Everything Hand-Made: Tulip Hat Perfect for Summer

Getting ready for summer yet? We sure are. Especially with the nice weather that we've been getting its hard to believe that it's only March. Even thought this nice weather is not here to stay we were still prepared for all the sunshine.

Since this is the first real summer for our baby girl we had to take special precautions, like covering up for the first couple of days and wearing a cute little sun hat. And I say "real" because last summer she was only 6 months and couldn't sit or crawl she basically slept through it all. Ha.

So we needed a hat for these sunny days to cover our little head so that our little one wouldn't get too much sun. And I found the perfect pattern for a tulip hat here. I followed their directions and then tweaked it a little in the end to make different straps. I wanted a snap on my straps so that it would be harder for little fingers to take off. Don't let a snap closure intimidate you, they are easier than you think.

Make your own tulip hat
1.) I started of by folding my pattern piece in half so that when I cut my material out it would be symmetrical.

2.) Then folded the material and placed the straight edge of the pattern along the fold and pin it down so that it wouldn't move when you cut it out.

3.) Cut along the curvy edges don't cut the straight edge.

Cut out all your pieces like that and sew them together like shown here.

4.) For the straps measure your child's head from top of ears to bottom of chin and add 1 inch for seam allowance. And cut the width twice the size you want it to be plus 1/4 inch for seams.

5.) Fold each strap in half, right sides together, and sew along the long edge. (marked in black but do not sew the top).

6.) Attach a safety pin to one side of the tube that you made and push it in to flip out the tube.

7.) Attach snaps using instructions given on the package of the snaps you purchase.

8.) Pin the straps to the hat at the center so that there are 3 petals on top and 3 on the bottom. Don't attach them at the very edge of the hat because then the petals won't flare out (attach about 1/2 inch from the bottom). And make sure to attach the straps so that the snap comes together correctly.