Recycled Sweaters into hats! **Tutorial** Make in 30mins or less!!

[tickleagangster]

I used Leethal's idea for these hats only I made them out of a bunch of sweaters I got for 50cents at the thrift store.  I felted the wool and cashmere in the washing machine first which gives the hats more body and allows them to stand up to rain drops.  They're so easy to make that I made at least ten of them last night for my daughter to sell at her school.  Comments are welcome
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q247/myfurbal/hats001asss.jpg[/img]   

*****************TUTE*********************************
I'll add pics later, but seriously, these are so simple to make as gifts you can easily make up a bunch before a X-mas party!

1.    Find some wool or cashmere sweaters that are large to extra large.  I found that in many thrift stores men don't buy the sweaters so they are usually pretty cheap.  If you want to felt the sweaters, make sure they are no less than 85% wool.

2.    To felt, you will put the sweaters in the washing machine on the Hot/Cold setting, and the fastest spin cycle.  Use liquid detergent which helps tighten the fibers.  I also used fabric softener on the rinse cycle which makes them soft!!  Dry on medium heat.

3.    Take the sweater and fold it in half lentgh wise with the ribbing on the bottom.  Make sure that the bottom edges are very even.  This will allow you to get two hats per sweater.  Now cut a straight line across the sweater again keeping the bottoms even.  I cut about 8 inches from the bottom.  Then cut on the fold so that you have two rectangles of fabric. 

4.   Now before you sew up the two sides (top seam and a side seam, cuz the hat still has a fold on one side) cut out your decorations; ie robot face, panda face, cross, heart, skull, or whatever you choose.  Now with the hat opened into the rectangle, sew down the appliques on the one side.  If you like, you can use some decorative stitching as well.

5.   Now, comes the hard part;  fold the hat in half with the appliques on the inside, and sew up the top and then down one side of the hat making a square! 

6.  Turn the hat right side out and use sissors or another tool to get the corners of the hat (the ears) nice and pointy.  WooaaaLaaa! You've got yourself a unique little hat!!       

[violentjayne]

All theese poitny tiped hats ar inspiring me to make one with ears or something ... I got some fur ?? huuummmmm Any way yours look really cute Great Job !

[jershyLA]

i've missed out on a couple of tutes, how do you make these again  okay okay i know you haven't posted a tute but could you they would make excellent gifts for christmas

[leethal]

rad!! so happy to spread fun craftiness - great hats!!

[pisicandru]

WOW ..... these looks so fun!!!!

[R3n331]

wow Beautiful,
 time to raid hubbys closet hehehehehe

[Digsy LaRaspberry]

woo! 

[Avril222]

i love these! there is something so crafty and fantastic about them!
and a tutorial!!!!!
way to spread happiness through the holidays

[sthomson]

I absolutely adore these hats! Leethal's original hats were great but with the appliques they're so crafty! I want to make one with little kitty eyes...

[jutybo]

These DO look easy!
...but one simple question from someone who rarely sews anything other than cotton... Can you sew up a sweater-hat seam with a sewing machine, or do you have to do it by hand?  If I can use the sewing machine, do I need to use a zig-zag or straight stitch??  Oops, that was two questions...   Thanks, though!!