Old Sweater to Felted Wool Beanie

I love felted wool. So cozy, so versatile, so cheap. Today's refashion began its life as a $3 thrift store sweater and now lives in my closet as an Anthro-knockoff cap.

(My hat pattern is adapted from Handmade Home by Amanda Blake Soule.)

I took a similar style cap that fit me well and used it as a guide to make my pattern. For those of you guestimating along at home, here are the dimensions for my head and pattern. 

Head: 23.5"

Pattern: 10" (base) x 8.5" (middle height)

Note: I used a wool sweater with ribbing - this kind of pattern has more stretch to it (even after felting) than a typical knit. If you're using a less stretchy woolen fabric, adjust accordingly. If in doubt, make a practice hat! 

Pin your pattern to the front of your sweater. 

(Line up your pattern along the bottom edge if the sweater's bottom edge suits your taste - otherwise pin where you want. Felted wool won't fray!)

Cut out your pattern. Repeat on the back side of the sweater. You should now have two hat pieces.

Fold each piece in half (right sides together) and pin about 1/3 of the length from the top. 

From about one inch from the fold (at top), mark a second line that forms an angle to your first pin. 

Do this on both pieces.

Stitch along that angled line on both pieces.

With right sides together, line up the seams, pin, and sew around the rounded edge.

And this is where I should have taken a finished picture of the first step. If you just want to create a simple beanie style cap, stop here. You've made a cute, warm hat, ready to be thrown on and worn.

Buuuuut if you want to go crazy and bedazzle your hat, then break out the sequins and start stitching!

Come visit me at Wunderbar if you want to see what I did next! 

(More pictures of the sewing steps also available at my blog.)