How to Make a Kids' Cape in 30 Minutes (No Pattern)
To make a cape for a child, cut a rectangle of fleece as wide as your child's arm span from wrist to wrist and as long as the distance from the back of the neck to just above the knees. Pleat the top edge until it matches a short neckband, stitch the band over the pleats, and close the band with a strip of hook-and-loop tape instead of ties. Fleece does not fray, so there is no hemming, and the whole cape takes about half an hour on a sewing machine.
This is the cape that works for almost any costume: superhero, wizard, vampire, royal or bat. Below you will find how to measure, the cutting and sewing steps, a no-sew version, ideas for decorating, and the safety points that matter most for children's capes. If you want a full-length cloak for a teen or adult instead, see our guide on sewing a cloak without a pattern.
What You Need
- Fleece or felt: about 1 yard (1 m) is enough for most children's capes
- A second color of felt for an emblem (optional)
- Hook-and-loop tape (sew-on type), about 3 inches (8 cm)
- Fabric scissors or a rotary cutter and mat
- A tape measure, pins or sewing clips, and a fabric marker or chalk
- A sewing machine or needle and thread in a matching color
- For the no-sew version: fabric glue or fusible web, plus a few hand stitches for the closure
Choosing the Fabric
Anti-pill fleece is the easiest choice for a kids' cape because it does not fray, does not need hemming and survives the washing machine.
| Fabric | Hemming needed? | Feel and drape | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fleece | No | Soft, warm, a little stiff | Everyday dress-up, outdoor trick-or-treating |
| Craft felt | No | Stiff, can tear with rough play | Toddlers, quick party capes |
| Satin | Yes, it frays | Shiny, flowing | Vampire and royal capes (line it or hem it) |
| Quilting cotton | Yes | Crisp, light | Printed fabric, reversible capes |
For a deeper comparison of cloak fabrics, read the best fabric for a cloak or cape.
Step 1: Measure Your Child
You need two measurements, the cape width and the cape length, plus the neck size for the band.
- Width: ask your child to hold their arms straight out to the sides and measure from wrist to wrist. This gives enough fabric to pleat into a cape that swirls. For a slimmer cape, use shoulder width multiplied by two.
- Length: measure from the bump at the back of the neck to just above the back of the knees. Stop above the knee so the cape cannot catch under shoes on stairs.
- Neck: measure loosely around the neck, then add 2 inches (5 cm) for the overlap of the closure. The band should sit loosely, with room for two fingers underneath.
Step 2: Cut the Cape and the Neckband
Cut one rectangle for the cape and one strip for the neckband.
- Fold the fleece in half lengthwise so the fold runs down the center of the cape. This keeps both sides even.
- Mark half the width from the fold and the full length from the top edge, then cut the rectangle through both layers.
- Round the two bottom corners with a dinner plate as a guide. Rounded corners hang better and do not flip up.
- Cut a neckband strip 3 inches (8 cm) tall and as long as your neck measurement plus the 2-inch overlap.
Step 3: Pleat the Top Edge
Fold small pleats along the top edge until it is the same length as the neckband minus the overlap.
- Find the center of the top edge and mark it with a pin. Mark the center of the neckband too.
- Working out from the center, fold pleats about 1 inch (2.5 cm) deep, all facing towards the outer edges. Pin each one.
- Keep folding and checking against the band until the top edge matches it, leaving the 2-inch overlap free at one end of the band.
- Machine baste across the pleats, 1/4 inch (6 mm) from the edge, to hold them in place.
Step 4: Attach the Neckband
Fold the neckband in half over the pleated edge, like a binding, and stitch through all the layers.
- Fold the neckband in half lengthwise and press the fold with your fingers (fleece does not like a hot iron).
- Slip the pleated top edge inside the fold, matching the center marks. The overlap end of the band should extend past one side of the cape.
- Pin, then stitch along the bottom edge of the band, about 1/4 inch (6 mm) from its edge, catching both sides of the band and the pleats.
- Stitch across the short ends of the band to close them.
Step 5: Add the Closure
Sew a piece of hook-and-loop tape to the overlapping ends of the band so the cape pulls open easily if it is tugged.
- Sew the soft loop side to the inside of the overlap end, so the scratchy side is never against the neck.
- Try the cape on your child, mark where the hook side should sit on the outside of the other end, and sew it there.
- Stitch around all four edges of each piece. Self-adhesive tape peels off fleece quickly, so sew it even on a no-sew cape.
Our guide on how to fasten a cloak or cape compares other closures, but for young children a pull-apart closure like this is the safest.
No-Sew Version
You can make the same cape without a sewing machine by gluing the neckband instead of stitching it.
Cut the rectangle and band as above. Instead of pleating, fold the top edge into three or four wide pleats and hold them with clips. Run a line of fabric glue inside the folded band, press the pleated edge into it and leave it under a heavy book until the glue is fully dry; check the bottle for the drying time. Hand-sew the hook-and-loop tape with a few stitches, because adhesive tape will not hold on fleece. Our no-sew cloak guide covers more glue and fusible web methods.
Decorating Ideas
An original emblem turns a plain cape into a character, and felt shapes can be glued or stitched on in minutes.
- Superhero: a felt circle or shield shape with your child's initial, a star or a lightning bolt in the middle. Let them invent their own hero name and symbol.
- Wizard: a deep blue or purple cape with yellow felt stars and moons. Add a hot glue wizard wand to finish it.
- Vampire: black fleece outside, red felt collar points glued to the neckband so they stand up.
- Hooded cape: add a simple hood using our guide on how to make a hood for a cloak or cape.
Safety Note
Children's capes should never fasten with ties, cords or ribbons knotted around the neck. Use a closure that pulls apart if the cape catches on something, keep the length above the knees so it does not trip them, and take the cape off before climbing, playground play and sleep. Do not put capes on babies. Many fleeces are polyester, so keep capes away from candles, lit jack-o'-lanterns and fire pits, and look for flame-resistant labels if you buy ready-made fabric or costumes.
How much fabric do I need for a child's cape?
About 1 yard (1 m) of fleece is usually enough for a young child, because the cape only needs to reach just above the knees. Measure your child's wrist-to-wrist width and nape-to-knee length first, and buy a little extra if you want a hood or a matching emblem.
What is the best fabric for a kids' cape?
Fleece is the best all-round choice. It does not fray, so it needs no hemming, it is soft against the skin, it washes well and it is warm enough for trick-or-treating on cold evenings. Felt works for very quick capes, and satin looks dramatic but frays and needs hemming or lining.
How do you make a cape without sewing?
Cut a fleece rectangle, fold the top edge into a few wide pleats and glue them inside a folded fleece neckband with fabric glue or fusible web. Let it dry completely under weight. Sew the hook-and-loop closure on by hand, because self-adhesive closures peel away from fleece.
A simple fleece cape is one of the most useful things in a dress-up box, and it works with almost any costume idea your child comes up with. Pair it with ideas from our last-minute DIY Halloween costumes, make a set of capes for a Halloween craft party for kids, or grow it into a full DIY wizard robe when they want something longer. Browse more costume accessory tutorials for the rest of the outfit.
