I think the greatest invention for moms has to be the poncho or cape. MY mom thought so as well, and she gave me an awesome sewing pattern for a poncho (and a jumpsuit, ladies, let me tell you I am WAY ahead of this fashion curve.) I find jumpsuits ridiculously impractical, but the poncho, it’s a keeper. She also gave me a boiled wool cape that is reversible (with matching reversible skirt) from the 1960s. Super mod! I have worn these through every cape-in-fashion period and in between too.
Why do I love the poncho and cape? Hides fluff, covers a nursing baby, looks chic over wide leg, skinny, boot cut pants or a pencil skirt (in other words, just about anything.) The close cousin, the cape, is a chic alternative to a coat over anything, including business and evening attire. Because, well, you might go to date night, and let’s face it, even while eating a medium bucket of popcorn at a movie you can look uber chic when you are wearing a cape!
If you want to make your own (see above) both of these are sewing patterns (and more capes!), available for immediate download from BurdaStyle’s German web site: burdastyle.de. Just turn on your Google Translate at the top and search for Cape. Faux leather, faux suede, wool coatings all work well for these, and are available at your local JoAnn fabrics.
Make your own (almost) no-sew poncho!
If you want to DIY, you can go almost no-sew with a drapey knit poncho. Fancy it up and sew two colors together for a color blocked look. In an upcoming tutorial, I’ll show you how to get that look with two remnant-sized pieces of knit fabric. Click Sign up for Updates with your e-mail at right, or follow me on Twitter to get the tute when it’s available!
Another chic mom item you can make yourself is the scarf. In this tute, the blogger used an idea from CraftStylish to create her very own waterfall ruffle scarf. I’ll add onto this with a much bigger (wider) version suitable for hiding nursing cleavage or staying warm in a Great Lakes winter. Tute coming soon!
The question always comes up, what kind of bag to carry with the cape – I prefer a messenger, cross body or clutch. Yes, as in diaper clutch, ladies. An oversized clutch purse will hold two dipes, a small bag of wipes and a changing pad. Make yourself one of these in faux leather and it wipes clean of anything (ick!) Tute and pattern coming soon – sign up at right or follow me on Twitter (bottom right) to get instant notification of that tutorial when it’s available!