an inexpensive option for fabric, and easier to find than yardage (suggested colors are in the light green family).

English units are given from here on as most cape makers will be in the United States.

Satin blanket binding, folded to 2” wide, standard put up of 4.75 yds. A contrasting color can be used to appliqué an initial on the back. An adult cape takes just under 2 yards, so one package will bind two capes.

Thread to match the binding

Safety pins or Velcro for an adjustable closure

Cape sizes are rough guidelines (the binding dimensions should be followed as given).

Choose your size based on your back shoulder measurement.

One flat twin sheet = 4 medium adult capes (you may have to buy your sheets in sets)

Do not waste time cutting the sheeting to exact sizes. A sheet can be split evenly to make four pieces. Or split it vertically into a narrower and wider section, then split each of those. On an adult, these will fall between mid-thigh and mid-calf: roughly knee length on most. Capes can be laid out either on- or crossgrain, as seen in the two kids’-sized blanks upper right.

Figure your optimum placement and cut out your rectangles (some fabric will tear cleanly, at least in one direction, but don’t set yourself up with a raggedy edge).
Use the finished edges of the sheets wherever possible; match the others to them. The sides have seam allowances of 5/8” to be folded twice and topstitched.
For optimal drape and Theater!, a cape’s hem should be weighted. A fast and easy way to do this is to turn up a deep hem several times. 2” deep is allowed on these.
In my stage/screen work, we insert drapery weight: metal pellets in a thin tube laid along the bottom fold. Tack it in securely so that the ends don’t get loose in the laundry.
(If you’re adding embellishment, do it here)
Gather the cape’s top edge. A fast way to do this is by zigzagging over a thin cord, pulling it up, and adjusting the gathers.
Commercial binding is folded unevenly. The longer bit goes underneath so that stitching from the right side will catch it. Gather the cape’s top edge and set it into the fold. Zigzag to the binding.
Fold the binding down and give it a hard press from the wrong side. Do not skip this step! It will make finishing much easier.
Sew completely around the binding. More rows of stitching add firmness and (surprisingly) weight.
The ends of the binding curve from the back neck around the front of the shoulder and attach at an angle to the sides of the cape at your 10 1/2” marks.
Give another enthusiastic press.
If you have access to the wearer, overlap and pin the center front bands and have them adjust to best position (leave them free to slide).
If you don’t have this info, use a couple safety pins to secure from the underside.
Add the closure. For Velcro to work for a range of sizes, you need to lap long sections: not cost-effective. My ancient treadle sews through it effortlessly. Many modern ones do not. Default to safety pins.
If you’re short on time, construct only the basic cape. After the event, run it through the laundry and add embellishments before the next one.

Customizing your cape: the optimal area for initials/slogans/graphics is from your shoulder blades to your upper hips (in the dashed lines).

How to support your country:

VOTE

Vote in every election. Look up who’s running for what and throw them your support. There are people doing good on both sides of the aisle.

If you have the time and the wherewithal, run for office. It doesn’t have to be a big one.

Dollars are good. So is your time and effort:

Help people register.
vote.gov is a legitimate site to check. There are PAC-associated sites that will cheerfully mine your information but not register you.
Check to see that people haven’t been inadvertently dropped (!) from the voting rolls.
Write postcards.
Make phone calls.
Go door to door
Talk to groups.
Give lifts to the polls.

Get a group together, order a bunch of sheets, and turn out a slug of capes! Cloak your family and friends, give to your local campaign office, take them along to hand out at marches. These take far less time than knitting or crocheting Pussy Hats, and remember what an impression those made at the Women’s March on Washington, etc!

Permission is freely given to use this pattern, alter it, use it as a bonus for campaign donations, etc. Link to it here, but remember that copying and pasting my published work is piracy. Please don’t steal from me. My art is my sole source of income, and COVID knocked my consulting business almost flat. I will continue to post as much free content as I can.

if you want to encourage me, my Patreon button is at the upper right of this page.