Thursday, May 27, 2010

T-shirt Hat

Here is the tutorial for my t-shirt hat from my guest post on Ucreate.

Since soccer started a few weeks ago, I've been wanting a new hat to hide my hair in the morning. I have a few hats already, but they are too dark and heavy for spring. I was thrilled when I came up with this solution and it actually worked.
All you need is an old t-shirt. I've cut several of my husbands ugly free t-shirts up this last week.
First thing you need to do is cut a long strip 4" wide though both layer of the shirt. The length will depend on the circumference of your head + an inch for the seam. I cut mine to be 21-1/2" long. *By cutting through both layers you should have two strips one on top of the other.
Now you have to cut a circle for the top. This involves a little math. Using your circumference you can find the diameter of the circle you'll need to cut.
c=d x ∏ (3.14)
So for example my circumference was 20.5" if I divide that by PIE the diameter is ∼6.5"(knit stretches a little so it doesn't have to be perfect). I added an inch to that as well for my seams. I drew and cut my 7-1/2" circle using a compass. You could also use a string tied to a pen or find a round object with the same diameter. Again I cut through both layers giving me two rounds, one on top of the other. Once they were cut, I sewed the two together with a 1/4" seam around the edge.
Next I sewed the two ends of my long strip together with a 1/2" seam, creating a very thin tube.
Then I pinned the circle to the top of my of my tube, with the seam on the outside.
I sewed around the top with a 1/2" seam, then flipped it right side out.
I made a pattern for the bill using a hat I already had. You can get the pattern HERE. I cut two layers of the bill and inserted a piece of heavy weight interfacing in between them. I made cut the interfacing to be a little smaller than the bill.
Then I sewed around the edges. I added a few more layers of stitching to make it stronger, and I liked the way it looked.
Next I inserted the bill in between the two layers of the cap. I lined up the middle of the bill with the middle of the font. The bill was about an inch and a half inside the bill when I pinned it in place. *Once it was pinned I looked in the mirror to make sure I liked the length of the bill. You can shorten it or pull it out more till you like it.
Now all that is left to do is sew around the base of the hat.
That's it for the cap. It only took me 30 minutes to make my first one. I consider myself a basic sewer and I had no problems. I love the look of the raw edges and that I didn't have to do any hemming.
For my embellishments I added flowers made with the extra pieces. I cut long strips of the knit about 1-1/2 inch thick. I twisted them and then rolled them like a lollipop.
I sewed them together by hand.
And then onto the cap.
Sometimes I get head aches from wearing a hat to long. This one was so comfortable I was able to wear it all day.
I'm kinda obsessed with making them.
I don't think I can ever get rid of an old t-shirt now.
The possibilities are endless.

72 comments:

Michele {The Scrap Shoppe} said...

I drooled over this post at UCreate. Love these hats! They are adorable!

More Than "Just Mom" said...

Oh, my gosh, I LOVE this!!! Will be making one tonight!

Valeria said...

Adorable....!!!! I'd like do this!!!!

Just Rhonda said...

HOW AWESOME!!!! Totally love them!

Melanie said...

SO cute! I'm going to give it a try with an old knit skirt. Thanks for sharing!

Erin said...

Look at you!! Who says you don't use math in the real world?

These hats are so cute. I can't wait to whip up a couple for myself. Thanks for the great idea!

Zarinaia said...

I sewed a new hat using your tut. You can see it on my blog. Thanks again!!

Eleonora from Sweden :)

Fawnda@Fireflies and Jellybeans said...

I love these hats! I can not wait to make one! :)

As always, Kalleen, you are very crafty! :)

Ginger said...

OK....I LOVE your blog!!! I just found it through Tip Junkie??? I believe (either that or crafty crow). Anyway, these hats are too cute. And for those of us with watermelon heads...perfect. Although this makes me giggle thinking of Michael on the Office where he says "It was getting a little chilly so I fashioned my hat back into my pants".

Anonymous said...

Great hats! I want to go looking for old T-shirts now....

More Than "Just Mom" said...

okay - I'm back, lol! I loved your idea, so when I came home from work I went straight to making one. So fun! Thank you for sharing. I talked about your post on my blog!
http://amijustmom.blogspot.com/2010/05/homemade-hat-in-half-hour.html

Anonymous said...

What a great idea - and so chic! I'm not great with a sewing machine, so I'll enjoy looking at yours!!

Donene said...

This is so cute! What a great idea to use old t-shirts! I love it!

Staci J said...

Wow!!! You're so creative, i would have never thought to use T-shirts! Way to go...
linking up with the part;)
justsewsassy.com

Ανεράιδα said...

What a wonderful idea!!! Great great work!!!

Berra Bayka said...

wow ..was very good .. great..

Kami @ Sweet Charli... said...

No way! Out of a Tshirt? This is great! So very cute! Thanks for linking up to Sweet charli!

memakingdo said...

Very cute hat I love that you used old t-shirts!

superpaige said...

SO CUTE!!!

restlessrisa said...

This is so cute and creative! Nice to have a tutorial for it!

<3

Risa

Nan said...

great tutorial...now I can make a comfortable hat small enough for my tiny head!

Fawnda@Fireflies and Jellybeans said...

I just wanted to let you know that I featured you here:

http://firefliesandjellybeans.blogspot.com/2010/05/sunday-spotlight-favorites-from-soys-29.html

Sew Can Do said...

I have a hard time finding hats I want to wear, but I'm totally going to make this! Thanks for linking it to Craftastic Monday:)

Jill said...

Oh that's brilliant!! What a great idea and fantastic tutorial!
Just found you through Girl Creative Whipped up Monday!

meggiecat said...

I really adore the rough edges and elegant flowers together. I can see how addicting these could become. Thanks for sharing.

Cassie said...

Great project!!!
I want to add rolled flowers to everything!!!!!!!
=)

MJ said...

Such a clever idea! I've seen these rolled flowers pop up here and there... I am dying to try them!

Sew It To Me said...

Wow! You always amaze me. I love it!

Leslie said...

Are you freaking kidding me? These all turned out FABULOUS! I really need a few! Thanks for linking to Hoo's got talent!

Michelle L. said...

Hi - I just discovered you! You make the coolest stuff - I am going back to read EVERYTHING. But especially, on this post - thank you for explaining those little flowers. I have never been able to make fabric flowers, you made a light bulb go off in my head! (oh yeah - the hats are pretty great, too...)

Citra said...

Hi i'm visiting you from reinventedkb.com
Reading this, i believe you have a true skill on repurposing, i'm now a follower !
i'll come back to read more
thank you

Anonymous said...

i LOVE these!! i am going to try one, even if i do look ridiculous in a hat...

bkmiller said...

Thank you for sharing such a great project...love it. I made a hat myself and sent a link to your great direction from my blog. Thanks for the inspiration.
www.amyemiller.typepad.com

Amber D said...

Just wanted to let you know I linked to the flowers on this hat as a part of one of my projects thanks for the idea!
http://www.lifelovegreen.com/2010/07/usa-outdoor-sign

m said...

wow - that is adorable! LOVE the polka dot one - I so am adding that to my TO DO list :o)

Jess said...

Just wanted to THANKS!! for the tutorial. I love to wear hats and my Dh loves how I look in them.;)
But I have a larger than average noggin so I can never find a cure woman's hat that I can wear. Now I can make my own. This will be my fashion accessory for a long while I can tell.

kim west said...

gave you an award at my blog


kimboscrafts.blogspot.com

Mallory said...

Awesome tutorial, your hats turned out great! I just linked back to you on my blog, here:
http://www.missmalaprop.com/2010/09/where-yhat-a-fun-t-shirt-hat-tutorial/

Hope you don't mind!

Claudia Protti said...

I did the hat! It is not good as yours, (wonderful), if you want to see:
http://pollon72.blogspot.com/2010/10/da-una-maglietta-un-cappellino.html

Claudia Protti said...

I did also a bat-hat!!
http://pollon72.blogspot.com/2010/10/pipistrelli-halloween.html

Angie said...

LOVE this!

Sagar said...

The t-shirt industry is ever so competitive and offering its buyers a vast variety of designs, fabrics and styles of t-shirts to beat the cut throat competition. Buy T-Shirt

Hashi said...

Super cute, and great upcycling!

Frogdancer said...

Brilliant.

Abbi said...

Those are so very cute!! I love making things from old t-shirts but haven't tried hats yet. I wear hats all the time too!

Rani said...

Awesome! the perfect thing to do with all these old shirts that have been stock piling up (due to some stain!) thanks so much!

dickies workwear said...

This is really nice! You're such a talented person. I love it.

Anonymous said...

These are great tees! I love T-Shirts. The first one on the list seems like it works only with a specific look but very creative anyway.I love all of them, I laughed quite a bit reading them.

design t shirts

noneya said...

I am so in love with this tut!!! I have made 2 with several people wanting me to make them some. I found a really cute Dr. Seuss shirt that I made one for my niece. You should come check it out on my blog!

Give Back Today said...

I love this! Super cute! -Melanie

Anonymous said...

I made some hats from your tutorial!

http://thelittlestcrafter.blogspot.com/2011/03/t-shirt-hats.html

Love your blog - keep up the great work :)

Walking in the rain said...

i just made this hat, and it came out great! my little girl loves it!

katie@stvital said...

Thank you for the tutorial. I just made two, love them!

Anonymous said...

Thankyouthankyouthanbkyou!!!

You are Brilliant, and I can hardly wait! My spiritual beliefs require me hiding my hair, this will be so much easier to grab and if you can make it in half an hour I can do it in at least three hours!

I love it!

hugs
Natty

Doudou said...

I love it! J'adore!

heather said...

eeek!!! this is adorable!!! it looks so comfortable, too! must make one NOW!

Kathy said...

My daughter asked the other day for a hat...I said we could make one remembering I saw this post. Glad I found it again! Off to find an old shirt! :)

Anonymous said...

I just love this hat. I made one last night (when I couldnt sleep) out of an old dress that I loved but didnt fit anymore. Now I can 'wear' my favorite dress. Thanks for the tutorial.

Sourav said...

Wow those are some wonderful hats you've made. Now, it's right to say that a t-shirt can be recycled into many things, options are limitless. In the past I have made bermudas out of them, made tote bags, many things can be done. Thanks for sharing those awesome ideas.

T-Shirts Online

Stephanie said...

I had to let you know that I've had this 'pinned' forever, and finally got to making one-out of a sweater! I love it!
You can see it here--Thanks for the instructions!
http://craftingintherain.blogspot.com/2012/01/make-splash-sweaters.html

Unknown said...

what a great idea, thanks for sharing it! I pinned this.
www.notimefortea.com

Anonymous said...


Columbia Womens Moonlight Mover II Pant

Anonymous said...

Great post. I was checking constantly this blog and I'm impressed! Very helpful info particularly the last part :) I care for such info much. I was looking for this particular info for a long time. Thank you and good luck.
Sorel Women's Cate The Great Boot

Meghan said...

I love this and can't wait to try it!!! Thanks for the how to!!!!

Anonymous said...

Great hats - especially the last, on that absolutely stunning young lady! She will go on to break a lot of hearts!

Sharanda said...

Wow, I LOVE those hats you created!! Thanks so much for sharing the tut with us...definitely going to try it.

Anonymous said...

Absolutely fabulous! I have a difficult time finding hats that fit my tiny head, and this is perfect! Thank you for the tute!

Anndei c. said...

I found you through Pinterest, I love your hat tutorial!!! Thanks for sharing your talent with others!!!

Unknown said...

I do not have words to describe the greatness of this design.you have shared the post that i can not stop myself to give an applaud to you.

t-shirts

1234 said...

Great design indeed, my brother will have a surprise.
Interesting Articles

Enn said...

This is terific!
In the process of pleading (read: forcing :P) my mum to make one for me, god knows we have tonnes of old tees..
Great work :) Thanks!

marnye said...

Made this hat - it was so easy and fun! Thank you for the instructions with photos!

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