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Free baby bonnet pattern: Baby sun hat sewing pattern with ruffles and ties

Baby bonnet hat free sewing pattern

Here’s a free baby bonnet pattern just in time for summer. It’s a really nice baby sun hat free pattern that you can make with our without the ruffle. My super cute baby hat free sewing pattern is below!

Elise looks adorable in hats. I just can’t get enough of them. So I decided to make a free baby bonnet pattern. This baby sun hat sewing pattern with ruffles adds some summer fun to Elise’s fashion options.

Baby bonnet hat free sewing pattern

 

I freehand drew this baby bonnet pattern hat by looking at a couple of Elise’s best fitting baby hats and then added a ruffle to make it extra cute. Of course you could leave the ruffle off of the baby bonnet pattern if you wanted.

Baby bonnet hat free sewing pattern Baby bonnet hat free sewing pattern Baby bonnet hat free sewing pattern

This free baby bonnet pattern is a baby sun hat pattern that should fit a 6-12 month old; Elise is 10 months old in these photos and it’s super cute on her petite-ish noggin. My free baby bonnet pattern for my baby sun hat sewing pattern and step-by-step instructions are below. Bring on the sunshine!

Baby bonnet hat free sewing pattern

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Supplies for how to make a baby sun hat using my free baby bonnet sewing pattern:

I’ve added a video to this tutorial so you can watch that or scroll down for step-by-step description with images.


Step 1. Cut your free baby hat sewing pattern pieces

Full disclosure: this pattern is not perfect. You are likely going to need to take a few tucks here and there, but it will still turn out super cute. Are you OK with that? If so, then please print my free baby bonnet pattern – baby sun hat sewing pattern. It’s sized for 6-12 months. You can use one fabric print or two.

Cut 4 triangles for outside crown
Cut 4 triangles for inside crown lining
Cut 4 brims (2 top, 2 lining) – cut 2 brims right side up, then flip the pattern so that you’re cutting 2 brims wrong side up
Cut 2 strips 16″ x 1″ for the ties
Cut 2 strips 25″ x 2″ for ruffle

Cutting out baby bonnet pattern

For this tutorial you’re going to sew everything at 3/8″ seams. I usually do 1/2″ seams for my tutorials but wanted them to be a bit smaller for Elise’s baby head.

Step 2. Create the outside crown and crown lining

Take four of your crown pieces. Line up two pieces, right sides together, and sew along the side. Repeat with the other two pieces. Remember to use that 3/8″ seam allowance – if you make a larger seam then the brim is not going to fit in the next step.

Sewing baby sun hat seams

Press seams open; they will be slightly curved.

Ironing a baby hat brim

Pin the two pieces together, right sides together.

Baby bonnet hat crown pieces

Sew. You’ll now have one sewn crown piece. Press the seam open.

Ironing a baby bonnet hat crown

Repeat to make the lining crown.

Sewing a baby bonnet hat crown

Step 3. Create the brim

Grab your four cut pieces for your brim. Now because it’s a bit of an asymmetrical brim, be sure to match pieces together so the brim top will match your brim bottom.

Sew two pieces of the brim together to make the outside brim. Press the seams open. Repeat to create inside lining brim. Again, remember to use that 3/8″ seam allowance – if you make a larger seam then the brim is not going to fit the crown and you’ll have to cheat it a bit by taking a few tucks when you sew them together.

Sewing baby bonnet brim

Step 4. Create the ruffle (optional)

Sew pieces together on the short ends, pressing seams flat. It should look like a large circle. Iron the circle in half lengthwise, wrong sides together (see below). The right side of the fabric will be on top and bottom now, and there’s now a finished edge and a raw edge.

Ironing a baby bonnet hat ruffle

Using a basting stitch, sew two rows of stitching around the raw edge of the circle. I stop at the seams and then start again because I find it’s easier to gather (in the next step).

How to sew and gather a ruffle

Match the seams of the ruffle to the seams of the brim. Pin. Pull the gathering threads gently to gather the fabric into ruffles.

How to sew and gather a ruffle

Pull it until it’s the same size as the outside of the brim. Pin the ruffle onto the edge of the brim, raw edges together.

Pinning a ruffle on a baby bonnet hat

Sew the ruffle onto the brim.

Sewing a ruffle on a baby hat

Place the other brim piece on top of the ruffle piece you just sewed, basically making a ruffle sandwich with the two right sides together. Pin and sew.

Sewing a baby bonnet

Turn right side out and iron. Finished brim is 18 inches circumference.

Ironing a ruffled baby bonnet hat

Topstitch the brim near the ruffle edge.

Topstitching a ruffle on a baby hat

Sew the brim shut by sewing close to the inside circle edge.

Sewing a baby bonnet with ruffles

Take out any basting stitches that show (yikes, I had a lot on this one …that’s what I get for sewing fast during naps).

Step 5. Attach sun hat crown to the brim

Pin the crown onto the brim, right sides together matching seams. Sew around the crown to attach it to the brim.

Sewing the hat crown to the brim

On the right side of the hat, iron the seam open so the raw edges are up inside the crown. It’s starting to look like a hat now, yes?

Ironing a baby bonnet

Step 6. Make and attach ties

Fold ties in half and iron. Fold raw edges into that center crease. Iron again.

Baby sunhat with ruffles and ties free sewing pattern and DIY tutorial craft project

On one end, make a triangle with the ends and fold in.

Baby sunhat hat with ruffles and ties free sewing pattern and DIY tutorial

Sew along the open edge of the tie to sew it shut. Repeat for the second tie.

Baby sunhat hat with ruffles and ties free sewing pattern and DIY tutorial

Now you’re going to attach the ties to the hat. Find the two sides of the hat. Pin the raw edge of the tie to the raw edge of the crown at the side seams.

Baby sunhat with ruffles and ties free pattern and DIY tutorial

Sew back and forth a bunch of times so it’s secure. Repeat on the other side.

Baby sunhat hat with ruffles and ties free sewing pattern and DIY tutorial

Step 7. Attach lining to the sun hat

Turn lining under 1/2″ along the raw edge and iron.

Baby sunhat hat with ruffles and ties free sewing pattern and DIY tutorial

Turn the lining so the wrong side is on the outside. Pin the lining inside the hat, matching seams. Put your pins on the outside of the hat because you’ll be sewing from that side to make sure it looks nice on the outside.

Baby sunhat hat with ruffles and ties free sewing pattern and DIY tutorial

And here’s what it looks like inside…

Baby sunhat hat with ruffles and ties free sewing pattern and DIY tutorial

Sew it all together, stitching close to the brim, catching the lining underneath as you go. I’m not a huge fan of blind stitching like this but it’s the way I figured out how to do it, so there you go. Suggestions welcome.

Baby sunhat hat with ruffles and ties free pattern and DIY tutorial

Tie that hat on and go outside!

Baby sunhat hat with ruffles and ties free sewing pattern and DIY tutorial

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Be sure to pin my baby sun hat free sewing pattern for later:

Baby bonnet hat free pattern

And see more top free sewing projects for baby and toddlers:

 

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Copyright stuff: You’re more than welcome to use this free project and tutorial for personal use. Contact me for commercial use and Etsy sales.

Jeannee Stevens

Monday 2nd of May 2016

Thank you for the pattern and instructions. I plan to make a couple of hats and matching sundresses for my granddaughter. She is 11 months old and just underwent a successful heart transplant. She needs protection from the sun due to the meds she is on. This darling hat will be perfect!

Kathy Beymer

Monday 2nd of May 2016

Hi Jeannee, sending much love to your granddaughter! So glad to hear that her surgery was successful! These hats will be super cute on her. Note the seam allowances, and you may have to take a tuck or two to get the lining to fit the crown as my pattern isn't totally perfected but the hats turn out adorable. I'd love to see her in them! Post a pic at facebook.com/merrimentdesign

Melissa

Monday 20th of July 2015

Hi! Thanks so much for this pattern! We are going to Disney Land and wanted to make my baby girl a cute Minnie Mouse themed sun hat but didn't want to take the time to draft a pattern and fix imperfections and such! It's printing now! Can't wait to make it! Thanks again!

Linda Boothman

Tuesday 23rd of June 2015

I just made 2 of these for my Great-Granddaughter's 1st Birthday.....I made this size and hope for the best.....I started out adding a little to the seams but that made it look huge so went with the pattern. Instead of folding the 1/2 inch and topstitching the lining in, I left an opening in one of the crown seams and turned the whole hat through that opening and then nachine stitched it closed.....Sew CUTE!!! Thanks so much for the pattern. I will go find your FB page and post them there!

Inez Britz

Friday 15th of May 2015

Where of where is the pattern, please???????

Kathy Beymer

Saturday 16th of May 2015

Hi Inez! Here you go :) https://www.merrimentdesign.com/images/baby-sunhat-free-pattern.pdf Be sure to follow the instructions for seam allowance so that the brim and crown fit together. Happy sewing!

Jennie Jonsson

Tuesday 4th of November 2014

Maybe you could add to the suggestions that overall small patterns on the fabric are better then striped or patterns in lines as the angled brim does not suit these designs. I am about to try the hat for my new twins granddaughters for next summer.