Christmas handmades: velveteen capes

My favorite girly gifts this year were these white velveteen capes.  They were so fun to make and they turned out darling!

I bought the beautiful, washable, oh-so-wearable velveteen cotton at Material Girls, and had planned on making the Christmas dresses with it.  However, I had a stroke of inspiration when I remembered this post.  In Utah, we wear coats every day of the winter.  So, why not make a stunning outerwear piece to be worn every day, instead of a nice Sunday dress?  

I used the Wanderings Coat pattern as a guide, but modified it into a lovely little capelet.  The pattern is no longer available, but see more images here and here of this amazing creation by Melissa of Sugar City Journal.  And look at my girls' Wanderings Coats here and here and here.  I have yet to photograph the inside of the Little Red coat to expose the zippered-belly Wolfie, and a fabric version of Liza as basket-bearing Red.  I also have a little brown coat cut out and ready to sew for Sarah.  That one's been sitting in my studio for over a year!  Hope it still fits her by the time I get to it!  The bigger girls still wear their coats...two winters and counting!

Truly, the best part about this pattern is Melissa's ingenius idea of hiding a detailed little play-scene inside.  I couldn't resist adding some fun inner detail to these capes, which I'll post tomorrow.  Each is lined with beautifully patterned quilting cotton, which peeps out and adds color and style.  I used oversized colored buttons, and made sturdy loop closures at the neck.  And of course, I added fur trim on the hood...wintery and woodsy.  Love!

The girls wear them everywhere.  Don't they look simply yummy?

 skating on the driveway ice:

oops!  sore behind.  end of photo shoot.

thank you, my dear capelet-clad wanderers!