Project by Alex Holt
If like me, and as soon as its sunny you want to make a whole new summer wardrobe, this bucket hat tutorial is the perfect project to start with.
Using a free template made by Jenna Phipps and following the corresponding YouTube video ‘How To: Sew a bucket hat’. I made this reversible bucket hat in Craft Cotton Co's Flourish and Grow fabrics.
Step 1: Place the pattern pieces on the folded fabric, following the instructions printed on the pattern pieces. In total 10 pattern pieces will be cut out, 5 from each fabric. For this pattern I used two fabrics from the Flourish and Grow range.
Step 2: Pin the 4 brim pattern pieces to a large piece of fusible interfacing and cut around them to trace the shapes. Place the brim pattern piece right side down and the interfacing, glue side down. Then iron the interfacing to the pattern piece. This will give the brim structure, so it doesn’t fall into your eyes. I doubled up on the interfacing for extra strength as the cotton is thinner than traditional bucket hat fabric.
Step 3: Organise the pattern pieces into two groups according to fabric design. You will be making two separate hats that are joined together at the end. Match up the same pattern pieces right sides together, and pin at the opposite ends. Sew the ends together along the pinned line with a ¼" seam allowance. Once sewed iron the seams open.
Step 4: Take the main pattern pieces, (now sewn together at either end) and the circle pattern piece. Pin the circle around the opening of the main hat pattern piece, right sides together. This will mean the circle pattern piece will be right side down. I had to snip around the circle to ensure the pattern piece lined up with the main panel pieces. Once pinned, sew along the pinned edge with a ¼" seam allowance. Iron the seam allowance downwards and topstitch to finish.
Step 5: Follow a similar method when attaching the main hat to the brim. Turn the main hat right side outwards and slip the brim over the top right side down. With the right sides together, pin around the edge. You may need to snip around the base of the main hat to make it line up with the brim. For this particular hat I wanted a slightly tighter fit so I increased my machines stitch length to 5 and sewed along the edge of the main hat, leaving excess thread when I took the hat off the machine. I then pulled on the top thread and gathered the fabric slightly so it lined up with the brim. Once lined up and pinned, sew around the edge with a ¼" seam allowance to attach the brim to the main hat.
Step 6: Iron the seam allowance so it rests against the brim and top stitch all the way around. Repeat steps 4-6 for both hats.
Step 7: Place both hats right sides together and pin around the edge. Sew the two hats together with a ¼" seam allowance, leaving a hole big enough to turn the hat right side out.
Step 8: Once the hat is turned the right way, iron the brim and close up the hole with topstitching. Then pin along the top edge of the brim to keep the layers together.
Step 9: To finish off the hat, create 4 rows of topstitching around the brim of the hat, each measuring 1cm away from the last.
This creates the hats recognisable lines and completes the make!
To see more from Alex follow her on Instagram @alexkholt.
Made by Alex Holt for The Craft Cotton Co 2022.