A hat for Curly girls and Bun babes!
Firstly let's talk hat hair! If you are a curly girl like me, you probably avoid hats for fear of squashing your lush locks into a moulded hat shape and having to then keep the hat on ALL day, inside/outside no matter what?
Or maybe your wearing a bun, pony or pineapple and then have the dilemma of how to wear a hat at the same time because sunglasses just aren't enough.
Following the success of my Greystoke sun hat I have had requests for a topless version so here it is...
A wide brim, reversible and topless DIY sun hat just waiting for you to put your own spin on with your favourite fabric combinations.
Read on for the sewing tutorial with top tips and advise to support the PDF pattern available to download now.
This pattern comes in 5 sizes from XS (48cm) - XL (60cm) so that you can also make for older children.
(Anyone who already has the original greystoke pattern head to my sewing club for the cap pattern extension for FREE)
Here's how to make the #toplessgreystokesunhat and some top tips for success.
Kit List:
MATERIALS
- 2 medium weight woven Fabrics
- Heavy weight interfacing (what is interface?) TOP TIP - If you choose a heavy weight you will only need to stabilise one brim not both.
- Threads co-ord or contrast your choice
- (Optional) Bias binding finish
Grab the PDF pattern templates in my Pattern Shop
Also see illustrated instructions below which you can choose to print or not (you could save paper/ink and view the illustrations on screen)
Ready? Let's get started!
1> Firstly CUT your fabrics using my pattern templates, you'll essentially be making two hats that you will join together at the end so you'll need 2 brims and 12 cap segments in total.
2> Don't forget to cut out interfacing/stabiliser for 1 or both brims as you'll most likely need it for such a wide brim design. I like to use fusible interfacing but NEVER let the glue touch your iron!
My technique is to pin your fabric to the interface (wrong side of fabric to glue side) and then cut 2mm smaller than the fabric template so that there is no overhang.
3> Use the marks on the pattern to snip small NOTCHES on the fold line of the inner/outer brim edges plus the inner brim circle. These marks will help you line up the 2 hats later on.
NOTE: this pattern INCLUDES 1/4" seam allowances
4) JOIN cap segments x6 per hat to make a loop
5) JOIN 1 cap strip to one brim using notches to easy together.
6) MATCH cap segment seams and consider pinning/clipping in place to ensure that brims are aligned before the next step.
7) Bring the two hats right sides together and JOIN brims around outer edge and clip curve to help the edge turn through.
8) TURN hats through right sides out pushing and running your finger inside the brim seam and PRESS
9) TOPSTITCH edge of brim 1cm seam allowance, use a long stitch length (4mm) and do not backstitch, instead leave long thread tails to neatly knot by hand.
10) TOPSTITCH inside of brim 1cm from inside edge of brim (optional topstitch more lines in the brim for detail)
11) To FINISH the top edge FOLD and PRESS 0.5cm down inside both cap top edges, PIN together and sew a small topstitch to finish.
Alternatively you can BIND the top edge of your hat as I did with the sample in these photos.
To do this BASTE top edges of caps wrong sides together edge to edge.
Then using bias binding sandwich your cap raw edge between the binding and topstitch to finish. More about bias binding here.
So how did you do?
Tell me what you think of the pattern, share your creations with me on Instagram @frecklesandcocraft #toplessgreystokesunhat #frecklessewingpatterns
Looking for more sewing patterns?
