Superhero Outfit Tutorial | Sewing Bee Fabrics

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Sewing Bee Fabrics Tutorial
Make Your Own Superhero Outfit

So what inspired this superhero outfit? Well.... this did!!

What you will need:

2 co-ordinating knit fabrics. Half a meter of each should be plenty for a little one but you may need more for older children so make your patterns first.

How to make it:

The top:

Take a tshirt type top that fits and draw around the body, marking the width of the sleeves. Short sleeves can be made without seperate pieces, so just make your oblong shape into a 'T' shape by adding the desired length sleeve. (My fabric is folded down the centre underneath).

Add on a seam allowance right round. Draw on your neckline by finding a bowl/plate etc with a similar size to the tshirt back neckline, then make the front a little deeper. Again, use an existing tshirt as a guide. Don't add a seam allowance to the neckline.

Decide on your superhero logo. Draw on paper first then cut this out in your co-ordinating fabric.

It is far easier to attach your logo first before you sew your top together. Knit fabric tends not to fray so i simply stitched it on using a narrow zigzag stitch. I find that a narrow zigzag stitch with a
ballpoint needle results in far less dropped stitches with knit fabric so always use this to sew. I also prefer using a knit foot on my sewing machine which acts like a walking foot in that it lifts on and
off the fabric in time with your stitching, but it has a small gripper underneath which helps to hold the fabric in place as the needle goes through (available HERE).

Start off by hemming the sleeves if your costume is little as otherwise it can be difficult to turn it on the sewing machine once stitched up in to a sleeve. I just rolled the raw edge under and used a narrow zigzag stitch.

Line up the shoulder pieces and pin the top of the top, and along the top of the sleeves with right sides together. Sew only one side.

Make enough bias tape to fit around the neck line with at least a couple of inches to spare. I used a 2 inch width cut at 45 degree angle to the fabric grain, then folded the edges into the centre.

I then pinned it to sandwich the neckline raw edge in the centre, leaving the ends of the bias tape free at the un-sewn shoulder side so they can be hidden in the seam. I used a wider zigzag stitch to attach this to be sure I was catching all the edges in my stitching.

Once attached, sew up the other shoulder top making sure that your bias tape ends are caught up in the seam. Next, sew in a continuous line from the bottom edge of the sleeve, under the armpit and down the side. Repeat on the other side then just hem the bottom edge.

The Cape:

Cut a piece the same size / shape in both your fabrics. The top width needs to be a couple of inches or so wider than the neck line once draped around the curve of the line. The bottom width and length is up to you. It purely depends how swishy you want it! I made a curved line to connect the bottom and top to make it look more flowing. Also cut out any logo you want for the cape.

Place your pieces right sides together and sew up all except about 2 or 3 inches in the centre at the top to turn it through.

Clip the corners, turn inside out, then hand sew the top closed with a ladder stitch

I stitched the lightning zigzag on the back now so that it helped to hold the layers in place better as it moves. Pin the cape to the top either side of the neckline then hand stitch in place.

The Cuffs

Measure around the wrists then allow enough fabric for an overlap for poppers (approx. 2cm) and add another 1cm for seam allowance. Now double that length. Add 1cm to your desired width for seams and cut out any logo you want putting on.

Fold the cuff in half with right sides in the centre and sew down the 2 long sides. Turn inside out then hand stitch the end closed with a ladder stitch.