How to Make Vintage Hats Out of Old Sweaters
Making a hat with a vintage look is an easy way to recycle old sweaters that are worn, stained or ill fitting. Since this process only requires a small amount of sewing, creating a vintage sweater hat is a perfect craft for beginning sewers.
Items needed:
- Old sweater
- Clothes detergent
- Sewing scissors
- Fabric pencil
- Straight pins
- Sewing machine
- Thread
Instructions:
- Choose the sweater. Select a sweater made from a durable material, such as wool.
- Clean the sweater. Wash the sweater using clothes detergent as recommended by the sweater's manufacturer. Lay the sweater on a flat, towel-covered surface to dry.
- Turn the old sweater inside out. Cut off one of the sweater's sleeves using sewing scissors.
- Stretch the sleeve. Use your hand to gently stretch the sleeve until you are able to fit the sleeve's cuff area over your head.
- Measure for the hat by placing the sleeve over your head. Move it down until the edge of the sleeve is just above the eyebrows. Determine how tall you want the hat to be, and hold this mark with your fingers or by marking with a fabric pencil.
- Remove the sleeve from your head. Use sewing scissors to cut the sweater's sleeve about one inch from the marked area.
- Pin the two cut edges together with straight pins. Create a rounded edge while pinning to give the hat a professional look. The finished cuff of the sweater will comprise the hat's opening.
- Thread the sewing machine according to the manufacturer's directions. Select a thread that coordinates well with the old sweater.
- Place the pinned area under the sewing machine's needle and begin sewing, removing the straight pins as you work. Use a straight stitch for this purpose. Use a back stitch at the end to prevent unraveling.
- Snip any loose threads with the sewing scissors, and then turn the hat to the correct side.