Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Fleece Dinosaur Hats

This idea doesn't have much to do with Thanksgiving but it has everything to do with keeping warm. For past editions of the Winter Bazaar click the "craft" label link at the bottom of this post.

Fleece Dinosaur HatThese fleece dinosaur hats don't take much material and they go together in about a half an hour once you've made the pattern so there isn't any excuse for the child in your life not to have the cutest headgear in the neighborhood. If, however, your pre-holiday hours are already spoken for you could visit my Etsy shop where I have extras on hand. If they sell out I can easily make more, I still have plenty of fleece just let me know.

Here is the pattern in a PDF file that you can click and view (download it by clicking the "download" link in the upper left corner). You will have to print it off then enlarge it by drawing a grid of one-inch squares on a large piece of newsprint (or by using wrapping paper that has a grid on the back) and transferring the pattern to the grid by hand. It takes a little time so don't throw away the pattern when you're done, you'll never know when you'll want to make another one.

You'll need:
2 16 X 19-inch pieces of fleece
1 21 X 13-inch piece of fleece
3 4 X 4-inch pieces of fleece
thread

Fleece Dinosaur Hat1. Using your choice of brightly colored fleece (I used yellow, green, blue and red) cut out the pieces. Here's a hint: if you're making more than one, you'll need about 1/3 of a yard of each color and you can just cut out all the pieces in each color and then mix them up--saves time and then you don' t have to worry about running out of one particular color. But if you're only making one: from one 16 X 9-inch piece cut 1 tail section, 2 large fins, 2 2 X 12-inch straps. From the other 16 X 9-inch piece cut the other half of the tail and two large fins. From the 21 X 13-inch piece cut two hatband sections, 1 large fin and 1 small fin. From each 4 X 4-inch piece cut 1 large fin.

Fleece Dinosaur Hat2. With right sides together, sew the one strap along its longest edge and around one of its short sides. Turn it inside out and repeat with the second strap. This is the hardest part because the fleece is so fat it's hard to turn inside out. If you have lighter weight fleece for the straps it helps though it's not critical.

Fleece Dinosaur Hat3. With right sides together, sew the back edge of the hatband so that it makes a complete circle. Repeat with the second hatband. Then with right sides together and the straps laid in place at the ears and pointing inward, sew the liner to the headband along the bottom, curving edge but leaving the top open. Turn the headband right side out.

Fleece Dinosaur Hat4. Take one side of the tail and with it lying on the table, lay the fins along the top edge, pointing inward and overlapping each other slightly. The smallest fin should be placed at the smallest end of the tail. Lay the right side of the other half of the tail on top and pin it in place then sew all around that long edge but leaving the tail open at the bottom. Be careful not to catch the tips of the fins with your stitch, you may have to fold the fins back and pin them out of the way.

Fleece Dinosaur Hat5. With right sides together and easing the seams, sew the double thickness of headband to the tail. Turn right side out and stand back to admire your handiwork.

Okay, now it's your turn--what kinds of activities, crafts, games, recipes or fun do you have for winter? I'm looking forward to reading your wonderful ideas.



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21 comments:

Amber M. said...

AWESOME hat. Sam will be all over the idea of having a dinosaur hat for winter!

Lady Why said...

I think even I might could do that! Thanks for the tutorial!!

Anonymous said...

Oh what an awesome idea! I may have to make a few of these. :)

Overwhelmed! said...

Very cute! I'll have to think of something to contribute.

Hey, I may be coming to Alaska on business next May. If I do, want to try to meet? :)

Anonymous said...

Oh my goodness those are so cute- I'm up to my eyeballs in business right now- I might just have to come over and buy one.

Anonymous said...

Ooo that hat is too cute!

Mandy said...

I'm SO not crafty, but those are precious!

Jen said...

Thank you so much for the tutorial!!

Cecily R said...

That is adorable! Since I can't sew worth a darn I'm so sending this to my sister in law who will eat it up! She thanks you, trust me. :)

Stephanie Appleton said...

Those hats are just too cute Michelle.

Um so I may be cheating on the theme a bit this week as mine is actually a Christmas project, but I'm giving it to the grandparents now so that counts right?! ;)

ames said...

Oh, hooray hooray! I saw those in your Etsy shop and just about died from the awesomeness. Thank you for the pattern!!

Unknown said...

Wow!
That is great!!!!!
Thank you!

Feel welcome to visit me at:

Laane on the World

Happy Thanksgiving!

Montserrat said...

We love making fleece hats for gifts. The dinosaur is a great idea for the boy cousins. We couldn't come up with anything good to give them this year. Thank You!!

Melissa Markham said...

Neat hat idea! Happy Thanksgiving!

Abbi said...

That is so fun! I am sure my boys would love one and they do look easy to make.

jubilee said...

The hats are so cute. They are definitely worth breaking out the sewing machine for. My youngest has just the roar to compliment this kind of hat!

Susan from Food Blogga said...

Well, those are just precious!

Anonymous said...

I love fleece it's so.......forgiving.
Happy thanksgiving

An Ordinary Mom said...

I made it ... the post is linked and it is still Wednesday :) !!

my4kids said...

Those are too cute!

Loving Vintage Ladies Hats said...

First, thanks for posting the steps. It looks so easy!! I think boys would love this kind of hat, but do you have any suggestions for girls? I'd love to put my little nieces in old fashioned type hats!