Oh Mickie, you’re so fine…

From the Style Arc website: MICKIE CAPE: Must have cape for the season, this ultimate layering piece is so easy to wear and sew. Mix and match using textured fabrics, this cape has optional inseam pockets.

Yes, if you’ve looked at that line drawing, this cape is a series of rectangles sewn together, with the centre seam left open for half it’s distance.

So Lara, I hear you say, why did you need a PATTERN for that? My answer? A couple of reasons. One, laziness. Two, someone else has figured out the proportions for me – how wide and long each rectangle should be, and where the inseam pockets should sit. I like it when someone else figures out the proportions. And I do like the little inseam pockets.

This version of the Mickie cape was a sewn-from-scraps make. The centre panels are a textured woven, left over from a skirt sewn ages ago. The side panels are a wool blend knit. So the fabrics don’t really work perfectly together, but the colours do. And it was scrap busting!

I wish that I had clearer photos, but just have to go with what I could get. I sewed the size 12 – I assume that the pattern pieces vary in width and length slightly depending on the grading. This is a super simple sew. If you wanted to make it even simpler you could eliminate the in seam pockets and overlap the side panel pieces onto the centre pieces. You could sew it up in well less than an hour.

I need to point out that the cape is closed for a short space at the sides to create “armholes” and help to keep it on you. I found it was actually quite secure. These are sewn last in the process, so you can make the arm opening as deep as you like. I wore my Mickie Cape over a Deer and Doe Plantain tee that I sewed at Sewjourn in May.

I sewed this in a wool blend knit from Clear It – it’s very warm and snuggly. My version of the Plantain tee pattern is blended across sizes, larger at the waist and a bit smaller at the hips. I like that it doesn’t cling to my gut, although this one looks to be pulling a fraction across the bust.

I am very happy with the way that the back fits. Hooray! Because I had some fabric scraps that I didn’t want to go to waste, I also sewed a simple tubular cowl. It adds warmth to that relatively open neckline. I don’t like high necklines, but am very happy to wrap a scarf or cowl around my neck!

Both of these are terrific simple patterns. The pants are Style Arc Elle pants sewn forever ago.