10 Advantages of Capes

A cape is one of the simplest garments to wear against the cold. It is simply a piece of cloth gathered at the neck and extending down the body. Capes are as part of the wardrobes of fictional characters, from Harry Potter to Dracula. However, most of us are content to let them stay in the fictional realm instead of sporting one ourselves. We think they’ll be inconvenient or socially unacceptable. Buying a good, pre-made cape can be expensive, and making one can strike fear in those who don’t sew. Trust me, though, a good cape is worth the trouble, no matter what your walk of life. Here are ten reasons why you should consider adding a cape to your wardrobe. 

It Looks Awesome.

 You just have to admit it; capes look amazing. There’s something mysterious, dashing, and adventurous about a flowing cape. If you’re a fantasy buff, a cape can make you feel like you’re in your favorite fictional universe, and it can put you in the way of meeting other fans. People will compliment you on it, if only because it is an unusual thing to wear. A cape can make your outfit look more elegant. It can make you look scary, intimidating, or ready for anything. A cape can turn you into a princess, a warrior, a wizard, or an enchantress. Let’s face it; you just have to take someone in a cape seriously. If you want a flashy cape, velvet can be a good choice, although it isn’t very warm.

It Complements various styles.

Capes lend an interesting look to various styles of dress. With modern clothes, such as jeans and a t-shirt, a cape may give a superhero look. Capes complement Medieval or Renaissance clothes as well as Victorian clothes. Of course, capes also look great with anything fantasy inspired. Note that you don’t need period dress to evoke a time period, particularly if you’re wearing a cape. For a Victorian vibe, all you need is either a long flowing skirt and nice shirt or a nice shirt and pants, preferably worn with a vest. A cape also makes a great evening wrap. For a really versatile cloak, choose a neutral color like brown, black, or even white. Those into goth or steampunk will, of course, find capes useful to their wardrobes, but don’t think capes aren’t for you if your dress is thoroughly modern and mainstream.  Read on for more reasons to get a cape now.

It’s Useful for Costumes.

Capes can be useful if you are dressing up, either as part of the costume or as the costume. Some costumes require a cape. A Little Red Riding Hood costume necessitates a red cape, and could consist of little else. A cape is an asset, if not a necessity, for a classic vampire costume.. Want to be somebody from your favorite fantasy series? Chances are, a cape will be part of your costume. Can’t think what to be for the next costume party? Throw on a cape and a mask and you’re good to go. Even if you have a costume worked out, that cape may also need to come in as a last minute addition. What if it’s freezing or raining on Halloween? What if you’re going to parade in your costume in the cold? You may find a cape is just what the doctor ordered. Capes go with many types of costumes, although not all. For those costumes it does complement, a cape has one great advantage over an ordinary coat; it doesn’t hide or crush your costume. Since a cape will go with more than one style, the same cape can be used for more than one costume. The black cape you wore to be the Grim Reaper? It’ll look great on the Phantom of the Opera. 

It Covers you.

I know I just said that a cape won’t cover up your costume, but I need to add that it also can cover you pretty thoroughly. The choice is yours, really. It all depends on whether you let the cape hang open or wrap it around yourself tightly. Depending on the length of the cloak, it can cover you as much as a trench coat, and then some, especially if it is voluminous, and especially if it has a hood. If it is made of wool, it will be your best friend in the rain. Wool stays warm even when it is wet and does not get soaked as fast as cotton does. Your cape will even protect your bag or backpack from the elements, and although the wind may make it hard for you to hold it around yourself, the wind won’t try to turn it inside-out the way it would an umbrella. 

It’s Cozy.

When you’re not trick-or-treating or wandering in the rain, your cape is still a great companion. When you are cold, it’s a great thing to snuggle up in, even indoors. It can make a good bathrobe, in a pinch, although it is best for covering pajamas; don’t try wearing it with nothing underneath and expect to keep your reputation. You can wrap it around you like a blanket and snuggle with it. It’s just the thing to curl up in on a cold day. Of course, the snuggliness of your cloak will depend on the fabric it’s made of. Fleece can be a nice option, if you don’t wash it too often. Other blanket fabrics can be nice in this regard. 

It’s Versatile.

A cape is just a wearable blanket. You have an excellent excuse to take it with you wherever you go, so you can use it to take a nap, sit on in the grass, or lie on the beach. You can fold it up and sit on it if you need a pillow. It’s a great preparedness tool. It’s also great for travel, particularly as planes can be cold and you may want to nap. If you’re stranded in the wild, it may help you make yourself a shelter in the wilderness. As it’s something you wear, it’s something you’ll likely have with you if you’re not expecting trouble. You can share the warmth, too if you throw it sideways over yourself and someone else.

It has Flexible sizing.

Unlike more form-fitting garments, capes offer a forgiving fit. You can lose or gain a great deal of weight without worrying that your cape will stop fitting. Since capes can be worn at a variety of lengths, a child can wear one cape for many years without growing out of it. It can also be easily adjusted for length. You can hem it short for a young child and let it out as the child grows. People with greatly varying heights and builds can wear the same size cloak, making it possible to lend cloaks to friends. You can also easily make cloaks for others, as you do not need to know many measurements to make a cloak that will fit 

You can use it to hide things.

Don’t want everybody to see you bought doughnuts again? Pretend you’re cold and pull your cape more closely around yourself. Bought a present for your mother and want to sneak it inside the house without looking guilty? Keep your hand in your cloak. A cape is a smuggler’s friend. If you pull it around yourself, you can hide something in your hand and nobody will see it. It will hide your bag, unless the bag is too large. It will hide your outfit, if you don’t want people to see what you’re wearing. If your cloak has a hood, you can practically hide your identity if you wrap your cloak high, over your nose and mouth. This is a great way to scare people. 

It’s Easy to make.

Depending on the pattern you use, making a cape can be relatively easy. While complicated patterns exist, it is possible to make a cloak with only basic sewing and without a pattern. All you need to do is have a piece of cloth the length and width of the cape you want, plus a piece the width and twice the length of your hood. Fold the hood piece in half with right sides together and sew one of the sides perpendicular to the fold. Gather the top of the other piece of cloth and sew it to the hood. Do any necessary hemming. This pattern may not work with thicker fabrics. For your first cloak, it may be a good idea to use a fabric which does not need hemming, such as a knit. 

It never really goes out of style.

The classic cape has probably never really been in mainstream fashion. Thus, it will never really go out of fashion. Fashionable clothes are a scam. In all to short a time, they will fall out of favor and become last year, out of fashion. People will tell you to replace them, while you mumble that you still like them and point out that you have better uses for your money than replacing perfectly good clothes with garments which will be out of fashion before they’ve had time to even rip. And all for what? To avoid disapproval. It’s much better to drop out of the fashion mainstream and stay out.  Capes aren’t like modern fashions. They’re outside the fashion machine. They will never be dated the same way 80s fashions are. A cape will always be a bold, dashing fashion statement, and will always mark you out as unique. That’s why it pays to get a cape. It’ll ride you through many years of changing fads and crazes, always making you avant-guard and cool.

Fewer accidents?

In many parts of America, you need a car to get anywhere. This means that, in order to lead a normal life in most parts of the United States, one must obtain a drivers' license, which means at least passing a drivers' test and not having any disability which prevents one from driving. In many states, getting a drivers' license also involves taking a driving course, at least for people of a certain age. Aspiring drivers may also be required to complete a certain number of hours of driving. Such requirements are needed to prevent accidents, but they can cause unforeseen problems and difficulties. If driving were optional in the United States, ensuring driver and passenger safety would be much more straightforward. However, denying someone the privilege of driving in the United States severely limits that person, creating a difficulty greater than that created by some disabilities. People who cannot drive must limit themselves to living in places with good public transportation. Being unable to drive limits the jobs a person can take, and may be a factor in not being considered for employment.

Since the infrastructure of so many places in the United States practically requires people to drive, people who are not that good at driving although they may past the requisite tests(i.e. not good at multitasking, poor eyesight but not legally blind, are easily distracted, etc.), must still get behind the wheel instead of leaving the operation of a motor vehicle in more competent hands. How many accidents have occurred which could have been prevented by the availability of a reliable bus or an affordable, dependable taxi? Were Americans less car dependent, it would be feasible to tighten the requirements for obtaining a license. The law treats driving as a privilege, while, in our society, it seems like it is more, almost like it must be a right. Americans would be much safer if being able to drive were more often merely a convenience, not a necessity of life.

Raglan Sleeve Blouse

I've been making a raglan sleeve blouse. Unlike other attempts, I have finally succeeded in creating decent raglan sleeves and a drawstring neckline.

Here's how I did it.

I made the bodice of the blouse as wide around as the width of my shoulders. I sewed up one edge of the blouse leaving a slit wide enough to accommodate my shoulder where it meets my torso. I cut a slit of similar width on the other side, since the other side of the blouse was a fold, not a seam. I added the sleeves on the sides, as per this photo. Note that the ends of the sleeves point downward, not sideways. Gathering the top produces the look in the first photo. 

Finally, I sewed a casing for the whole top of the blouse, including the tops of the sleeves. I threaded white yarn through it to gather the top. 

What's next? Now I need to hem the bottom and sew casings in the sleeves. I intend to replace the white string in the top casing with elastic and add elastic to the sleeves. Before adding the elastic, I hope to sew on some lace to create a frilly look. 

Bohemian decorating.

I've on and off wanted to coordinate my room decoration, have a theme, but I have a problem.  I don't want to get rid of everything I have, and what I do have is uncoordinated, exemplifying various styles. The natural look of my room is messy and cluttered.  Then I discovered bohemian chic.

Bohemian chic is for everyone who doesn't want their room to look just like a magazine.  It embraces the odd, the uncoordinated pieces, and the reality of things people actually use.  It is for everyone who does not want to spend a fortune on redecorating, and does not want to get rid of too many old decorations.

In my opinion, one can start decorating in a bohemian chic style without even buying much of anything.  Ironically, you may have to clean your room first, if you're like me.  You want it messy, but you want it to look intentionally messy.  With bohemian chic decorating, you can display things you already own but which do not quite fit into the decor category.  For instance, drape your scarves on your bed-frame, or find a way to hang some of them on the wall.  If you want to wear them as well as use them for decoration, be sure to hang them in a way which allows you to take them down without too much trouble.  You can also use larger scarves to cover small tables.  If you have a bunch of random nic nacs, its okay to set them out on your dresser or bedside table.  Any interesting mugs or other dishes can be displayed.  You can pile colorful blankets and pillows (or even beach towels or beach scarves) on the end of your bed.  Hang postcards, magazine clippings, or even interesting pictures printed off the internet, on your walls.  Find a way to hang your necklaces on hooks, particularly if you have many of them.  You can also hang belts.

If you feel you need more stuff to decorate your room, there are plenty of things you can make easily.  Cushions usually require some sewing, but nothing complicated.  Sewing together two squares or rectangles of cloth and stuffing the resulting baglike thing will result in a fine cushion.  A square or rectangle of cloth can be folded in half, sewn into a tube (sew where the two edges come together), stuffed, and gathered, or even tied, at the ends to make a bolster-style pillow.

The above picture shows an example of the kind of pillow you can make.   I made this one from a scarf I bought at a yard sale.  I think it cost fifty cents, a great bargain for that much cloth.  That is another thing: buy scarves at thrift stores and garage sales.  Not only can you make them into interesting cushions, you can use them for all kinds of things. Refer to pinterest for inspiration.  You'll find plenty of it there.  

Simple dreamcatchers also look very good in a bohemian room.  You can make these very easily and can find tutorials on the web.  If you don't have an embroidery hoop on hand, loop a green stick or piece of grapevine and twist the ends around the loop thus made as though you were making a wreath.  

Various other objects can also contribute to your decor.  At the grocery store, buy a whole coconut.  It is rather expensive, but you can keep the shell as decoration.  Old bottles, particularly ones from alcoholic beverages, look cool grouped on a table.  You can use them as vases for fake or real flowers.  Even old pistachio shells can look good, either drilled and strung or heaped in a cup or bowl.  Interesting tins, readily available both empty and as the containers for tea, cookies, etc. can also lend a proper feel.  So just because you're super messy, have too many odds and ends, or are broke, you can still have an amazing bohemian hangout. 

floor cushion

So I've been making this floor cushion since some time last summer.  I got all the main sewing done, but the real challenge has been finishing all the embroidery.  I (perhaps foolishly) decided to do a line of embroidery over every seam.  Yeah, takes forever, but it's a good excuse to try out new stitches.  Besides, it'll look very pretty once it is finished.  I just hope it holds up.

As you can see, there are plenty of seams to embroider. It is nice and large, but not as large as some floor cushions.  I only have so much fabric.  Pretty much all of the fabric I used I got either free or at a reduced price.  The multicolored batik was being given away free, as was the green and the pink.  I got the black at a yard sale, and the gold satin was a scrap from another project.  I was fortunate; fabric is so expensive nowadays.  

Here's a side view.  You can't really see the embroidery here, but I've already embroidered over all the side seams.  I've toyed with doing mirror embroidery on the cushion too, but I'm not sure I want to get that fancy. 

my new tent

Hi,
So I just put together a rather legitimate bed canopy.  It really would work better if I had a large ring for the clothes to be connected to.  The canopy works on a similar principle to those bed canopies which have cloth draped over a ring.  The canopy looks cool, but is somewhat precarious.  I hope it lasts.  When I can, I think I will buy a ring to make it look neater.  Here are some pictures.

 That's the good one.  You can see my soda-can lantern in the foreground, and in the background you can kind of see the hanging chandelier lantern my sister gave me for Christmas.  Here's another picture.

Neither one is very good, as I used the camera on my computer.  My roommate laughed and took my picture as I was trying to get a good image.  

A Christmas Meditation

Some people cite the date of Christmas as evidence of a pagan origin or a pagan nature.  It is not only true that the date of our present Christmas celebration is probably not the day Jesus was born, it is also true that December 25 was a feast for various pagan religions. The day's association with the solstice seems, to some people's minds, to be a sign either that Christmas is not about Jesus or that Christmas is merely a carryover from pagan times. Such understandings fall short of the truth.

To properly understand the concept of having Christmas on the 25th, we must understand the mindset of the culture at the time when the date was fixed. People in the late Roman Empire were more dependent on the natural cycle than we are today.  Although urbanites were less dependent than rural people, the dependence was still a reality for those who lived in cities. Nowadays, one can purchase fresh fruits and vegetables out of season. For many modern people, such delights as tomatoes, cucumbers, and lettuce form a part of the diet year round. In the late Roman Empire, people could only eat either what was in season, what could be stored long-term, or what could be brought from other climates quickly enough that it would not spoil along the way.

The religions from which these people converted associated the natural cycle with their myths. The story of Hades and Persephone explained the existence of winter and spring among the Greeks. Among the Norse, the tale of Balder performed a similar function. One linked the events of myth to natural cycles, not necessarily to historical dates.

A similar phenomenon was actually present in the Old Testament. The feast of Pentecost occurred around the first harvest. The Israelites celebrated the New Moons. I believe that it is no coincidence that a mass conversion occurred on Pentecost.

By choosing to institute Christmas on the solstice, the church authorities were connecting Jesus' birth not to pagan mythology but to the solstice itself, to the darkest day and the day when the daylight hours begin to lengthen. In choosing to celebrate Christmas around the solstice, Christians were treating the date mythically, not historically. They were not saying that Jesus' birth was not a historical event. They were simply saying that it was more than just a historical event. It is an event which defines present life in a way which other events do not. Thus, it has special significance.

 There is a real symbolism in the choice. Jesus came when Israel was only a wraith of its former self. It had come back from exile, but it had come under Roman rule, it no longer had the Ark of the Covenant, and it lacked prestige. It was at such a low point that Jesus came, a paradox of light only coming at the darkest place.