Pioneer Trek Week - How to Sew a Bonnet Tutorial

It's no secret I am NOT a seamstress.  But I do have a fabric stash and I didn't want to spend money on a bonnet - especially since it is going to be trashed on trek.  So I made one.  And in case you are wondering, I am not wearing this with my turquoise shirt.  haha!

And just to prove I am a nerd, here is a pic of me in it.  hehe.

First, I found this tutorial over at Buns and Baskets.  She has an entire site on dressing like a pioneer.  I would recommend heading over there if you need some advice.  Anyway, I tweaked it just a little with help from my mom.  She is awesome at sewing.

Also, if you want to see WHY I am making a bonnet, click here.  And if you want to see my tutorial on a pioneer shirt, click here.

*This tutorial is for an adult sized bonnet*

Materials:
3/4 yard fabric
9 inches of 1/4" elastic
Interfacing (enough for 1 brim piece)
2 pieces of 24"coordinating ribbon for ties

Fabric:
1.  Cut fabric into one 22" square (bonnet) and 2 strips of 5 1/2" by 21" (brim)

2. Fold the bonnet piece in half, and the in quarters, making a square.  Iron to create lines.

3.  Unfold the fabric so it is halfed, vertically.    Cut a quarter circle on top half of fabric.  Now, I am going to make this picture really big in case you don't know how to make the half circle.  Take a string and tie it to a pencil.  Hold the edge of the string at the edge of the fabric and the pencil at the other edge. Holding the string side in place, draw a line with the pencil, creating a half circle.  I wish I had learned that years ago!  See the pencil line below?

4. Cut a 1/2" deep mark 4.5" from the bottom and another small mark 1/4" deep 1 inch above that,  This is for elastic casing later on.

5.  Mark the center of your bonnet piece with just a little snip.
6.  Take on brim piece and fold it up two times to make a square.  Iron to create lines.  Unfold once.

7.  Unfold once and cut a quarter circle off the top half.  You know how to do it now, right?  Cut the second brim piece and a piece of interfacing to match.

Sewing: This part was a little confusing to me, so hopefully these pictures will help a ton!
BONNET
1.  Below the bottom slit mark on bonnet, fold the fabric in 1/4", then another 1/4".  Press and stitch.  Repeat on other side.

2.  Fold bottom edge 1/4" then another 1/4".  Press and stitch.

3.  Fold top slit down to meet bottom stitch in a "z" shape.  (See image.)  Press.

4.  Stitch bottom and top of casing, leaving sides open to insert elastic.

5.  Cut a 9" piece of elastic and feed it through with a safety pine.  Stitch ends down.

6.  Run 2 rows of stitches up 1" from notches around bonnet.  These will be for gathering.

BRIM
1.  Fuse interfacing to one piece of brim.  I used the iron on kind.
2.  Take other brim and fold straight edge 1/2 to the wrong side.  Press.
3.  Stitch the 2 brim pieces right sides together along the edge with 1/2" seam.  Cut to 1/4" and clip curves.

4.  Turn, press and top stitch.

5.  Mark the center of the brim with a pin.

FINISHING UP!
1.  Poke ribbon into notched area of bonnet (yes, over by elastic) and sew into place.  Both sides.  I had to pin it in place to sew it in there.  Then I just went back and forth a few times to reinforce it.

2.  Gather bonnet all the way around.  I would gather a bit and hold it up to brim so they were the same length.

3.  Pin straight edge of brim to bonnet, right sides together matching centers.  Stitch.

All done!!!

Now, I have to say, this was a bit of work for me.  It probably took an hour.  And it's not super authentic.  But I am happy with how it turned out.  Please let me know if you have any questions!

Linked today at:  Mommy by Day, Sugar Bee, Hope Studios, Lil Luna, Ginger Snap,  Junk in their Trunk, Creations by Kara