We are pleased as punch to have Samarra Khaja visit the blog today to share the superhero capes she made for her boys! Peek in at her design process and get tips for sewing your own with our lustrous Satin fabric. You can order Samarra’s cape set to sew up for your own dynamic duo, or design your own! Read on for this crazy easy costume DIY plus a bonus link to learn how to make Samarra’s applique version. 

DIY Pixel capes in Satin

Here’s a project that’s not only easy and perfect to make for Halloween, but it’s one that will get great use throughout the year, because what self-respecting kid (or adult, for that matter) would ever EVER pass on the random opportunity to dress up as a superhero on any given day?

None, that’s who.

Satin fabric for your capes

Spoonflower’s Satin is crazy lush and I spent probably too much time admiring how shimmery and saturated all my pixel colors turned out. It almost looks like anodized aluminum and I knew my color-loving kids would get a thrill out of these vivid costumes, so I got to the project right away (you know, and avoided doing dishes….funny that.) Here’s what I did.

PIXEL POWER CAPES:

sewing the edges of your DIY pixel cape

After ironing the satin fabric wrong-face-up, I cut out all* my pieces with nice sharp scissors – this is key for handling satin fabrics. (*Note: Leave your mask pieces uncut for now). I opted to give a bit more allowance around my capes (note white edge below) but you don’t really have to.

Delicately handle your satin pieces and pin cape fronts and backs face-to-face. Starting at the bottom, sew all the way around using a 1/2″ allowance, leaving a 2″ opening.

Flip capes right-side-out, iron all edges flat, using a protective cloth between satin and iron, and top stitch 1/4″ all the way around to keep fabrics in place and a crisp edge to each cape. Hand-sew the 2″ opening closed with a ladder stitch.

Using your machine again, topstitch 1/4″ all the way around your cape for a nice finished look and to keep the satin sides in place even more. I used a 1/4″ width topstitch.

Velcro closures for sewing your DIY cape

Cut two partnering pieces of velcro, about 1 1/2″ in length, and topstitch onto cape neck. Put one piece on the top side of the cape and the other on the lining, so they match up for easy opening and closing.

finished capes

COORDINATING REVERSIBLE MASKS:

The masks can be constructed in any way that you prefer. You can choose to make two lined masks or four unlined masks, your choice. I decided on two reversible masks. Before cutting them out of the yardage,  I ironed a piece of heavy-duty positionable fusible webbing to the back of both my green mask and my orange mask.

I then finger-pressed them wrong-side-together to each of the two black masks provided (I placed everything up on a window to see through my layers; you could use a lightbox too); I delicately trimmed away excess white satin, sandwiched my ties in between those layers (I used a shoe lace cut in half for both sides; you could also use elastic, ribbon or fabric ties), and then ironed everything together to permanently fuse them. If needed, you can trim any additional excess white satin from your edges to make them sharp and clean. I then cut out the eyeholes.

Super boys!

PIXEL POWER WRISTBANDS:

There are two lengths of pixel bands, with coordinating lining. I chose to sew those together, and then cut the overall length in half to make a pair of wristbands that were then folded in half again and topstitched with a line to create cuffs.  Another option is to leave the length as is and make a superhero belt with it or even a headband, whatever you prefer.

Awesome Capes

Once sewing is complete, prepare yourself for maximum pixel power!

Watch the levels of superhero-ness go up!…

ready to save the world

…and up!!…

Super boys

…and up!!!…

Super boys in action

…Until KA-POW!!!!

Flying boys

They take off! Almost.

lightning bolts

Happy SUPERHERO PIXEL POWER Halloween!

P.S. If designing, uploading and ordering your own capes from scratch feels insurmountable, no worries because old-school fabric assembly and sewing is always tried and true.

regular capes

As proof positive, here are the very first two capes I ever made for my kids, personalized just enough and open-themed just enough to invite massive amounts of imaginative possibilities on any given superhero kinda day!

Looking for crafty spooky Halloween DIYs? Check out the complete list of 31 projects


About Our Guest Blogger

Sammy K bio Samarra Khaja is an artist, illustrator, licensed textile designer and proud lefty. She likes the color green and can eat an unsightly amount of French bread in one sitting. No judging, people, no judging. See more of what inspires her at samarrakhaja.tumblr.com and follow her on Instagram. She’s currently working on her first book, between baguettes that is.