Free Sewing Pattern Bonnet Tutorial

I wanted a bonnet to go with my peasant dress so I searched online and found a couple tutorials that I liked on these blogs:
http://givenmoments.blogspot.com/2008/01/bonnet-tutorial.html http://howtodresslikeapioneer.blogspot.com/2010/01/bonnet-tutorial.html

I tried to make my first one, but I made it too small, assuming that when she said the crown was 7"x14" and the brim was 3.5"x9"that those were the exact measurements.  I just cut them out using those measurements and ended up with what was about the size of bonnet for an American Girl Doll! Oh well, now she has a bonnet!  I would recommend using about a 5" piece of elastic if you want to make one for your doll. I obviously misunderstood!  So.... I tried again and tweeked mine a little to have a few additions and here is how my other one turned out.

First, cut out one large 14"x14" square for the crown.  Then cut out two 3.5"x18" pieces of fabric for the brim, one 3.5"x18" piece of fusible interfacing (I just had lightweight and it worked out fine), and two pieces of ribbon for the straps (Your desired length and width) I used ribbon that was 7/8"wide.  I also used a 1/4" wide elastic that I cut to 10" long and if you do this too, you will need two safety pins to use to thread it through the casing.


Take your 14"x14" crown and press one end 1/2", then another 1/2" to make the casing for the elastic at the bottom.  Fold it in half lengthwise and round the top corner.  Open it up and you should have a half circle at the top.

Press the interfacing onto one of the brim pieces, sticky side down towards the wrong side of fabric.  Place that piece on top of your other brim piece. Fold them in half width wise, (short sides together) and cut out a curve.  Press the bottom width (the longer straight edge) about 1/2" in on both pieces.

Open up the fold on the brim that you just made and pin the two straps (ribbon) pieces on the sides of the brim 1/2" up from the bottom width, the right side of the fabric should be facing up.  Lay the other brim piece on top, the right sides should be facing each other.  Pin the two pieces in place, make sure the straps don't move position.  It is ok if part of them is on the outside of the fabric, and make sure all folds are open.  Sew around the curve only using a 3/8" seam allowance, backstitch when beginning and ending.  Clip corners and turn the brim right side out and press, making sure the 1/2" fold in on the inside and press.

To make the crown,  sew an edge stitch across the 1/2" casing at the bottom, backstitch when beginning and ending.  Thread a piece of 1/4" elastic, I cut mine 10" long, through the casing using two safety pins. Use one pin to pin the elastic to the side of the fabric, and use the other to thread the elastic through.  Sew the elastic to the sides of the casing using about 1/4" seam allowance. Cut off the excess elastic.

 

Sew a baste stitch around the crown, from one side all the way up the curve and down to the other side. Do not cut off your excess thread or backstitch because you will need this to pull with.  Tie one sides strings together and knot, then pull the bottom thread only on the other side to ruffle the fabric.  Make it measure the same width as the brim's width and tie off the side you were pulling width.  Put the crown's baste stitch part inside the brim, pinning them together and sandwich the crown between the brim.  Sew them together across the brim where they meet, backstitch when starting and ending.  And now you should have a cute bonnet. :)  And this time it was the right size for my daughter!

I am so excited because I just finished making the pdf pattern for this dress!  It's called The Abigail Peasant Dress!  :)  Thanks for stopping by my blog!