Making a Victorian Era Cape

I made a Victorian cape entirely by hand, and it is surprisingly warm for how drafty you would expect it to be (then again I wore a thick wool sweater underneath because this be the North).

This cape was inspired by Jane Eyre, written by Charlotte Brontë, as I imagine her a few decades after the events in the book.

PS: I no longer agree with the policies and founder of this competition and have taken down direct links. I implore you to do your own research.

Materials used:
Outer wool: 1.5 meters
Black cotton twill tape: 2 meters
One cape clasp
Silk thread, dark grey and natural

Resources mentioned:

Excellent videos here on the YouTubes for autism, especially (but not limited to) in women and girls:

Emily Brontë (Charlotte's sister) and autism:

Other writers linking Jane Eyre to autism:

Links:

Music:
Allégro - Emmit Fenn, Youtube sound library
No. 1 A Minor Waltz - Esther Abrami, Youtube sound library

[loren]

How nice to have found your channel! Your openness about autism in women is so refreshing. As an autistic female myself, it’s just so nice to feel a small sense of community with another woman who shares my hobbies and a great many of my personal values.

[karenradcliff]

I expected to enjoy the cape content. I was delighted that you brought Jane into the conversation! I consider Jane Eyre to be one of my favorite books; the language is delightful (it feels thick, tactile, and sensory to me), the characterization intriguing, and it really pulls me in to Jane's life. I've always identified with Jane, for all of the reasons that you mention, but it never occurred to me to think of her as autistic, until you laid out the reasons--which is very funny and special to me, as my family and I are pretty convinced that I'm on the spectrum. (My daughter is diagnosed and we're familiar with the characteristics of autism.) Thank you for putting that piece into place! Also, the initials in the cape at the end: so period, and so sweet. :)

[Pronssi]

Another educational and inspiring sewing video from you. Thank you for being openly autistic and for your up-to-date factuality about autism. I am also an autistic woman (and ADHD, as well). And, guess what, sewing and historical garments and accessories are my special interest.

[emanprh]

I've never sewn anything more than a button before but I've been intending to learn just so I can sew one of these cloaks for myself. I'm working on a cosplay for a character from victorian times (Mr. Edward Hyde from The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde) and I think this video inspired me even more honestly. I have yet to read Jane Eyre (I plan to, I swear), but I loved hearing you talk about her in the video- my brother has been diagnosed with autism, and he's sort of like the "non-verbal, rocking back and forth" type, and growing up, I never knew of autism in any other light. Now as a girl in my teens, I've been looking into self-diagnosis and even possibly getting an actual diagnosis when I'm an adult, so that's been fun! Also, I most definitely did NOT get tired of that waltz, don't worry :)

[kellybryson]

Beautiful cape. It still amazes me to watch you do all of this by hand.

[eileenfb]

Love all things cape! You have a relaxing way of communicating which I love. Thank you so much. I had thought that the lining would stretch differently to the cape and therefore it would eventually stretch and hang below the hem. So I didn't line mine - the fabric is the same on both sides so I put binding around all edges. I made it to keep my shoulders and back warm indoors when sitting quietly as I go cold. So cosy. I'm thinking to make a light coloured one for the bedroom when sitting reading, etc. Thank you, thank you for your wonderful videos.

[hecklinghecker]

Absolutely stunning cape, I would love to attempt to make one of similar design though I need to get more experience sewing, I also loved the talks about this book and autism in the video :) it's nice to hear about it, being autistic myself, and I love that you included resources on the matter<3

[Jo-Anne.Clarke]

I just found your channel. I’ve binged watched 3 extended videos at this sitting…. I’ve subscribed to your channel. Now, I need to get to my chores!! Tk you for the excellent content😃

[linr]

1) that cape is fabulous and looks so cozy, glad I finally watched this part too 2) I might need to reread Jane Eyre now, it's been over 20 years 👀

[isabellaferretti]

Love your cape! I am watching a year later, did you ever add the silk trim you mentioned? I recently made my first ever entirely hand sewn garment, a lightweight woollen little cape to wear in late summer. I’ll be posting it on Insta soon. I was fascinated by your collar choice as I had been looking at the very same page of collars and had thought it would be fun to make them all up as samples to see how they look. Thank you for the link to learn more about autism. Love your posts!

[ParkrosePermaculture]

really enjoyed this video and appreciate your witty narration so much!

[LixiaWinter]

Wow, this explains why I always related to Jane

[intreccicapricci]

Hello, I just found your video while I was looking for instructions for making a victorian capelet, I made one a few days ago and am not completely happy with the result, the lining does not hang properly. I chose a capelet as a project for the same reason: What can I do with this beautiful fabric I found for a low price but that is not enough for making anything else? I also had problems with the collar, it was suggested to add a piece of wire to keep the shape but I found out that with sturdy fliseline it works too. Thank you for your hints about sewing lining together it must be helpful I will try that next time. Well done work and nice to watch, you have a new subscriber🙂

[christenagervais]

Thank you for the link to autism in women. It Its was useful for me to understand my recently diagnosed daughter!

[PiskeyFaeri]

Is there a reason to use silk thread for this, instead of wool yarn? I'm wondering mostly if the wool would either shred and tear, or if it would felt the layers together.

[rd]

Your cape is so very cute!!

I am going to have ro revisit Jane Eyre. As a child, I found myself constantly frustrated by females in classic literature; even those who were intended to be "strong, willful and independent" were victims of their societies and so I rejected them.

[yolandaagnew]

I am an autistic woman. Nice to meet you. And I also love Jane Eyre.

[Norahlk]

Aah, helt helt fantastisk fin video! Både kappa, kommenteringa og autisme-awareness!

[BoundlessEyes]

Lol, what, you don't think 'The Curious Incident of the Dog In The Nightime' is enough autism representation for adult women? (I'm just joking, I'm an autistic adult woman too and, amazingly, I'm not obsessed with train timetables.) <3