Introduction: How to Sew a Cute Cloche Hat
Step 1: Materials Needed for DIY Cloche Hat & Pattern
Materials Needed:
- half a yard of premium felt (or other material for hat)
- sewing machine(I use the Brother CS600i - and love it)
- hand-sewing needle, thread & pins
- scissors or rotary cutting tool & mat (I highly recommend this if you do a lot of sewing and cutting)
- pattern
- *optional: starch (I used Sta-Flo liquid starch)
Before You Begin:
First, you can download the pattern piece in this step and print and cut them out.
Update!!! I've finally uploaded a PDF version of the pattern pieces that you can download. Just be careful that when you go to print out, you do not hit any special settings like "fit to frame," - just print it the size that it is. You will know it's the accurate size after printing it out and putting a ruler next to the ruler grid on the pattern pieces. It will be accurate or true-to-size.
The hat I made is for a head size approximately 21 1/2 inches. If you need to increase the hat size, you can do so by adding material to the ends of the pattern pieces. This tutorial here on increasing or decreasing a hat size pattern may help you.
The large flower on the hat I created was made from an online tutorial and free pattern download here. Thank you so much to Joy Kelley for the pattern for the beautiful felt camellias!
Holly Mann is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
Attachments
Step 2: Cut Out the Pieces
While still at the sewing machine with the material right-side out - look underneath the stitching to see the direction in which the under part of the seam is facing. Move it to one side (your choice as to left or right) and put the presser foot down. I chose to push the under part of the seam towards the back part of the hat (left). I then did a topstitch to the left of where the two pieces are joined (see image) while carefully pulling the material so there wouldn't be any bulges. Doing this creates a really nice finished-look for the hat, while also smoothing and flattening out the seams.
Step 3: Finishing Up the Main Part of the Hat
Once done, the four pieces will be connected as follows: front crown piece, front top, back top and back crown piece. The crown pieces are larger. Try the hat on to see how it fits and lies on your head. If you prefer how it looks as it is - great. You may find that if you flip it so the back crown piece is in the front that you like how it looks that way - either way is fine. The main hat base is now completed!
Also, if for some reason the hat is slightly more snug than you prefer - you can get it damp (spray the inside with water) and put it on your head to sort of re-form it and stretch it a little bit.
Step 4: Adding the Brim
The end of the brim will not be totally secured down. So you can also move it around how you like it and if you like, do just one or two small stitches to secure it onto the hat. I think it looks better this way - otherwise it may stick out awkwardly.
Step 5: Sewing the Flowers On
Next, before I forget to add this - you can fold the back side under about 1/2 inch or less and sew it under. It's also fine if you leave it un-sewn - that is up to you.
Now for the last step - if you have some starch to spray onto your hat to stiffen it up a little bit, that will help the hat keep its shape and stability.