It's been pretty cold in NYC lately. I decided to make a few hats for my girls the other day and they turned out pretty cute. I just may have to make a few of them for myself. I put together a tutorial to share how I made them.
For this project you will need:
An old sweater with ribbing around then bottom
2 colors of 100% wool felt-One for the flower and another for the center.
Matching thread
needle
embroidery floss
scissors
A hat that fits the lucky little girl or boy who will be taking your mad sewing skills for granted.
Warning!!!!
You will be performing "surgery" on this sweater. Make sure that you are not too attached to it! Don't be afraid to "cut". Your a seamstress. That's what we do. We cut. We change lives. We save. To be a good seamstress you have to think like a seamstress. Emotions can be messy. You need to tuck them away and step into a clean sterile studio where the procedure is simple. You cut, you suture, you close. Now let's do this!
Take the hat and place it on top of the bottom of the sweater. This is your "pattern". I placed mine a little bit above the ribbing because I wanted it to come down a bit lower on her than the old hat. Take a deep breath. Hold the scissors steady, and make the cut.
Good job.
Now you sew a seam along the outer edge.
Now lay your hat flat with the seam going down the middle. Your going to want to sew another seam across the top. (My hand looks a little creepy in that photo).
Then, you take another deep breath, hold the scissors steady, and make your final cut across the top. This will give it it's shape. Excellent!
THis is what the inside will look like inside out when your done.
And now right side out.
Now for the felt. This is the shape of the flower petals I chose. They are three inches long and about an inch wide. I cut them with pinking shears. Take some liberty with the shape, size color and make it your own. This is the fun part.
Pin your petals to the hat.
And sew them on. I did a straight line down the middle of each of them.
Now for the flower center. I just cut out a circle and folded it in half. Next, I took the embroidery floss and made a few stitches in the fold. Then, I folded it in half again and made a few stitches. This makes it stand out a little. Then just sew it on the center of the flower.
(Ok, my hand is really freakin me out in this photo. It looks more like a claw)
Thats it! I am investing in some good hand lotion tomorrow!
The final step, put this hat on your little one. Watch the relief in her little face as the warmth settles in. As a seamstress, you can't help but get "involved". They say, that practice makes perfect. Theory is that the more you think like a seamstress, the more you become one. The better you get at remaining neutral. Clinical. (It's not gonna happen)
I love it!
Posted by: Holly | January 13, 2010 at 12:47 PM
you crack me up!
the hat is SO adorable. i must make one for Sutton. thanks!
Posted by: Erin | January 13, 2010 at 10:46 PM
What a great re-use of a sweater! So cute.
Posted by: Alisa | January 13, 2010 at 10:54 PM
You can even wear that hat during summer season. what a great idea! I love it. Those flower design could be a great hair clip style also. Thanks for sharing this idea.
Posted by: aaliyah | January 14, 2010 at 04:02 AM
I love the sweater concept. I came up with a similar idea back in December.
Posted by: emily | January 15, 2010 at 10:37 AM
Very Cute! Love the flower addition!
Mags
www.smashedpeasandcarrots.blogspot.com
Posted by: maggie | January 16, 2010 at 11:53 AM
I love this pattern and want to give it a try but need help visualizing one of the sewing steps. After you sew both sides up, are you saying that you just cut straight across the top and then just sew across to finish? I checked the pictures but want to make sure that this is what you are saying.
I'm so anal.............Thanks! :)
Posted by: Leslie Rudden | January 16, 2010 at 12:11 PM
Hi Leslie,
That parts a little confusing. I sewed along the top and then trimmed it. You can see it better if you click on the photo of the hat inside out after the 2nd seam was created. It is "rounded" across the top and not all the way down the sides. I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any more questions.
Posted by: Jennifer | January 17, 2010 at 12:06 AM
That is so cute. I love the flower! Thanks for linking up. Adding you to my blogroll. :)
Posted by: Diana @ The Girl Creative | January 19, 2010 at 01:27 PM
Too cute, but I'm afraid I'll never be more than the equivalent of a nurse when it comes to sewing... or maybe a candy-striper. :) Thanks for sharing. If I ever get up the courage to slice a sweater, I'll give it a try.
Posted by: Christianne @ Little Page Turners | January 19, 2010 at 01:40 PM
Just so you know...I would wear that hat. I just might make one for myself. And the tutorial...I really like the encouragement. Speaks right to my needy heart "Take a deep breath" "Good Job!". :) Glad I found you! I"ll stop by again!
Posted by: Brooke Whitis | January 19, 2010 at 08:42 PM
OMG! That is ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE! Love the colors. Great job.
Posted by: pk @ Room Remix | January 20, 2010 at 10:05 AM
That is really so cute...guess I will think twice before sending my old sweaters out to the Goodwill...
Posted by: Teri | January 20, 2010 at 10:39 AM
Here from Blue Cricket - love the darling felt flower on front!!!
Posted by: Lei | January 20, 2010 at 02:42 PM
Adorable! And so easy to make!
Come share at my Thursday's Treasures party!
http://treasuresfortots.blogspot.com/2010/01/thursdays-treasures-week-6.html
Posted by: Angela Neil | January 21, 2010 at 10:44 PM
amazing! really pretty!!
Posted by: tula | January 22, 2010 at 11:07 AM
I need to do this. I wonder how many hats you could get out of one sweater? I think Ruffles and Stuff did something similar in a looser, beret-style hat...
Posted by: Adventures in Dressmaking | January 22, 2010 at 11:35 AM
Darling!! The hat turned out very nice.
Posted by: Rachel | January 22, 2010 at 01:08 PM
So cute - the hat and your model!
Posted by: Liz | January 22, 2010 at 10:50 PM
It is cute but that flower just drives the point home. Just yesterday I was thinking of what to do with a bunch of old sweaters. This is it!
mythriftytreasures.blogspot.com
Posted by: Lissa | January 23, 2010 at 12:10 AM
I love the idea of adding a flower!! Also, the extra seam on top for shape is too too smart...when killing old sweaters in the past I never thought to do that and the shape was alright but not great. Time to do more surgery!
Posted by: Melanie | January 23, 2010 at 02:14 PM
Way too cute. How simple. Love it.
Posted by: Sandi | January 28, 2010 at 12:50 PM
Wonderful! Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Mami Made It | January 28, 2010 at 01:03 PM
Love it! I've got a stack of old sweaters and now I know what to do with them. Thanks!
Posted by: Teddy Started It | January 28, 2010 at 11:40 PM
Cute hat, darling model!
Posted by: lila | January 30, 2010 at 08:01 PM