This guest post by Sempstress Rochelle Freeman tells the tale of a hat her husband loved, and the journey to replicate it. Read Part 1 here.
Welcome back.
If you missed part one or part two, of the Win, Lose or Draw, Flat Cap Sewing Tutorial, check those out. A little reminder, there will be no shortcuts. You will be with me all the way. No do-overs, no sleight of hand, only an honest stumbling through something I’ve never done before with all the world as my witness. Doesn’t that sound fun? Come on along and watch me fumble! I ain’t afraid!
Preparing the fabric for making the Flat Cap pattern.
Went through the fabric I already had. Nothing fancy, it needs to be see through, or translucent.
The fabric has a nice loose weave that helps with the translucency.
Holding it up to the natural light from the window, it’s dusk and the light still shows, like the moon through a veiled, cloudy night.
Fabric on the ironing board, getting ready to iron out the wrinkles.
Fabric on the ironing board, it is definitely translucent, you can see the fabric cover through the fabric nicely! This sure is a happy little fabric!
Lay the fabric over the Flat Cap
Pin in Place
Pin it well to keep the fabric in place whilst you find the seams
Make sure to line up the seams
Pin
Don’t be afraid to pin!
Keep Checking
And Checking
There! Finally lined up whew!
Don’t forget those corners!
Once you’ve found all the seams use a water based marker and follow the pins, like follow the leader, only easier
Mark exactly on the pins
Try to keep it the correct shape
Don’t forget those corners! Deja vu!
Pinned to Flat Cap
Nothing to see here folks, move on
Look Closely, this is why we want translucence. It’s fun to say the word too!
Use what’s handy to keep the round shape.
Keeping it Shapely
Yup, that’s grandmas old button tin! How’d you guess?
Fold in Half to make sure it’s equal.
Look Closely, this is why we want translucence. It’s fun to say the word too!
Checking the lines for symmetry.
Used a different color on the other side and make sure to mark the center line!
TADA! We have a rough shape!
Measuring the Cap to make adjustments
Measuring to make adjustments
Using Cap to Mark seams
Measure, Yes please!
After using Cap to Mark seams
Transfering measurements to seams
Measuring in Metric, cause this is a legit European Flat Cap ya know!
Measure twice
What say we add a little seam allowance
Yup, that looks good!
Colors are my Friend! Purple is for seam allowance
Folded in half again to make sure seam allowances match
Seam allowances added
Tracing Paper! ( Or sandwich paper, your choice)
Tracing
Lookie! A paper pattern!
Seam allowance on paper – Awe Yeah!
Line up those green seams! I love colors!
Stitching on the green line.
No more Octopi!
What! That looks shapely!
Trimming, trimming trimming on the fabric
Shiver me timbers!
Hamming it up
Looking phat and happy
Stay tuned for part 4!
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Sweet! This looks like my kind of project. I love hats and have a collection. I wish I had trained as a milliner to be honest.
I’ll have to read the previous posts
Thanks
Glad you enjoyed, Patricia!