Sweater Cap

Cut  a rectangle out of an old sweater, The height should be about 6 1/2 inches for a one year old, 7 for a preschooler, and 7 and half for up to age 10.  Measure the circumference of your child’s head, then cut the sweater to that length.

Divide the length by four, then use that to space out four vertical slits. The slits should be  about three inches in length.

Now we’ll round off the corners while leaving points at the top.  Your sweater will look like a picket fence.

Take one of your middle points and sew it to an adjacent point, right sides together.  In other words, you should be looking at the inside of the sweater as you sew. Sew up to the top of the point.  This would be a good project to use a serger on, but since I don’t have one, I’m using an overcast stitch.  you could also use a zig zag stitch.

Now sew the next pointed panel to the one you finished sewing.  Again, sew to the top of the point.

Go back to that first point you sewed, and we’ll attach the point on the other side. Sew this point to the others.

Finally, we’ll sew the two sides together.  Start down at the brim and work your way to the top.

Turn your hat right side out and check the shape.

Now we’ll make the brim from plastic. I’m using a piece of acetate, which I can buy in 12 by 12 sheets at a scrapbook store.  But look around your house, maybe you can use a margarine lid or a two liter soda bottle.

Trace around the brim of your hat to make your plastic fit the curve.  Then cut the other side of the plastic into a half-circle shape. This brim is about six inches long.

Now double over the old sweater.  Lay down the brim and cut through the two layers.  Leave about 3/4 of an inch along the bottom so we can attach it to the hat.

Sew the two brim pieces right sides together.  Leave the bottom open so we slide in the plastic.

Turn the brim right side out, pushing out the seams.

Now we’ll embellish our hat. Cut out an applique or design from an old T-shirt.  Pin the embellishment in place.  I chose to hand sew my embellishment using a needle and embroidery floss, but you can use your sewing machine if you’d like.

Finally, we’ll add the brim.  Slide the plastic insert into the brim’s pocket.  Lay down the brim on top of the hat.  Pin in place, with the corners of the brim aligned with the bottom of the hat.

Sew the brim in place, following the curve of the plastic insert.

Add a cut-out from an old t-shirt as an appliqué.

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