Chef Hats.... functional AND FASHIONABLE !!!

Yes sir! Chef hats are not only functional, they can also be a fashion statement!!! Just look at Lucy and Ethel ! (I know this picture is in black and white, but I've seen this picture in color, and Lucy and Ethel are wearing PINK chef hats to match their PINK uniforms !!!VERY chic!!!) ...... and look how functional those chef hats are !!!!They hold tons of candy in a pinch!

Anyhow, the MBIAJ (Moonbeams in a Jar) Sewing Dept has been busily taking chef hats to the next level (while being in complete denial that Matt's high school graduation is this Friday and his graduation quilt isn't finished/started ...... yet another example of procrastination at it's best!) OK, so here's what the Sewing Dept has come up with ....
....a chef hat in a cute patterned fabric with a big goofy bow on the side for me .....AND a red and white checkered chef hat with turquoise ric rac trim for Kitty ...... no boring white chef hats for us !!! (How 'bout those matching red glasses .... hmmmmmm? ...and that scummy shower in the background .... we're in the process of firing our current Shower Scum Removal Dept ) Now that I look at it, my chef hat looks like it could also double as a sleeping cap ..... I wonder if it would prevent bed head.) Anyhow, here's a closer look at Kitty in her chef hat .....


....Kitty prefers her hat to stand up straight just like ......


......Curly's ...
















OK .... so here's the pattern I used ....

...it's an older McCall's pattern...... and for Kitty's hat, I just made it by downsizing the pattern pieces .....


.....there are only 2 pattern pieces ..... a rectangle for the hat band, and a big circle for the poofy part .



First you have to measure your head to figure out how long the hat band piece has to be ....

....and don't forget to add the seam allowance (eg. if your head is 22" around you would cut your fabric 22" + 5/8"+ 5/8" = 23 1/4 " ..... 5/8" is the seam allowance on either end ) ... and you would cut the width double the finished size width you want because it gets folded in half .... plus 5/8" seam allowance on both sides ... so if you want the finsihed width of the band to be 4", you would cut it 8" + 5/8" + 5/8" = 9 1/4" wide).....so, you would cut the hat band piece 23 1/4" long by 9 1/4" wide .......AAAAAcccck!!! that's enough math!!! ... oh , and for the round part, it's a pretty big circle because you gather it to fit the hat band ... the one in the pattern is 24 1/2" in diameter (that includes the seam allowance)


...so, pick out some jazzy fabric and cut out the pattern pieces....(Kitty wanted hers to match her car)

..next you machine baste around the edges to gather the hat to fit the hat band...(on the pattern for the human size chef hat, they have you machine baste 5/8" and again 1/2" from the raw edge)

....now press under one long side of the hat band (on the pattern, they have you press under 5/8")


...next , with right sides together, fold the band in half and stitch the seam ...

...next pull up the bobbin threads to gather the hat ...

.....now with right sides together, you pin the band to the hat , adjust the gathers to fit the hat band, and stitch.

...to finish , turn the hat band to the inside and stitch the edge over the seam .

....now turn right side out and decorate !!!








OK, back to graduation week activities .... like for example what I'm going to wear and what the graduate is going to wear ..... a note was sent home from school about no shorts or flip flops .... RATS..... I guess I shouldn't wear that either !!!! Well, gotta ZOOM !!! Be back soon!

OH!!! WAIT !!! I just want to thank you all for your sweet comments about my apron (and matching fire extinguisher and bathroom towels) in my last post !!!! I'm BLUSHING !!! I'm so glad you liked it !!!! ..... OK, now I've REALLY gotta zoom !!

Toodles,
Mary Anne (aka Mare)