Tutorial: Blair Waldorf Capelet!

Confession: I've never actually seen an episode of Gossip Girl. In fact, I didn't even know who Blair Waldorf was until someone mentioned her in a comment several posts ago. Well I Googled her, and the girl's got style! I was particularly inspired by this photo of her in the cutest capelet ever.

Obviously, I had to make my own.....

While this is not a no-sew project, like my last cape, it's almost as easy!

1) I started with a long rectangle of delicious fabric (that my mom got for $.75 at a thrift store!), that was 14"x66". I had to piece two 33" pieces together.
2) Then I pleated the top. 9 pleats, aprox. 2.5" each, and right up against each other, leaving about 5" on each side.

3) I sewed a basting stitch along the top of the pleats, to hold them together....

4) Then I trimmed the two front edges to make them curved. (Unfortunately I don't have any magical way to make sure that yours turned out like mine. I just tried it on, marked where I wanted it to curve, and cut the two edges together so they were exactly the same.)
5) Measure from one end of the cape to the other (minus the top), and cut the length of ribbon you need. My fantastic velvety ribbon from Costco (last year, sorry!) was wired ribbon, so I just pulled the wire out first.
6) Sandwich the edge of the cape in the middle of the ribbon, and pin well.
7) Sew the ribbon on.

8) Do the same for the top of the cape, folding under the two ends of your ribbon so it doesn't fray.
9) Try it on and mark where you want your fasteners to go.
10) Hand stitch them on. I used hooks and eyes, which were OK, but I think snaps would have been a little more secure.

All done!!
I thought it might look funny with no lining, but it's actually quite nice looking on the inside!

I love, love, love this thing. I want to wear it every day for the rest of my life!
And I probably will :o)





P.S. Thanks to my husband for taking the pics! The whole take-a-picture-in-the-mirror thing was just not working for me today!

Comments

  1. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this. I was just talking to my friend about doing an adult version of the capelet you last posted and then you posted this little gem. Thanks!!

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  2. Great photos and tutorial...a lovely capelet! It looks so rich! x

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  3. How adorable is that. The photos are great, too. Props to the photographer!!

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  4. Oh.... so, so gorgeous!
    Great tutorial!

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  5. I just bought a necklace from your Etsy shop--and it's supposed to be a Christmas gift for my sister-in-law, however I have a feeling that once I see it in person, I'm gonna want it for myself!

    And I do watch Gossip Girl...Blair is my fashion hero! Wish I could sew--that capelet is adorable! You are uber-talented!

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  6. Just glanced over your blog and you have some great and adorable projects! I am truly inspired to start sewing again. Thanks.
    Tara B

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  7. oh no way!! I made a capelet based off that exact same photo last Fall (and I've also never watched a single episode of Gossip Girl, ha!). It won't let me paste the link here so it's in the profile bit instead...

    I love yours, the pleating really adds to it and the flower brooch is just lovely.

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  8. Love it, another beautiful idea. I've never seen Gossip Girl either, but Blair sure has style!

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  9. I just found your blog... I am new to the crafting blog world, though i have had a personal blog for a while--so the grands can keep up with the kidlets :)
    I have not looked through all the posts - but i probably will before the weekend :)
    I have many projects in the works... and hope to post something on my craft blog at least once a week... so stop over and see it
    sometime...
    BTW__love the cape... looks like an outfit clincher *SMILES*

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  10. This is so exciting! I love all the Jane Austen movies and that time period and was dreaming of one of those capelets! I saw it on Anne in Persuasion. Oh my goodness! Now thanks to you I can make some for myself! I love you! (hee! hee!) You are sooooo talented and creative!

    ~Kolein
    velvette1216@gmail.com

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  11. That is fantastic - I'm leaving you an award on my blog.

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  12. i LOVE your blog!!!! I am so happy that i found you, i will always be watching what you have next, thanks for sharing your creativity!!!!!

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  13. Lovely! Isn't thrift store fabric just the greatest? I guess most people don't think to look for it there, and I find steals almost every time!

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  14. Very cute! Where did you get the umbrella?

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  15. I've never seen an episode, either. Though I do think that I caught about 10 minutes of it one time by accident. Anyway, love the capelet!! I posted a link to your tutorial on Craft Gossip Sewing:
    http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-gossip-girl-inspired-capelet/2009/11/05/

    --Anne

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  16. I love it! My mom and I have made 3 of the no-sew capes (2 for my baby, one for myself), and now I can see myself on a search for some great fabric for one like this. You have such great ideas!

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  17. You are such a fashion maven! Love the capelet, have tons of fun with it!

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  18. Totally beautiful Disney!
    Love the pics. Your husband did a great job!

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  19. Disney, This is so fabulous! I am making a trip to the fabric shop tomorrow, maybe I will pick something up for myself(I never do!)I have never seen gossip girl either, but that caplet is amazing!I'm a total nerd and like to dress Paige and I alike so I could get away with buying her fabric and putting a little extra in for myself:) Thanks for sharing another great idea!

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  20. Ooh this is so pretty! Thanks so much for the how-to, I'll be linking.

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  21. Hello!!!
    My name is Tülin...l live in Turkey ...
    Very good blog...Very good model...
    With my love
    tatesal.blogspot.com

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  22. waw, at last you have done something for you, actually, you like Blair Waldorf but prettier :), its a wonderfull project and i am very fan of your fabulous work... go on

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  23. That is gorgeous, and you look so beautiful in it :)

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  24. i am a new reader and i LOVE your blog- i have put so many of your post in my "to try" folder- you and your daughter are so beautiful- thanks for sharing!!

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  25. another amazing project girl!!! it's just beautiful. i always get a little nervous when i use ribbon in my sewing projects-i never know how it will fair when cleaned. i was wondering, would you hand wash this, put it through the washing machine on gentle, or dry clean it?

    thanks for sharing your creative genius with us! i get so happy for you when i see your projects all over blogland. :)

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  26. Great job. I always look forward to seeing your creativity.

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  27. Super cute!! I actually have a faux fur capelet like this that I bought on clearance a million years ago. Yours is way cuter though! I'm going to have to fix mine up a little now :)

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  28. Great project, thank you so much!!!

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  29. Oh my gosh you look adorable!! I love your vintage style photoshoot :)

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  30. I feel so terribly uncreative when I look at your posts... but oddly inspired just the same. :-)

    Thank you for posting tutorials for those of us who want to give it a try!

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  31. I just found your blog! Disney, I had no idea that you are so crafty! I went to Federal Way CoC and I always remember you and Alisa hanging out.
    Very nice project. For those who cant sew well (me), you can do this with a large Christmas tree skirt. I made my cape the same way, just add ribbon to the top.

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  32. This is such an adorable design. I love it! I'm wanting to make it for my friend who is only 4"10 what size would you recommend? Would you keep all the same measurements? How many yards of ribbon did you use? Thanks so much for the great tutorial :)
    ~ Nicole {nikkiilee20@Hotmail.com}

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  33. Ahhh!!! you're killing me. So where can I buy this? :)) loveth!!!

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  34. that is adorable. you are such a hip preachers wife! LOL I see old womens suits all the time at goodwill and think I just know something great can be made out of that.

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  35. Cuuuuute! Just found you from Crafterhours, and I think I can be just brave and fabulous enough to wear a lovely capelet like this. Must get sewing!

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  36. Hie! I really love the cape! Could you show us how to make Blair's school cape? The white one. I'm trying to make one myself for school. Thanks

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  37. I made a toddler version that I think is cute. I'm new at blogging, so I don't know how to send you the photos. Here's the link to it: http://doahdiddy.blogspot.com/2010/01/toddler-caplet.html
    I gave you credit and linked to you. I hope that's okay. :)












    .

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  38. I made this tonight in a silver-grey to wear over a black dress for a wedding. Your instructions we're great. Love your blog!

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  39. Awesome and thrifty DIY. Will try and make this into a reversible capelet. Wish me luck. :)

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