If you’ve ever noticed a valiant 2-inch curl or a little extra pink on my scalp, it’s because I get occasional bald spots. They always fill back in, and the number one enemy of hair regrowth is worrying about it, so mostly I ignore them. But I’m in a high-risk group for skin cancer and the last thing I need in the summer is exposed skin on the part of my body that’s closest to the sun! The solution? Hats.
I’ve dipped my toes into hats before, but I find them tricky. Whenever I put one on I feel like people are thinking of me the way I thought of this one tween who wore a fedora to school every day (“You’ll learn, kiddo”). But finally I decided: hey, for a hat that says “I’M NOT TRYING, YOU’RE TRYING”, why not wear…a baseball cap?!
I tried one on and actually liked it, except the only one that fit my head also had embroidery that said DOG DAD, which alas ’tis not I. I peeked at the construction and decided I could make one. And then I made one!!

There are free patterns available, but I paid for the Style Arc Baseball Cap because I wanted a little more hand-holding and assurance. I was also wild with curiosity to find out what was in the brim, since that notion wasn’t listed. Answer: it’s ‘heavy canvas’, which is not very specific or helpful. Oh well.
I’m happy with the pattern itself. It makes what I think is described as a ‘dad cap’, a little over-sized and vintage-feeling (though, and this is probably the first time I’ve said this, I think there were too many notches!). But the instructions are frankly a scandal. They don’t quite fill a 3” x 5” square and there are no diagrams, just a drawing of the pattern pieces and then a drawing of the finished object – essentially this, for sewing.
So I did my own thing, mainly based on the RTW cap I tried on. Most significantly, I omitted the lining, and instead sewed bias tape over the interior seams. This was the last of my favorite bias tape – it’s just a perfect weight and color. This pale khaki green coordinates with everything!


I also skipped the interfacing. The pattern recommends an interfaced outer AND lining. So my version is only about 25% as thick as recommended! Obviously, it’s a lot softer and lighter!
Because I didn’t use a lining, I needed a new solution for finishing the edge of the little igloo door in the back (I don’t know what that area is called). I tried a bias facing three times but it wasn’t happening. Eventually I drafted a 2” wide facing, which did the trick! After topstitching it I realized I had forgotten to insert the back ‘straps’ between the facing and the hat, so I put them in the sweatband instead.

I used 3 layers of heavy interfacing in the brim. It’s still not very stiff, but it’s what I had on hand, and it holds its shape pretty well. I added two lines of topstitching. Incidentally, I think I need to get my machine tuned up – my stitch length has been all over the place!

I omitted the covered button because I didn’t have one and because I don’t think the meeting point of the seams looks too shabby.

And finally, I used snaps instead of Velcro for the band because – and I cannot stress this enough – I bought a ton of snaps a year and a half ago.


It’s certainly not perfect – that back asymmetry isn’t just in the photos, and the center front seam isn’t centered on the brim. But if I consider it a wearable muslin it’s pretty cool! I’d like to make more! It’s a snappy, satisfying project with a neat result.
I have a scrap hierarchy – if I have a lightweight piece I make a tank, pocketing, or bias tape, by order of size. If it’s medium/heavyweight, I make shorts. If it’s too small to make shorts, it just sits there. But now I have this as an option. So, this is a broad plug for making a cap! It’s fun AND efficient! If you try this pattern and have any questions (totally justified by the terrible directions), please send me a note. It’s all doable.
The other scrapbuster is this Tessuti Romy top, which I made in my scrap frenzy in March. Obviously it’s the linen leftovers of my shorts! I wasn’t wearing this top at all, because it was a funny betwixt-and-between length, but I cropped the side seam to 6.5” and now I love it as a coordinating set. The hem is actually hand-sewn because I didn’t feel like hauling out my machine and it ended up being a nicely meditative summer morning activity.



I’m also warded against evil in my new Danny Brito pins, which is always handy.

Finally, this is the face I make when I’m quoting The Sandlot at Professor Boyfriend and he quotes The Goonies back at me. They’re both great flicks, but I was TALKING about BENNY THE JET.

FOR-EV-ER.
—
Pattern: Style Arc Baseball Cap
Pattern cost: $5.88
Size: NA
Supplies: scraps of Kaufman cotton/linen in Forage; thread, interfacing, snaps from stash
Total time: 3.5 hours
Total cost: $5.88
—
Pattern: Tessuti Romy top
Pattern cost: NA
Size: 95% of M with changes
Supplies: scraps of linen blend; thread from stash
Total time: 2.25 hours
Total cost: $0.00
Ha! I laughed when I read you bought a Style Arc for hand holding.
LikeLike
As you can probably guess it was the first one I tried! 😀
LikeLike
Gotta love a project you can take a photo of on the ground! This looks extremely adorable. I never thought I was a cap girl (growing up I was forced to wear those dorky caps with flaps to cover and protect ears and necks) but I had no idea they could be so darn cute!!
LikeLike
I actually saw a sewing pattern for one of those hats in my searches!! It went up to adult sizes! XD
LikeLike
Very cute cap! Excellent scrap busting. Great summer outfit 👍
I made a pair of pants from a similar piece of Kaufman linen/cotton, and then realized I had enough left over to make a cap sleeve top with a row of snaps down the front. When I wear them together it is a secret jumpsuit!
LikeLike
Oooh I bet that is CUTE! I love a fabric that’s sturdy enough for pants but light enough for tops. That’s a sweet spot!
LikeLike
This is such a cool hat. So impressed that you didn’t add a covered button. When I sewed a hat I so needed a button to hide where all the seams met! The thing about the Style Arc instructions / Owl drawing made me laugh too.
LikeLike
Thanks! 😀 I’d love to have the credit, but a busy pattern covers a lot of sins. I’m realizing now that that level of directions is standard with Style Arc, so I guess that WAS my first rodeo?
LikeLike
Thanks for the info/review on the hat pattern. I had thought about trying it because I thought it would be interesting to make a hat, but I think I want more directions! That sounds pretty sparse. I have only made one Style Arc pattern, which I love, so I would have done the same thing. It turned out great though! I like the matching set you made too!
LikeLike
Thank you! 😀 Apparently I’m the only one who didn’t know Style Arc doesn’t really ‘do’ directions. The pattern itself is a good ‘un though!
LikeLiked by 1 person