trapper hat (+ pattern!)

This past weekend I had a moment of panic where I thought I'd have to change the name of the blog from "We Can Make Anything" to "We Can Make Almost Anything (except for trapper hats)." This project almost bested me, but after much frustration, cussing, & one broken sewing needle, I did it! I made a trapper hat! I knew it could be done, but my point of folly was trying to make one without a pattern. Not as simple as it sounds, not as easy as it looks. But I did it. Sorry not sorry, I'm a little bit proud of myself.

If you want to venture into the hat-making territory (it's on the more advanced side of sewing), I've made my successful pattern available below. Here are the materials I used to make this hat:

• Outer fabric
• Lining fabric (warm faux fur!)
• Small buckle
• Cotton strap to fit in buckle
• Sewing machine & notions
• Trapper hat pattern : page 1 | page 2 | page 3 | page 4 | page 5 (print the pages in portrait style at 100%)

Once the pattern was made, the hat came about fairly easily. Essentially the lining of the hat is sewn together piece-by-piece, & the outer fabric is sew the same. Then the two join at the edges, inside out. I left open the portion of the hat where the buckles go so I could turn the whole mess right-side out when I was finished. Then the buckles/straps were pinned in place, & the hat sewn shut. The ear flaps are similar (sewn together on three sides, then turned right-side out), & I pinned each flap to the outer fabric before I sewed piece A & B together. The front flap & ear flaps are mostly for looks - I hand-sewed them in place to keep them from, well, flapping.

Heather's a trooper for standing outside in the cold so I could photograph her. It was like 3º outside when we did these.
Chilly chilly brr brr!

xoxo, 

-m.e.

P.S. Beef up your winter wardrobe with a no-knit cowl!