Patterns, Techniques, Articles, Blogs, and other resources to learn how to sew
Antoinette from clevergirl.org joins the Celebrate the Boy fun with a free pattern and tutorial for making a newsboy style cap sized just for boys. Go to the free pattern and tutorial.
[photo from clevergirl.org]
[tags]sewing, tutorial, newsboy, cap, hat, boy[/tags]
I’m always tempted by the pretty velvets at the fabric store. So much texture! And the way the fibers catch the light! But sewing on velvet is trickier than you’d think. That nap that lends beautiful texture also likes to slip and crawl. That nap can also spell disaster if you cut a piece the wrong direction. That isn’t to say you shouldn’t use buy that velvet and sew it into something gorgeous, you just need to go into your velvet sewing project prepared. And Melissa at Melly Sews has a post that takes you step by step through sewing on velvet.
Velvet is such a luscious fabric, especially for winter sewing projects. Of course there are velvet Christmas sewing projects – stockings, tree skirts, santa hats – but velvet is beautiful for all winter. Think of all the gorgeous velvet dresses, evening bags, hair accessories, even pillows and other home décor that you see all winter long.
Melly Sews’ post gives you the tips and tricks you need to know in order for your velvet sewing project to end up a success. There are types of projects better suited for velvets, and kinds of projects to avoid. She describes the different types of velvet available. And she also tells the best way to lay out and cut your pattern pieces from velvet fabric. Her tutorial also covers marking, pressing, and of course sewing that beautiful fabric. There’s also a video included in case that’s your preferred method for learning.
Head over to Melly Sews to learn how to sew on velvet fabric.
And if you want to learn more about that lovely blue velvet dress shown, she has a post that tells more about it including 2 ways to style it depending on if you want to be more dressy or more casual.
[photo credit: Melly Sews]
This is a beautiful cap…do you have any suggestions for how to enlarge the pattern to make an adult version for my grown son???
I would be greatful
Julia, The main part of the hat is made up of 8 petal shaped pieces that you sew together. If you took the circumference of your son’s head and divided it by 8, you’d have the bottom width of the petal shaped piece. It shouldn’t be too hard to redraw the petal shaped piece in the adult size using the child size as a guide. Because it’s divided among 8 pieces, there probably won’t be a huge difference in size between the child size piece and the adult size piece. Then, you’d need to adjust the brim piece the same way. I’d make it out of a muslin first so you could make any adjustments in the pattern before making it out of the good fabric. –Anne
Great! I lost my 60’s pattern and have not been able to find another one. Can’t wait to try
I think I’ll make this with duct tape!
i love this :).. what would be the best fabric for it??.. newbie to sewing 😀
I’d use a lightweight suiting, maybe some with a little bit of stretch just in case the cap fits a little snug. –Anne
I this this would work up beautifully using quilting techniques and bright fabric!