sewing class

Here's the pattern I am making in my sewing class. I never thought much about capes but I gotta tell you I love this pattern. It's from Australia, yes I know, seems like I could find a pattern like this here, maybe, maybe not. Or maybe it's more enticing because it's from Australia!

My muslin…yes it's pretty funny, I look like I'm in jail. When I first opened the pattern I thought, wow this looks small although it was made to cover a multitude of sizes, but probably not amazon women like me. I went ahead and traced the pattern, adding 4" to the length, made the muslin and thought, wow now I look like a troll, the proportions are so off, what have I done?! Okay call this Goldilocks, I hacked two inches off and I do believe I have it just right!

So off to class I go ready to cut out my pattern and learn new ways to finish off seams. The internal seams are completed with what is called a Hong Kong seam (left). the outer edge will be finished off with regular seam binding except I will use a dark gray wool (as shown here on the right). The body of my cape is the medium gray wool. I purchased this a long time ago at the winter sale at Treadle and just set it aside for the perfect moment…now!

I love this green against the gray. The binding is a thin silky rayon. I need to seriously focus when I sew the binding…but I love how pretty and clean it looks!

Buttons, left or right…?? I'm leaning towards the right, what do you think?