How to Make a Bouffant Surgical Cap

Surgical caps are an important item for surgeons, nurses and patients alike. The surgical cap keeps hair tucked away and clean. Traditional surgical caps fit tightly around the head and tie in the back. Bouffant surgical caps are secured with elastic and fit more loosely to accommodate bigger hairstyles. Bouffant surgical caps are simple to make, as long as you have basic sewing skills. Plus, you can personalize your homemade surgical caps with cute fabrics and patterns.

Things You'll Need

• Fabric
• Sewing scissors
• Matching thread
• Sewing machine
• Thin elastic

Instructions

1. Choose the fabric you want to use. White and black fabrics work well since white is easy to clean with bleach and many stains will not show up on black. Cotton is a good fabric because it "breathes" well. Polyester works well because it cleans easily and does not wrinkle. A cotton-polyester blend is ideal.

2. Cut out a circle of fabric that has a circumference of 22 inches. Hem the fabric all the way around, leaving a small opening.

3. Cut a piece of elastic that is long enough to fit around your entire hair line. Thread this elastic through the hem of the fabric, gathering the fabric as you go, until the elastic comes out of the opening again.

4. Sew the two ends of the elastic together and sew the opening in the fabric closed. Even out the gathered edges of the fabric by simply spreading it out with your fingers until it is evenly gathered all around the edge of the cap.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have a lot of hair or normally wear it in a big hairstyle, consider cutting out a wider circle of fabric to accommodate your hair.

References

• Surgical Cap Pattern
• Making and Donating Surgical Caps

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish