Wednesday 29 August 2012

Leave Your Hat On!

hatmosaic

It was a beautiful, sunny day here yesterday. I put Amélie's hat on and noticed it was a bit on the small side. It's time she had a new hat. The boys could both use new hats too, and as spring is coming, and with it the warmer weather(!) and UV rays and all that, it is time to get hat making. I figured that I'm probably not the only one who needs to get onto this, so decided to make it a sew-along.

Liam HAT

I've made quite a few hats over the years, the first hat I made was from an old Top Kids magazine, from when Liam was about six months old. I then made another hat for one of my nephews, using the same pattern.

Duncans hat

Later, I discovered Nicole Mallalieu (also known as "You Sew, Girl!"). I had seen her bib pattern on-line and had read a few of her blog posts. Then I went to a Stitches and Craft Show and actually met her. I saw the Kids' Hat pattern and ummed and ahhed about it. Honestly, I thought it was a bit expensive. I really had only ever bought commercial patterns and had never had a boutique pattern before. I ended up buying it and boy, am I glad I did! It was definitely worth what I paid for it and I have made heaps of hats using that pattern. There are heaps of hints and tips in a "You Sew, Girl!" pattern that you will never get from the big commercial pattern companies, and I've been hooked ever since.

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There are heaps of other hat patterns out there. I also have Nikki's Fedora pattern, and her book, which has a couple of cute baby hats in it. Some of my friends are really happy with the "Make It Perfect" bucket hat pattern and another recommendation I've heard is the Oliver + S hat pattern, which is available as a free down-load.

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I'm not fussed about which pattern you use. We'll all motivate each other to get our hats finished before the end of September. I plan to try out a few new embellishment techniques, you might want to try them too? If you have any trouble with your hat(s) you can leave a comment on my blog, or message me if you want to be anonymous and we'll try to help each other, ok :)

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So, are you ready to sign up? Just add your name here:





And grab your button here:

SOLOMON SEWING


So, now that you have signed up, tell me about what you plan to make. Which pattern are you going to use? Who is it for? Are you planning to embellish it a bit?

20 comments:

  1. I think I'm going to have a crack at the Oliver+S pattern, I need to make three - one for each small person!

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  2. I'll be using one of Nikki's patterns, but I'm sure if it will be for me or for one of my girls! Thanks for getting me inspired to sew some new hats.

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  3. I have used the Oliver & S one a few times and will use it again :-) I have 4 kidlets so it will be a busy September for me I think!

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  4. I have offerred to make my friend's 3 kidlets hats for when we all go camping in October.i need a new hat as does my 8 month old son! Will be using the Oliver and S for the kidlets, and I might try the hat patterns that were in the get crafty mag. Happy sewing!

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  5. Sorry, don't have a google acct! Di

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  6. Hello, I'll be using a Sew Much Ado pattern that I have modified a little. (not enough to be noticable) but it gives it a better fit for my toddlers.
    honey.inia@live.com.au

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  7. Never made a hat so I'm quite excited! I'm going to try the Oliver + S hat. I've got 4 kids, but I don't think my 14 year old son will appreciate it lol.

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  8. I'm in with 4 kids as well. I'll try the Oliver + S one first!

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  9. HI Carmel, no idea the answer for any of those questions, but I'll have a think about it and get back to you! thanks for hosting a sew along. Fun.

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  10. yay Got some fabric I was waiting for n the post today. If I stick with my plan my son will have a new cars/ lighting macqueen hat reall soon.

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  11. I have two partially made for baby boys who turned six in Feb.... Might start by getting them out of my UFO pile and finishing them... then perhaps a new Oliver +s one for their baby brother.
    Thanks for getting me into hat making action Carmel.

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  12. I have two partially made for baby boys who turned six in Feb.... Might start by getting them out of my UFO pile and finishing them... then perhaps a new Oliver +s one for their baby brother.
    Thanks for getting me into hat making action Carmel.

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  13. I'm a bit late getting on board but I"d love to join the sew-along. Need a bit of motivation to getting my sewing mojo back :o)

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  14. I'll be sewing from Vogue 7600 collection of ladies sunhats, will be posting results on my blog. p.s. your button code is missing the http: on the href, so when folks click it from another site, it will not find you - except I fixed mine!

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  16. I have Amy Butler's "Blue Sky Hat" pattern (let's not mention the fact that I have had the pattern and the fabric for same for over 12 months!!!) Thanks to Ms Midge for sharing your sew-a-long - I would dearly love to get this project out of the UFO pile and onto my head!!!

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  17. And to prove I am serious, I have just popped a piccy of my project up in the Flickr group. Accountability, here I come!!!

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  18. I have never made a hat until I see your sew along, now I've made 2 Oliver+S hats for my grandies. The first one I made heaps of mistakes but the second much better. Main thing the kids love them. :-)

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  19. I didnt 'sign up' as such because I don't really blog anymore, but you did inspire me to make a hat! I've added it to the flickr group. I'll watch the sewalong with interest to see if there are any techniques I need to incorporate into future hat sewings! thanks for doing this
    lore
    x

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  20. This is a great idea, especially now the weather is heating up finally!
    I have just sewn 2 hats using the Oliver & S pattern, the 2nd one using the non handstitching tute by a little gray - so much easier and quicker!

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