Monday, June 25, 2012

Sewing Baby Hats- My First Tutorial


UPDATE: 6/28/2012
On the recommendation of someone else I am linking up to The Shabby Creek Cottage Transformation Thursday. If you are from The Shabby Creek Cottage, welcome! If you are thinking of making these baby hats to donate to your local hospital please make 2 identical hats. This allows the family to have the same hat that the baby has without leaving the baby without. Please also take a moment to visit Teeny Tears here: Teeny Tears Diapers. This organization provides free patterns to make tiny flannel diapers so that babies who are born too early and don't survive or who are born stillborn can have a diaper to wear. If you would like to make hats, blankets or diapers to donate to my hospital I would be happy to accept donations. Please just leave a comment on the post and I will let you know where they can be sent. My goal is to provide 2 diapers, 2 hats and 2 blankets with 1 sleeper or gown to every family who is dealing with infant death at Scott and White Memorial Hospital in Temple, TX. 


This tutorial came about because I am making teeny tiny baby hats to donate to my hospital for babies who are born sleeping or die shortly after birth. These hats are for babies from about 16 weeks to about 32 weeks. Babies after 32 weeks can generally wear preemie size clothing and have hats and things available to them. Any mommy who has a baby who has died knows how important it is to have clothes/hat/blanket for your baby. No mommy wants to kiss their baby goodbye and send them off naked. I remember thinking "I don't want him to be cold. I want him to be cozy and warm." Us mommies also know that we don't have many "things" that belonged to our babies. This is especially true for the babies that are born really early. We treasure every thing we have that belonged to them or was for them.

Most patterns for teeny tiny baby hats are for knit/crochet. I can do neither. This prompted me to go on a hunt for a pattern that I could sew. I am fairly good at sewing, however I prefer simple projects. This was especially true for this purpose, the easier and faster the better, since I need to make a lot of hats.

This is really simple. Only the most basic skills are necessary.

Materials:
1. knit fabric, less than a half a yard is needed, you can make multiple hats from 1/2 yard (a soft baby knit is perfect for this). A knit fabric is a fabric that stretches (usually more in one direction than the other). Fabric stores often have really cute little baby prints in knits. Make sure you prewash your fabric following the fabric directions
2. Thread (a good all purpose thread is just fine)
3. Sewing Machine
4. Sewing Machine needle for knits (mine is a yellow shank needle, follow the size recommendations on the package)
5. ruler or measuring tape
6. scissors or rotary cutter
7. something that makes a circle, like a glass (trust me, it's way easier than trying to draw a perfect half circle)


Step 1:
You will want to cut a square of fabric 1 inch larger than the circumference of the babies head. If this is for an older child, just measure a hat you already have or measure their head. If it is for a baby here is a list of sizes. 16 weeks: 16cm; 17 weeks: 17cm; 18 weeks: 18 cm; 19 weeks: 19cm, 20 weeks: 20 cm; 22 weeks: 22cm; 24 weeks: 24 cm; 26 weeks: 25.5cm; 28 weeks: 27 cm; 30 weeks: 28.5cm; 32 weeks: 30 cm; 34 weeks: 31 cm; 36 weeks: 32cm; 38 weeks: 33cm; 40 weeks: 35cm.

There are 2.54cm per inch. Most measuring tapes/rulers/rotary cutting boards have cm markings also. I usually find my cm marking on my rotary board and then add 1 inch (I know different types of measurements so it can be confusing)

Example: 22 week hat; need 1 square of fabric 22cm +1inch

Step 2: Decide which direction your fabric stretches the most. You want the stretch to go horizontally in the hat.

Step 3: Fold the fabric, right sides together, so that the fold is perpendicular to the direction the most stretch is in

Step 4: Sew a 1/2 inch seam along the raw edges (you may have to go slow, knit can be tricky to sew on)


Step 5: You should now have a tube of fabric. Place the seam down the middle of the tube and lay open the seam



Step 6: Fold the tube on itself (like folding socks) so that the wrong sides are touching. Make sure the seam is lining up and laying flat



Step 7: Get your circular item and trace a semi circle on the fabric with the top of the semi circle almost touching the raw edge of the folded tube


Step 8: Sew along the line you traced (go slow, it's a curve). Trim off the excess to about a 1/8 inch seam allowance


Step 9: Turn your hat inside out and fold up the brim


TaDa! You did it!

31 comments:

  1. Nice job! Grant will never be forgotten when he lives on through all the ways he has been an inspiration.

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  2. SEW Awesome!!!!!! I will be using this :)

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  3. AWESOME!!!! You are doing so wonderfully, mommy! Grant is so proud of you.
    I really want to learn how to sew. I have a machine, but I rarely use it. I want to be able to provide outfits for precious little babies.

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  4. You should share this on Thursday at www.shabbycreekcottage.com. A lot of folks would see it and make hats. Get the word out and help a lot of little angels in the process.

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  5. I LOVE this and have been looking for an outlet to help out while also making sure it is a craft I can actually do. Thank you so much for the tutorial!

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    1. Page, Making these has been so healing for me. I love knowing that another mommy will be a little more comforted in the worst moments of her life.

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  6. Oh makes me want a sewing machine!! Thanks!

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  7. Oh how precious! And sew easy! :) Love this, Kristy!

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  8. They are so cute & you did a great job figuring that out. I just wanted to say if you sew with a small zig zag stitch on knits it helps & if you have a walking foot,that works perfect.It's a foot that quilters use. I'll help you sew some of these soon.

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  9. OH my! You make it look so easy. I could totally do this!! =)

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  10. Aunt Loretta, Thank you for the tips! I do have a walking foot, I'll have to try that on the next one! I would love for you to help! You were such a blessing to us with Grant's clothes.

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  11. What a wonderful idea.... so inspirational :) So sorry that I'm behind on your news... thinking of you and your amazing work xoxo

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  12. This is so wonderful. I love baby hats. These will be so special to the mommy who will treasure them. You are inspiring me. I want to give something in honor of my baby too. Hmmm I wonder what i will do? Thanks for sharing the idea and the "how to"

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  13. Yay, Kristi! So glad you linked up! Way to pay it forward- great tribute to your little man! :-)

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  14. I am going to need to try this one!! looks easy :)

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  15. Just had someone share this pattern with me. It looks great! Thanks for sharing your pattern.

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  16. These were SOOO easy and adorable. I sewed some soft little store bought flowers to some plain white hats and I just can't get over how cute they are. Thank you Kristy for sharing and recommending these to me.

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  17. Thank you so much for this easy tutorial! The pictures make it all very clear! Made a hat for a friend who has a premature son. Thanks again!

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  18. And I thought sewing a baby hat would be hard. Your great, God Bless you for all you are doing to help others.

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  19. This is the 4th hat pattern I have tried and I love it! Your list of sizes is really helpful too. Thank you.

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  20. I would like to donate some items to your project. Please let me know wherre I can send them.

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  21. I want to use this pattern using flannel to match blankets I am making. What adjustments do you think I need to make?

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  22. Hi I want to make making newborn hats for new grandson. what sizes do I need? Thanks for the great idea.

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  23. going by your pictures, how do you hide the seams on the top? Is there a picture missing? sorry I don't know much about sewing,but my grandson was just born at the 31 weeks and will like to make some of this but I am getting lost at the time of sewing the round part and when you said to turn the hat inside out??

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  24. Thank you so much. I make "Angel Gowns" for burial from donated wedding dresses with a group of Ladies here in Indianapolis. I've been looking for a easy hat to do and this looks great.

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  25. Thank you so much for posting this!!! My daughter in law is a NICU nurse and they take donation as well....y goal is to make at least 30 of these by December 14th to take to her. This is the easiest I have found. I am a mother of a premie and I remember what it was like not having clothes to fit your child. Thank you again!!

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  26. Really amazing website for online shopping. I have also a website where you can shop at best prices. Please visit

    Buy hats

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  27. Thank you so much for posting this. We will be making these to go with Angel Wraps that our Reap What You Sew ministry gives to the hospitals in the Phoenix area.

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