Make an easy pilgrim bonnet
This DIY- making an easy pilgrim bonnet takes no time at all. The size works for an adult or a child and can be reused over and over unlike a paper bonnet. It could be just the thing to ease family tension around the Thanksgiving table this holiday season or make your little pilgrims stand out in their school Thanksgiving performance. Be sure to check out my Native American Indian vest and Native American Indian headband tutorials too and before you know it you’re done and moving on to the next project or taking a nap.
I came across this fantastic Simplicity pattern from 1970 in my collection and thought I would share the pattern and steps for making an easy pilgrim bonnet. It has a lovely traditional shape and design to it, perfect for costuming a pilgrim or pioneer. The pattern says child size 6 but we found it fits a medium size adult head as well. Read through all instructions before you begin. There are two pattern pieces you will need, the crown and the brim.
Make an easy pilgrim bonnet:
On a piece of paper, draw the pattern for the crown. Draw a rectangle 9 inches tall and 4 1/2 inches wide. Round the corners of your drawing to match the picture above. Cut out your crown pattern piece copying over all instructions, especially “center back, place line on fold of fabric”. Place pattern over your folded over fabric and cut to size.
Make sure you cut the crown piece on a fold so your crown piece will look like the above picture.
For the brim, draw a rectangle 20 inches long by 9 inches wide. Draw in the corners and darts to match the pattern above. Make sure to transfer all markings to your pattern piece. Place your pattern piece over your 2 pieces of fabric and cut them out.
Cut a piece of interfacing slightly smaller than the brim pattern to go between the two brim layers and stiffen up the fabric.
Crown:
Press under 1/4 inch on lower edge of crown.
Turn lower edge to inside along seam line, forming casing. Stitch close to inner edge.
Cut a piece of elastic 4-5 inches long.
Using a safety pin, slip elastic thru casing; stitch ends.
Stitch the ends of the elastic to casing on either side of the crown.
Brim:
Iron interfacing to WRONG side of one brim piece. Mark dart lines in brim, both sides.
Matching dots, sew darts in brim facing.
Repeat steps on the other non-interfaced brim piece. With the iron, press the darts flat.
With the RIGHT sides together, stitch facing to brim, leaving notched edges open. Trim corners and clip inside curves to ease fabric when turned right side out.
Turn RIGHT side out; press.
Press under 5/8 inch on notch edge of brim facing.
Stitching crown to brim:
With right sides together, pin crown to brim, matching centers.
Stitch facing to brim being careful not to catch in brim facing as you sew. Remove pins as you go, before you sew over them.
The bonnet is all sewn together and ready for the final steps.
Pin the edge of pressed brim facing over seam. Slip stitch or machine stitch into place.
Finishing:
Turn bonnet RIGHT side out, fold brim over. Cut two lengths of ribbon.
Sew one end of each ribbon to brim, sewing them at darts as shown.