Hat's with wire - Patterns #1582, 1583, 1550

From my adult cape pattern # 1582

From the Amy Brown Fairy pattern #1550

From my child's cape pattern #1583

These three hats are all in patterns just released this month and they are all sewn with basically the same instructions. But, they can be frustrating if you don't do things in the right order.  So, I am going to tell you what I do when sewing these hats. I don't want anyone sewing one of my patterns to be frustrated.

I have one simple tip that should make it easier to handle the hat while sewing.

Each hat has wire around the edge of the brim and a piece of wire running up the seam in the back of the cone shaped crown. Follow the excellent instructions provided in the pattern ... BUT!

WAIT AS LONG AS POSSIBLE BEFORE INSERTING ANY WIRE.

Sew the hat as directed ignoring any instructions to insert wire. Then the brim wire should be done first. Prepare and sew in the wire at the edge of the brim into the bias tape as shown. The very last thing you should do is insert the wire up the back seam of the crown.  I just find it easier to do all the other work on the hat, if the long pointy hat doesn't have a piece of wire that is constantly getting in the way, when trying to sew on the brim or hand sew the wire on to the brim.

That's it!  But it will help ... promise.