Sewing Instructions for Pirate Hats
Dressing as a pirate can be a fun costume for all ages, even adults. You can scavenge many of the costume's elements like pants, shirt, sash, bandanna and eye patch, but you need to make a pirate's hat to complete the ensemble. Sew a pirate hat from felt for quick and easy pirate headgear. If you prefer to use another fabric, you will want to add cardboard or stiff interfacing to help the hat hold its shape which complicates the project. Felt is an easy fabric to work with for an easy-to-make pirate hat.
Things You'll Need
- Measuring tape
- Tissue paper
- Scissors
- Pencil
- Straight pins
- Black felt
- Black thread
- White felt or white fabric
- Fusible web or fabric glue
- Sewing machine
Instructions
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1
Measure the head circumference. Hold the measuring tape at the forehead level and wrap it around the head for a snug fit. Note the measurement.
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2
Select the shape you wish to use for the basic hat. On tissue paper, draw the pirate hat in the appropriate size. Base the hat size on the head circumference measurement. Leave excess on each end of the hat for the traditional pirate hat shape.
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3
Cut out two identical felt pieces of the pirate hat.
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4
Pin the front and back pieces together. Baste the hat at each end using the sewing machine basting stitch or by hand.
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5
Try the hat on for size before stitching permanently. Make necessary adjustments if needed. If the hat does not sit down over the crown, remove the stitches to make the hat larger. If the hat slides down over the ears or eyes, stitch further in from each end to make the hat smaller. Try the hat on once more after adjustments have been made to ensure correct size.
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6
Stitch the hat together on either end where you previously basted. Stitch the top edge and each end together leaving a 5/8 inch seam.
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7
Draw the outline of a skull and crossbones on tissue, or directly on the white felt or fabric. Trace the shape on the fabric if you have used tissue for the pattern. Next, pin the fusible web to the back of the skull and crossbones.
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8
Cut out the white skull and crossbones shape on the fabric with the fusible web pinned to the underside. Another method is to use fabric glue to attach the white skull and crossbones to the hat front.
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9
Following the fusible web instructions, iron the felt fabric to the backing. Center and iron the skull and crossbones to the front of the hat.
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Tips & Warnings
You can find sample pirate hat shapes on the Internet which can serve as a pattern.
Add white trim to the edges by cutting narrow strips of white felt or using bias tape. Adhere using fabric glue.
Water makes felt color run and felt to lose its shape.
If using fusible web, test it on a felt scrap beforehand.
If using fabric glue, place a plastic bag as a liner inside the hat to avoid accidentally gluing the hat front and back together. Dry completely before use.
References
- Photo Credit Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images
