Project by Stephanie Marsh
You will need:
Paper – to make pattern
1/2m fabric (this will make 3 hats) MAIN
1/2m mesh fabric FOR DECORATING
3 x A4 sheets card
Fishing wire |(or invisible thread
3 beads (optional)
Coordinating thread
To make paper pattern:
1. For the brim take a compass (or a plate of the right size), draw an 8.25” diameter, then in the centre draw a 3.75” diameter circle.
2. For the top draw an 8.25” square, then draw from one corner to the opposite a curve, the same length as the circumference of the small circle on the brim plus ½” for the seam allowance.
Cutting out:
1. From the main fabric cut six in the brim and three in the top (remember to take into consideration the print of the fabric, you may get more from fabric that does not have a one-way pattern).
2. On 3 of the brims cut out the centre smaller circle.
3. Cut out three of the brims in the cardboard, trim away ¼” around the outside.
Instructions:
NOTE: ¼” seam allowances used throughout, unless otherwise stated.
1. Take the tops, fold in half, right sides together, straight edges matching. Stitch from the base to the point, sewing right off the edge. Trim the point as shown below. Press seam allowances open. Turn right sides out.
2. Take the brim with the hole in the middle, with right sides together match and stich the lower edge of the top to the inner circle of the brim. Press. I found it best to mark the ¼ points on the brim and the top, match them then pull taught, pin in the middle of that section, then keep taught in between whilst stitching.
3. Now for some hand sewing, thread a needle with the corresponding thread, enough to go around the outside of the brim twice plus a bit extra. Put both edges of the thread together and sew a running stitch around each of the outside brims of the hat, Leave long ends at beginning and end.
4. Take both pieces to the ironing board, along with the cardboard circle.
5. Take the brim attached to the top of the hat and place right side down on the ironing board. Please the cardboard in the middle.
6. With one hand, hold the card in place and with the other take both ends of the threads and pull, this will make the fabric gather up around the card circle. Tie the ends together.
7. With the iron set on the appropriate setting for the fabric, press the folded edge of the fabric (the card may curl a bit, but keep it flat and it will go back to its original state).
8. Take the card out, leaving the thread in place.
9. Repeat with steps 5, 6 and 7 with the brim. Leave the card in place.
10. With wrong sides together place the top hat on top of the brim, clip or pin in place.
22. Using a larger straight stitch on your machine stitch all the layers together. If you would prefer not to sew through card then you could hand stitch the top to the bottom using a ladder stitch.
For the decorations:
Veil
Cut a piece of the mesh fabric 12” x 30”.
Overlap the short edges by ½” and hand stich through all layers using a running stitch.
Turn the top over by ½” onto the wrong side. Use a hand stitch running stitch sew in place, then before you double stitch the thread to finish it off pull the thread to make the top about 4” in diameter.
Place over the top of the hat and pull the raw edge down over the brim as below.
Floaty strips:
Cut a piece of the mesh fabric 8” x 15”.
Cut at 2” intervals to make 4 x 2” strips almost through the full length of the fabric, see below.
Turn the top over by ½” onto the wrong side. Use a hand stitch running stitch sew in place, then before you double stitch the thread to finish it off pull the thread to make the top gather up. Before you cut the thread stitch it to the point of another hat, stitch other end of top hem in place.
Gathered brim decorations:
Cut a piece of the mesh fabric 8” x 20”.
Overlap the short edges by ½” and hand stich through all layers using a running stitch as with the veil above.
At 4 regular intervals sew a row on running stitches from top to bottom and pull tight to gather in fabric.
Place over the top of the hat and rest on the brim.
To see more from Stephanie, follow her on Instagram @stephanie_j_marsh!
Made by Stephanie Marsh for The Craft Cotton Co 2022.