Friday, February 11, 2011

McCall 8501: My 1935 cape

oh goody, oh goody, oh goody! I am super excited to show you all pictures of my finished 1935 cape!

I started this cape in December using McCall 8501:
You can see some of the design features from the cover.  It is basically a faux jacket (i.e. there is only a jacket front piece) attached to a cape.

I got the fabric in one of those bizarre charity shop experiences.  I am super happy I did--because it is a wonderful blue and grey checked tweed (I got 3.5 meters) AND I got the grey lining from the same fabric store!  How perfect is that?  Here's a close-up of the fabric:

This was my first time interlining AND lining anything! It was a great learning experience.  I think the cape took longer than I thought it would because I hemmed the cape, put in the lining and attached the collar all by hand!

Here's a close-up of the jacket front.  I used a belt pattern piece from another 1930's pattern.  I got the belt buckle for really cheap on ebay UK.  The buttons you may recognize--I used the exact same ones but in brown for my 1933 EvaDress outfit (there is a limited supply of vintage looking buttons at my local fabric store!):

I absolutely adore the way capes drape.  It is such a lovely feeling walking down the street with a cape...I don't know why but it feels very classic!

I matched the checks on the jacket front but not on the shoulder seams.  Tasia just did an amazing post on matching plaid!  Luckily, my plaid is muted enough that it's not really noticeable if it doesn't match perfectly.  And the back is in one piece (which makes it really nice for plaid)...


And capes are fun for twirling:
How amazingly beautiful is this alley/lane?  It's called a 'close' and there are tons of them off the royal mile in Edinburgh.  This is one of my favorites...it's called the 'Advocate's Close':


There are probably 30 different ones off the Royal Mile!  They are amazing...you walk through a small tunnel:

And come out on the other side!  It reminds of a place that Sherlock Holmes would be solving mysteries some dark night in the fog :-)  OR where batman might hang out:

This cape fits within the Sewing Through the Decades Challenge:
I'm making a blouse/top/jacket from each year from 1931 to 1949!  So far I've done 1933, 1935, 1940 and 1943.

Here's a photo out on the Royal Mile:

I was thinking it would be fun to slowly do a tour around Edinburgh through my outfit posts!  What do you think?

 It's such a fantastic city...
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51 comments

  1. Wow you did an amazing job no wonder your so happy you should be very proud of yourself its really beautiful and such a stunning classic shape. well done, dee ;-))

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  2. Just wonderful! And your pictures in Edinburgh are to die for. I'm building a case for a cape, I showed this one to husband and it's the first one that didn't make him snort. heh heh heh...

    Do you get many stares wearing things that are a little different, or in the land of kilts and mohawks people just live and let live?

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  3. That is so gorgeous! I love it! (And I totally covet that pattern so I can try making one myself! ;-)

    It looks absolutely stunning on you. Nicely done.

    I love the photos around Edinburgh as well - please take more! It's one of those cities that I really want to go to one day, so a virtual tour through your blog would be a rather lovely preview.

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  4. Amazing cape, and these pictures are lovely!
    From Carys of La Ville Inconnue

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  5. You look stunning as always. I love that cape. I bet you got stopped a few times while walking around Edinburgh taking those pictures.
    Please show more of the city featuring you in your amazing creations.

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  6. It's gorgeous! You look wonderful in it. Do you find it warm enough? I have a cape that's constructed along similar lines (although too big for me) that I find a little chilly on cold days but as I'm not sure if it's lined and interlined I can't be sure why.

    Yes please, take pictures around Edinburgh! I love Edinburgh and don't get to visit often enough :(

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  7. Just gorgeous-,it turned out so well, and I love the colour on you. In some of the shots it reminds me of Sherlock Holmes! ;)

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  8. I always look forward to your outfit posts, not only so I can see a finished garment, but because you take such stunning pictures! Your pictures make me want to try harder with my pictures in the future :)
    Ashley x

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  9. Looks great! Can't wait to try one... the twirling looks like so much fun!

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  10. It's lovely! I think it's a really nice combination of a jacket and a cape, as some capes look a bit too cape-y (if that makes sense?!).

    You should definitely include some more pics of Edinburgh in your outfit shots too.

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  11. Oh a cape! Fantastic!
    Please do show us more of Edinburgh!
    ...I was there with my family some years ago, and it it defiantly not the last time:) I always dream away when I see you pictures;)

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  12. Your cape is fabulous. You have achieved so much in such a short time. Edinburgh was my mothers home town (city). She was born not too far from where these photographs were taken in Holyrood Square;she played around Arthurs Seat. The tenements were demolished many years ago.

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  13. Gorgous! And the fabric is really pretty!

    I visited Edinburgh seven years ago and have been intching to return ever since!

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  14. Edinburgh is amazing and historic. We've been there twice with our kids and both times, they tried to get us to do the underground city ghost tour (sorry, I'm a complete chicken about that sort of stuff; enclosed spaces give me the willies just on principal). But Edinburgh is gorgeous - people need to see more photos...

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  15. Love the cape, and especially the faux-jacket front, so clever. And the pics form Edinburgh? yes please! Lovely scenery for a lovely lady:-).

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  16. You do such fabulous work! I absolutely love it.

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  17. So striking! I love that you did a little tour of the city as well in your photos--it's so neat to see some of the spots and nooks. Such a perfect setting for the cape too. ;)

    ♥ Casey

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  18. Divine! It looks amazing and I love all the Edinburgh shots. That outfit just looks so wonderful and at home! You better take a photo if you find either Holmes or Batman around a corner someday. ;)

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  19. Oh, I love it! This is the epitome of vintage done well; this classic style will look fresh for years to come. Great job!

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  20. Absolutely beautiful! The style of the collar and everything really suits you.

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  21. The front of this cape is amazing! I've never seen another like it.

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  22. Gorgeous! And I love "visiting" Edinburgh through your posts.

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  23. That is an incredible cape and looks fabulous on you! I love the soft colours and the twirl factor is awesome! I'm definitely up for a tour of Edinburgh as you model your lovely garments.

    Really, really amazing, Debi. The cape is definitely in my top 5 favourite things you've made.

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  24. This cape is absolutely gorgeous - and what a beautiful background for pictures!

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  25. The cape is very elegant! You do look like you are out solving a quaint mystery (:

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  26. What a fantastic cape! You are becoming quite the talented sewer. I adore your curls.

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  27. It looks amazing well done, such a very very cool pattern! When I saw this as one of your WIP's I instantly knew what I would be making with a plaid I also bought at a charity shop a few weeks ago and have been very eager to see your finished project! I will have to do a shortened version of it sadly though as I don't have as much yardage to work with...

    Love the idea of a photo tour of Edinburgh with each piece, its a double delight!

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  28. You really do make the most fabulous things. I love it! I'm so bad at matching plaids too, yours are perfect as far as I can see!

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  29. Love the photos love edinburgh have you every been to annies close?
    whats your next project?

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  30. Wow this looks fabulous on you! What an interesting design with the faux-front.
    I always enjoy your photos around Edinburgh - such a great location!

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  31. Love the cape, you did an amazing job! You look like you walked straight out of the 30's.

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  32. It looks beautiful! Well done!

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  33. You look wonderful! I can not stop to see your fantastic cape, Love, love it!

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  34. Your cape is fabulous! I love all the Edinburgh shots too, not only because I've been there a number of times and love it, but somehow it seems extra 'vintage' with all the cobblestones and closes. Please do a proper tour, with all your different outfits! It will be so much fun to see.

    Tessa

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  35. You did a wonderful job! This look is so sophisticated and classy. I love the photos.

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  36. Gorgeous cape and love the fake jacket front. Edinburgh is beautiful. I usually visit yearly.

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  37. well done!! It seems appropriate that you took photos of your dramatic and lovely cape in these Sherlockian environs!

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  38. Just wishing I had cause to wear a cape in Florida! You really outdid yourself on this one and it came out beautifully. I really like the idea of giving us a tour of Edinburgh with your fashion photos; keep 'em coming!

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  39. Debi - Another beautiful work of art!

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  40. You certainly have the perfect place to wear it. Well done!

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  41. Very distinctive looking without being costumey.

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  42. Wow, I'm ... speechless. Ok, almost.
    The beautiful sleuth out to solve yet another mystery in the dark closes of Edinburgh ...
    Good job on the cape, it really looks fabulous.

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  43. I had to come back and see this cape one more time... It is BEAUTIFUL!!! :)

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  44. I have cape envy! I have cape envy!

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  45. I'm a bit late to the party here, but gosh, that cape is absolutely fabulous! And it looks so fitting against that backdrop. Brilliant.

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  46. Absolutely gorgeous! Love the long length, and how it looks a bit like a jacket in front. Your photos (and you) are always so beautiful! Well done!

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  47. wow, wow, wow. that liquid is the drool hitting my keyboard out of jealousy :-)

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  48. Does the belt just go around the back to keep it on? Or is there a bit around the back?

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I read each and every comment--thank you so much!

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