Thrifty Thursday/Super Cute Slouchy Hat

I have done a LOT of dumb things in my life ;) When I was in the 8th grade, I remember one particular day when it was so cold that I thought my ears would literally fall off of my head. Truth be told, had that happened, it would have been my own fault as I was just too vain to wear a hat on my head while walking to school. That day was a game changer though. As I walked, and my ears grew colder and colder, I vowed that I would never be this cold again, and yes, I would wear a hat. 

At the time, hats were just not the thing to wear, but after my experience, fashion or not, I was going to be warm. And so it has been ever since. I LOVE hats!!! If you were to look into my drawer, you would probably think I have more than 1 head since I have as many as I do. I have changed a lot since those days when I thought hats were horribly hideous. Having a hat for whatever the occasion may be is now just absolute fun! And soft hats fold down to nothing, so having a bunch is really not an issue. 

I recently saw a post from On The Cutting Room Floor for a free slouchy hat pattern and thought it was especially cute. A great little hat to wear, and when off, easily folded and stored in a coat pocket. It's intended for knit fabric, be it fleece, wool, or just a knit that you have left over from a t-shirt project. 

 

There are only 6 pages to print out, so quick and easy.

The pattern looks a little like church steeples to me ;)

I had a sweater that I had felted. I love the color and thought it would make into a fun hat. 

The sweater had side seams, so I couldn't cut the hat in one continuous piece, 

So I just cut it down the center and then added seam allowances to each side. 

I used the hem of the sweater for the bottom band. The instructions say to fold up the bottom 1 1/2". In the above picture, you can see that I placed the pattern right on the edge of the sweater, making it actually an 1 1/2" longer since I would not be turning up the bottom.If you aren't using a sweater with a finished edge, I would add at least 1" to the bottom of the pattern. You can always cut it off if you feel the hat is a little too long. But, it is supposed to be a slouchy hat, so a little more slouch is not such a bad thing :)  

I decided to have a little fun with the hat and add a tassel. All I did was take a piece of my sweater knit and cut it into fringe, leaving about 1 " at the top uncut. I then rolled the fringe around to make a tassel and stitched it securely together at the top. Once it was stitched together so that it would not open up, I then stitched it to the top of the hat.  

This is a very fast project, and something that would make a great, quick gift for just about everyone on your gift list. I made one for my husband, but shortened it so that there was no slouch. He loved it!

You can find the free pattern HERE. 

I plan on making a few more. A trip to the resale shop is on my agenda. Hopefully I'll find some fun sweaters that I can use. Our church usually has a request for hats, and or gloves at this time of year, so I thought I would use the pattern to make up a bunch. 

Enjoy!
Rhonda    

Monday Morning Inspiration/The Beret

A few weeks ago, a friend of mine and I were shopping, not for anything in particular, just going in and out of some fun shops. We popped into a store that sold shoes (I can't walk past a shoe store without going in!!!), tights and hats. We both spotted the cutest little hat, more of a cloche style. She pulled it on, and it looked so cute. About that time, her husband walked in and said, "you aren't going to wear that hat." I felt like telling him to walk right back to where he came from. Rather than reply to him, she handed the hat to me and told me to try it on. Now, I love hats, and maybe it's because I love hats that they always seem to look as though they were made for me. As she looked at me in the hat, she said, "Oh, I love that hat, but I guess I don't need it." Since I too loved the hat, I decided to take a gamble and purchase the hat as I thought she would change her mind, and if she didn't, I had a super cute new hat. When we got back to my house, she walked into the bedroom and then came back out with the money for the hat. My gamble paid off :) And...she wore the hat a number of times before while they were with us. 

What is it about hats that draws us in, but then makes us hesitate? There was a time that we wouldn't leave the house without a hat on our head. 

A few weeks ago, I saw a delightful piece on a Sunday morning program that I enjoy. It was all about the French beret, and not just any, the Laulhere Beret. I've attached the video below. Take note of how the employees banded together to save the company. Just such an incredible story.



For most Americans, when we think of a beret, we visualize something like the picture below, a svelte Parisian woman in a striped top with a red beret.

Another lovely look, a sweet blouse, tweed trousers, and a plaid wool beret. The hat just seems to pull it all together.

Another lovely, polished look. This beret, if not from Laulhere, it's the type that they make. If you think you might like to have one for yourself, I found THIS SITE that carries the Laulhere label.  

Berets can be made in any type of fabric, even hand knitted.

They can be customized with a wide trim. You can find this hat HERE on Etsy.

If you enjoy needle felting, a beret will lend itself to anything the mind can imagine! 

The above hats came from a cute shop called Elves In Glass. Click on the link to see other delight concoctions.

And how cute is this?!! Is she a fox or not?!!! :) I found this hat HERE. Just so whimsical!

After watching the video, I too want a Laulhere beret. A hat company with that type of history is well worth owning at least one for myself. But...if you would like something a little more customized, you can find my free beret pattern HERE.  

I think berets are the perfect hat. They help keep your head warm when it's cold or chilly out. They look great with everything. And they can easily be popped off and thrown in your bag if you would rather not wear them all day. 

Oh, and one last thing...whenever I wear my berets, I get so many compliments. Nothing can turn a day around like a lovely compliment :)

Thrifty Thursday/Ear Flap Hat

It's been quite some time since I've done a Thrifty Thursday post, and although it's no longer Thursday, I wanted to share the pattern with you. About a year ago, Purl Soho posted THIS super cute ear flap hat. I am such a sucker for a hat, so I just had to make one. The designer said that when her children were small, she designed a winter baby bonnet that her children still were a version of. Since she too loves hats, she regretted not designing an adult version. Although it's on a child, the hat below was designed to fit the head of most women.

And here's my crazy version. The designer said that the hat is a classic Amelia Earhart shape, so I just couldn't resist doing one in leather. And in true Amelia style, I took the picture in the cockpit of the airplane :)

The inside is in a faux fur.

If you look closely, you'll see that I braided strips of the leather for the ties. Other than that, I followed the pattern. 

The hat is super warm, and it will be great on days when the wind is hollowing. The leather should stop any cold air from penetrating the hat.

The pattern is so easy to make up. Someone who is relatively new to sewing should not have a problem. If you have a teenager who likes to exchange gifts with friends, I think this would be perfect. Although the designer said that the hat should fit most women, I think it would work for guys too. After all, it's not only women who fly ;)

Thrifty Thursday/We Could All Use a Better Night's Rest

Earlier this week, I shared with you that my husband and I hosted a student this past week. One of her priorities was to learn how to sew. Now all of us who have been sewing for quite some time, or even, not so long, we all know that truly learning to sew isn't mastered in a day. My objective was for her to walk away with a couple of projects that she would feel good about, and the confidence that sewing is something she can do.

Well, as it turns out, she is a girl after my own heart. I am devoted to wearing a sleep mask at night. It's amazing how the total darkness allows me to calm down and sleep soundly. As it turns out, she too enjoys wearing a sleep mask.

A few months ago, I noticed a free pattern for a sleep mask from Fabrics-Store.com. It's pictured below.

I ended up making 3, basically used up a scrap that I had, but I also used a little of some linen that I ordered from Fabrics-Store.com. I always like to have at least 1 spare for when the other needs to be washed.

I felt that the sleep mask would be a great first project. She enjoyed making the mask so much that she decided to make another as a gift for a friend.

When we went through my fabric scraps, she found the airplane fabric and was set on what she wanted to do. As it turns out, she too loves airplanes :) She got a kick out of positioning the airplane and helicopter over the eyes.

We had a little fun with the project and used a contrasting fabric for the band. Sadly, I didn't get a picture of the reverse side, but we lined the back of the sleep mask with a plaid flannel which will make the mask nice and soft against the face, especially for sleeping.

You may remember the bucket hats I made a few weeks ago. You can find the tutorial HERE as well as a link to the free pattern. 

She loved my hats and wanted to make 1 for herself...out of the same airplane fabric :) So cute!

Like mine, the hat is reversible and we used denim on the opposite side. This made a great second project. With the sleep mask, she learned how to sew around a curve. Attaching the crown to the side of the hat was a little challenging, but with the experience of the sleep mask, she quickly got the hang of it.

And finally, who doesn't need a sleep mask that will match their bucket hat?!!!

It's been quite some time since I've worked with an absolute beginner, but I had a blast. I really enjoyed her excitement over her accomplishments. 

In case you missed the link to the free sleep mask pattern, you can find it HERE. 

When I go to bed at night, I rub a little lavender oil on my temples and then slip on my mask. Within a short amount of time, I have slipped off to sleep. So if you have problems sleeping at night, I highly recommend a sleep mask. I can't sleep without mine :)  

Monday Morning Inspiration/Making The Bucket Hat

Whew, my posting has been kind of a nonexistent thing the past few days. But the break was good :)

I had promised last week to do a quick tutorial on how I put together the bucket hat from Lost In Paris. Super cute hat, great for throwing in your bag to have on hand for when you find yourself out in the sun and needing a little extra protection. As I said last week, I liked the pattern so much that I made up 2 hats. I especially like the reversible aspect of the hat.

Below is my basic denim hat.

Another denim hat, but this time in white with a fun travel print on the flip side. You can also play with the brim and give it a fedora look.

This is a one size hat pattern, so my recommendation is to cut out the side of the hat and slip it on. If it seems comfortable, you're good to go! 

To prepare the pattern, fold the crown in half and mark notches. Fold it in half again and mark notches. You will have notches for center front, center back and the sides.

Be sure to mark notches on the side of the hat as well as the brim.

Sew the crown to the side of the hat. All seam allowances are 1/2". Once the seam has been sewn, press open.

By pressing the seam open, the crown will lay much nicer.

Now sew the lining of the brim to the outside fabric, but only the bottom edge.

Trim the seam allowance to 1/4". Turn and press the edge.

Now sew the brim to the main body of the hat. Note that the lining is not included yet.

Now sew the crown to the side panels of the lining. Be sure to press the crown seam just as the did for the outer fabric. Slip the main body of the hat inside the lining of the top of the hat. Stitch around the hat leaving at least a 4" opening for turning.

Turn the hat right side out and slip stitch the opening closed. 

The hat will be secure when turned from one side to the other. 

This is a great project for anyone who is learning to sew. It makes up quickly and it's a project that insures success. And we all know, a first project really does need to be successful.

Just one last note before I go, I added a link to the Martha Stewart hat in last week's post. PLEASE DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME!!!! I once again downloaded the pattern hoping that they had corrected the mistakes. They have not. It's an awful pattern. Here's the link just so you'll know what I'm talking about.

Hope you have a chance to get "Lost In Paris" and have a little fun with a bucket hat. I think you'll love having one....or two or three :) to throw on.

Have a wonderful week!
Rhonda 

Monday Morning Inspiration/Hats For The Sun

On a recent visit to my dermatologist, we talked about the rise in skin cancer. He told me that when he was a student, melanoma was quite rare. He said that he sadly sees it every week now.

I have become vigilant about protecting my skin. Not only do I use sun block, I wear hats. Since we are talking about bathing suits with the current sew along over at Sew News, I thought it might be fun to take a look at a few hats. And even better, the patterns are free!!! 

While not a big brim, this hat that I made for a Thrifty Thursday post is super cute and does offer some shading on the face. You can see my post and find the pattern HERE.

Once again, not a large brim hat that offers a lot of protection, but this Newsboy Cap from Waffle Patterns is fun to wear, stores easily in your bag, and shades the face. You can find the post and a link to the pattern HERE. 

And we can't forget the baby, especially with their very sensitive skin. This little bonnet pattern from Purl Soho is perfect as it is also reversible. Make up a bunch to have on hand for baby showers. You can find a link to the free pattern HERE.

I have not made this pattern, but based on the beautiful results I had with the top pattern that I made about a month ago, I would recommend this Papavero hat pattern. You can find a link to the pattern HERE.  

I gave this pattern from Martha Stewart a try quite some time ago and did not have great results. But, I have read a few reviews that were very positive, so maybe they made some changes to the pattern. It offers a wider brim and is still very packable. I will give it another try later this week and get back to you on my results. Fingers crossed! If you are brave and would like to go ahead and give it a try, you can find the pattern HERE. It comes in adult and children sizes.

Although the hat below is on a child, it was made for an adult. The author of Sugar Cubes and Spice Cakes said that she is much more comfortable behind the camera. Why not when you have such cute models?!! Do pop over to her blog and check out the hat as it is adorable. The pattern is from Hot Patterns and you can find the free download HERE.

So cute for the beach, and offers lots of protection from the sun is this super cute, flower power hat from Very Purple Person. I have not made the hat, but my suggestion would be to do a muslin of the crown prior to cutting the hat out of your fashion fabric. You can try the crown on and decide if it works, or if a few adjustments need to be made. You can download the pattern for free HERE.  

Over the weekend I made up this hat and I loved it so much that I decided to make 2, one in regular denim and the other in white denim. The brim is not too large, but large enough to offer shading without restricting my view.
You can find the pattern HERE. The hat is reversible, so you'll get lots of use out of it. A little later today, I'll be back with pictures of me in the hat as well as a tutorial. The instructions are fine, but I will show you a little better way of making the hat. 

And last but not least, another hat for the baby, or toddler. I included this hat for 2 reasons, first of all I LOVE the stripes!!! I have to give this a try for myself. Second, I think the addition of the grosgrain tie is perfect and a great addition for a small child who would most likely take the hat off without the tie. But hey, I think I want one with a tie too!!! The pattern is from Shwin and Shwin and you can find the pattern HERE.

As you head out today, be sure and use that sun screen. It does no one any good sitting in the cabinet! And grab a hat, not only do they help to protect, they are fun to wear :)