Project #11: Sew a Child's Chef Hat

I was looking for a fun child's gift for nieces and stumbled upon this cupcake gift set, currently on sale for about $6 at Bed, Bath, and Beyond. That reminded me that I had snagged a free project pattern at Joann's recently for a child's chef hat. I decided that, if I combined those items with a box of cake mix and a can of frosting, I just might have a really cute gift bag for a birthday at a very reasonable price! What child doesn't love baking??



So I got to work on the chef hat project (the apron wasn't needed since one is included in the gift set). I had to read the instructions a couple of times to figure out exactly what was being described in the instructions. I have to admit that once I understood, I used the given dimensions but opted to go a slightly different route on assembly so as to avoid having to hand sew the facing seam. I'll outline how I did it below, and you have the original instructions linked above. Choose your own route! It took me about an hour to assemble two hats. With basic sewing skills, this was very easy.

Sew a Child's Chef Hat

Materials:

• 5/8 yard white fabric (I used home dec fabric, which has a nice weight)
• 3" length of 1"-wide elastic
• 5" x 22" piece of fusible interfacing
• thread

Equipment:

• Iron
• Sewing machine

Time: One Night
Cost: Under $20

Instructions:

1. Cut a 22" diameter circle for the hat and a 5"x22" rectangle for the band.
   
   
   
   
2. (Optional) Embroider (or use iron-on embellishments) on the band (as shown below).
   
3. Iron fusible interfacing to back of band.
   
4. With right sides together, sew band together at narrow ends, using 5/8" seam.
   
5. Press seam open.
6. With right side out, fold band in half lengthwise, all the way around. Press.
7. At back seam, insert 3" piece of elastic so that it lays centered (lengthwise) at the base of the the band fold.
8. Stitch the center of the elastic in place by top-stitching in the band seam. (This will create a seam in the middle of your elastic.)
9. Sew one end of elastic three inches from the center seam. Stretch elastic so that fabric lays flat, and stitch down the center of the elastic back to the band seam. Release. Fabric will gather as elastic pulls up. Repeat for other end of elastic.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
10. Using a high-tension, long-length stitch on your machine, gather edges of circle about 1/4" from the edge.
11. With right sides together, pin hat to band (at raw edges), spacing as evenly as possible. Pin frequently.
12. Sew a 5/8" seam around hat base to attach to the band.
    
13. Turn right-side out and press.
    
    

  

This was a fun project, and now I can't wait to give these to my nieces! (Shhh!) Don't tell them what they're getting!

Do you have any themed kids' gifts, like this baking-themed bag of treats? With the holidays fast approaching, we're all looking for original and creative ideas! Feel free to share some of your own!