How to Make a Reversible Folkloric Felt Bonnet : A Sewing Tutorial

I am going to apologize in advance for the horrible photographs for this tutorial. There is just no light left in the evenings when I get around to this. Please try to imagine these in bright beautiful daylight. I love everything folkloric, felt is one of my favorite materials and I adore bonnets so but it all together and this is what I came up with. To make your own bonnet you will need a large rectangle of 2 colors of felt or felt and a folkloric wool scarf like the one I found at the thrift store. You will need some small pieces of felt for the details, pinking shears, scissors, a sewing machine, matching thread and some ribbon. 1. Print a copy of the pattern.

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2. Cut out two of these in your two colors of felt or felt and fabric using the pinking shears for the outline and plain scissors for the dart. 3. Now cut out some folkloric patterns out of the small scraps of felt. You can copy my design or make up one of your own. Dover publisher has a number of books filled with folkloric patterns if you need some inspiration. I kept mine simple for this example and also because I was going to machine sew them on and not use embroidery to save time. 4. Thread your sewing machine and sew up the darts on both pieces of fabric. I used a quarter inch seam allowance. Make sure that when you match top and bottom up the dart seams will be on the inside for both pieces. 5. Now sew the felt details to the top and the bottom pieces any way you want to. 6. Now cut your ribbon into two pieces about 12 inches long and pin each one to the center of the narrow ends of the top piece. 7. Now line up the top and bottom making sure the dart seams are on the inside, pin them and sew them together along the edge leaving a one quarter inch margin. 8. Trim your threads and try it on for size. I think it fits an older child , teen and young adult ( that's us :) ) . If you want to make it a little snugger you can gather the top front a little. It makes me think of Gretal ( of Hansel and Gretal fame) and I would love to take some pictures of my daughter walking in the forest wearing this collection wildflowers or mushrooms. I just discovered that Gretal is a version of Margaret. I also forgot to take pictures of the reverse side of the bonnet . I will try to get some in the morning and add them to this post. They say that legends and fairy tales of nasty things happening to children who wandered into the forests were written as a way to keep children , with their natural curiosity from wandering off on their own and getting lost, injured or eaten. I am sure this was a necessary thing for the parents of that time but to perpetuate these fearful myths in a time where we need more than ever for the children to embrace what forests and nature filled places we have left on this earth is wrong. We need our children to love not fear nature. To get out and experience it, not cower away from it. I would love to rewrite these tales and the first story I would rework is Hansel and Gretal removing the parental cruelty and abandonment and having them discover a magical self sustainable cabin in the forest inhabited by a wise woman who knows every plant and animal in her woods by name.

Comments

[Whitney]

Very cute! I'm going to have to make one for myslef :)

[bluemountainsmary]

I think you are that magical woman of the woods!

[Emma]

First of all, this bonnet is just lovely.

Second, I adore your idea about fairy tales. I hope you do re-write that and share it with us!

[Ariella]

I just found your blog and love love all of your wonderful tutorials! Thanks so much!

[Crystal]

Oh Margie! I cannot even begin to tell you how much I love this. I am making one today. Thanks so much for the fantastic tut!

[Nichola]

I think you have a book to write! Love the bonnet.

[mayaluna]

Oh, do rewrite some tales...please. I agree wiht bluemountainsmary: YOU are the wise woman of the woods...and we are all so lucky to have stumbled upon your cabin. Thanks for the many teachings you share!

[michelle]

I love it. God, woman, how do you find the time?

;)
M

[Rachel]

I agree that this is a fairy tale bonnet! Your comparison to Gretel is spot on!

[cathygaubert]

like so many others, my first thought was, "why, she IS that woman!" i would absolutely love to see you write + illustrate such a story. with all of the mediums that you work in, that would be one captivating book that my girls and i (and i daresay, my husband, too!) would thoroughly enjoy. keep us posted on that, please! :)

[Baba]

Easy instructions and this is a project that is so versatile and can be addapted in so many ways. Thanks!

[lera]

That is flippin' great!

[Mary Corbet]

This is great! It would be a neat project for embroidery embellishment, too. I love the color of the felt - and the lining fabric is gorgeous!

[Allison (CodeCrafter)]

Just found your tutorial from the post on Crafty Crow. This bonnet is sooo cute. Thanks for the tutorial!

[Llaneli]

I'ved tried printing out the pattern twice and it doesn't come out right. :( Perhaps I am doing it wrong? Rgardless, I'm still going to attempt to make the bonnet. Thanks for the post!

[elojocadaver]

I LOVE YOUR BLOG!!!!! ALL IS REALLY CUTE!!!!!

[Sarah]

lovely

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[Jaie]

I made this bonnet several times since your tutorial. The only thing I changed is that I sew the lining and the hat body together, right sides together and leave the space between the darts open and then I turn it. I think the pinking looks cuter, but I Don't own any pinking shears. It still looks adorable.

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