Sew a Whimsical Petal Play Hat

by Jennifer Long of Sew A Story

There’s something so special about making something playful and wearable for a child. This month’s project is the Petal Play Hat, inspired by storybook afternoons and imaginative dress-up. It’s a soft, quilted hat shaped like a blooming flower, complete with stitched leaves and a little stem at the top.

This is one of those projects that looks extra fun when finished but is still very beginner-friendly. I designed it to be sewn in three sizes: Toddler, Child, and Youth. I used a mix of Thimbelina fabrics and a few of my go-to Therm O Web products for structure and stability.

Materials You’ll Need

Fabric and Supplies:

• Fabrics from the Thimbelina collection by Jennifer Long
  
• Coordinating solids for stem and leaves
  
• Thread, scissors, pins, and a basic sewing machine
  
• Optional: tailor’s ham, turning tool, and ribbon for hanging

Therm O Web Products:

• HeatnBond Light Weight Fusible Interfacing to add softness and structure to each panel
  
• Quilty Hemostat for turning small pieces like leaves and the stem
  
• Optional: Fabric Fuse for securing decorative elements or a hanging ribbon

Step-by-Step Highlights

1. Prep and Cut

Cut six hat panels each for the exterior and lining. You’ll also need six leaves and two stem pieces. Follow the pattern’s tip for folding and pressing before cutting for even petals.

2. Add Interfacing

Fuse HeatnBond Light Weight Interfacing to the wrong side of the exterior hat pieces and both stem pieces. This helps the hat hold its flower shape while still feeling soft.

3. Assemble Leaves and Stem

Sew the leaf and stem pieces with right sides together. Clip curves and turn them right side out using the Quilty Hemostat. Press the pieces to create smooth edges.

4. Build the Exterior

Baste one leaf to the top of each outer hat panel. Sew the panels together in pairs, pressing and topstitching the seams. Stitch the halves together and attach the stem at the top.

5. Make the Lining

Repeat the same process with the lining panels. Leave a small gap in one of the seams for turning.

6. Final Assembly

Sew the exterior and lining together with right sides facing. Clip seams, turn the hat right side out through the gap, and press. Close the opening and press the brim to finish.

Optional Embellishments

• Add hand-stitched details along the petals or leaves
  
• Use a different fabric for each panel to create a rainbow flower
  
• Stitch in a ribbon loop to hang the hat on a hook
  

Try the Pattern Club Free

Therm O Web readers can enjoy one free month in the Sew A Story Pattern Club. Inside the club, you’ll receive one new craft pattern and one new quilt pattern each month, along with step-by-step support and creative inspiration.

If you loved the Petal Play Hat, this month’s featured craft pattern in the club is this exact project.

Join here!
Use code: FREEMONTH

You can also check out more about the Petal Play Hat on our YouTube channel here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMADPF5FSxI

Let’s Sew Together

Making something handmade is always more than just a project. I hope this little hat brings joy to the children in your life and a smile to your sewing table.

Hi Friends! I am so happy you are here. My name is Jennifer Long, and I am a Riley Blake Designs Fabric Designer, Quilt & Doll Pattern Writer, Machine Embroidery Digitizer, and online educator. I am also the founder of the Sew A Story Pattern Club and the Modern Rag Doll Membership. I am married and a mom to (4) pre-teens / teens and live on a little hobby farm in rural Prairie Canada. I grew up training to be a professional ballet dancer, and later studied Early Childhood Education. I taught ballet and ran my own dance studio all the while sewing and designing costumes for myself and many of my colleagues and students. I am passionate about all things FABRIC, imagination and design and am so blessed I can share this passion with others. This journey has inspired me to make a positive difference by designing dolls and quilt patterns and fabric for others to be EMPOWERED to sew themselves! I have designed dolls and quilts for individuals, organizations, companies, designers, authors of children’s books, and international companies for mass production. What I LOVE the most about creativity is finding INSPIRATION everywhere and, in turn, INSPIRING others to do the same! Thank you for joining me on this creative journey.