It’s always a treat to be asked to be part of a blog tour. Amy Barickman, frequent guest on Sewing With Nancy, asked us to give her sewing pattern, Banded Beret, the “Nancy Zieman” touch.
The first thought that came to mind was to add a Fuse ’n Gather flower trio—and so I did. Confession time—Sharen on my staff really did the sewing! You didn’t think I did it all, of course not!
Pattern Parade Blog Tour—Banded Beret
Here are the tips we used to create the Banded Beret. I really like the style.
- The fabric we chose is a rayon batik for the outer fabric and lining. As the pattern suggested, we fused interfacing to the outer fabric pieces. Sof Shape is one of my favorite fusible interfacings.
- The back of the beret has an elastic casing. Sharen found it easiest to mark the stitching lines using a ruler as a guide. She’s so precise and efficient!
- When 1/4″ seam allowances are needed, it’s fast to move the needle position to accommodate the narrow seam.
- To press the curved pieces, the pressing ham came to the rescue. Always, press a curve over a curve.
- After stitching both halves of the cap, it’s time to create a whole. The main reason for keeping this photo in the line-up was to encourage you to piece scraps of fusible interfacing. It’s not necessary to “stitch” the interfacing segments, just overlap and press.
- Just five seams will create the top of the beret.
- The casing for the elastic was created with a 3/4″ Bias Tape Maker.
- Now, it is time to pin and stitch the back to the main cap. You’re almost finished!
- The lining is sewn together with the same process. Notice that interfacing isn’t needed. To finish the edge, simply press a 1/4″ hem.
- The last construction step is to meet the wrong sides together and hand stitch the lining to the beret along the seam.
- Now for the creative part! Cut two 3/4″ and one 1-1/4″ bias strips of coordinating fabric to create three fabric flowers. Use a decorative rotary cutter blade along one edge. The lengths of the strips should be a minimum of 8″. Cut corresponding strips of Fuse ‘n Gather.
- Fuse the Fuse ‘n Gather to the wrong side of the fabric, following the package directions. Then, gather!
- After gathering, stitch a seam, joining the short edges. Tie off the thread.
- Hand stitch the flowers to the beret. Add a center embellishment—such as a button— if you’d like.
- Now, wasn’t that easy!
Want a chance to win a copy of the Banded Beret pattern plus fabric from the Ty Pennington Impressions collection and denim yardage to make this beret? Post a comment below, telling me which sewing skill or skills you’d like to learn more about. A random winner will be posted on June 16.
Pattern Parade Blog Tour Stops
June 6 – Indygo Junction Kick-Off Post
June 9 – Nancy Zieman Blog
June 11 – Sew Much Ado
June 13 – Design in Embroidery
June 15 – The Last Piece
June 18 – Lazy Girl Designs
June 20 – Sew Weekly
June 22 – Tula Pink
June 26 – Sew Mama Sew
June 28 – Mama Said Sew
July 2 – Skip to my Lou
July 6 – Indygo Junction Tour Finale
Mystery Phrase
Don’t forget to collect your secret letter from each stop on the Indygo Junction PATTERN PARADE blog tour. At the end of the tour, unscramble the 10 secret letters to create the mystery phrase and enter to win the Grand Prize. For more details, visit IndygoJunction.com.
The secret letter for this blog tour stop is the letter “i”.
Watch Sewing With Nancy
Remember to watch Sewing With Nancy online, on PBS, or on your iPad, iPod Touch, or iPhone. Have you downloaded the app?
Bye for now,
love the hat
I’d love to learn how to make piping!
someluckydog at gmail dot com
As ususal, I am starting late! Love checking out new websites, and I love this hat
. I know my niece will love it too!
My new “tool” is the Sizzix Big Shot Machine. I would appreciate learning new techniques with fabric. Thanks for your expertise and influence in the Sewing Community.
Great Info! – Nancy, I have always envied you!!
Just in time….I need to make a 1920s style hat for a costume and I think this will do…
Right now I want to improve my home dec skills. I am going to try a huge living room drapery project and want to use an interlining as well as a lining.
I’m just beginning to wear hats – and this one I like. trying to do better on FMQ.
I love the hat and I like the back elastic feature which would help give a better fit. In regard to improving my sewing skills, I would like to learn more about linings.
How about some tips for the Accuquilt.
Darling hat pattern that is so versatile. Thanks.
I would like to learn more about fitting a pattern…I have the worse time trying to buy a pattern that fits me…I have purchased and sewed one but it is always too big…not sure what I am doing wrong….
What a fun hat with such variety!
Very nice hat, although I am not into hats. Purses are my thing. I would still love to collect the pattern. Would love more instructions on free-motion quilting. I always have trouble with a heavy quilt slipping and sliding; Thank you for the chance to win this hat pattern.
I just bought your seam gauge that locks at 1/8″ intervals. Have been wondering for years why they don’t make them that way and was more than pleased to have found yours.
I would like to learn how to make fabric flowers and yours looks really easy. Hadn’t heard of the Fuse and Gather. Just getting back to sewing after many years and the news tools and materials available are wonderful.
Cute beret and the added flower really added a more feminine touch.
I really want to learn machine quilting.
I would like tips on making purses and other accessories, particularly zippers and handles.
I am currently stuck in pattern drafting a tank top for a plus size. I need a magic genie to make it gap free!
I don’t think I would like to make a beret. Have no use for one. Thank you
I would love to learn some tailoring. thanks.
Who doesnt like a hat. I like how you can make it your own. flower was great.
Love to learn more about fitting and sizing patterns.
Really cute hat. Would like to learn to make one and also want to learn to free motion quilt
I would love to be able to make a hat. And adding the fabric flowers or even some machine embroidered ruffle flowers would be so much fun!
I would like to learn how to calculate what size squares, cut into triangles, I need for a specific size block!
I would love to do machine quilting
I want to learn to machine quilt.
My comment didn’t post?
We would like to make some bathroom tension rod curtains and would like some ideas on how to go about this. The beret is very cute.
This is a cute Beret. We want to make a curtain for the bathroom window – the kind that goes on a tension rod. How should we go about this task?
Those would be sooo cute for my nieces. Don’t think my grandsons would like them.
Thank you for such great visuals on this pattern. It’s such a nice style that could be customized to the wearer’s tastes. I’d really like to learn more about different types of fusibles and how they are used.
Berets are my favorite style of hat. I’d never thought of making one of rayon batik. Cute!
I would like to see more on the fuse and gather technique. I actually like watching everything you do!
I find the pictures accompanying the instructions very helpful. Thank you! Gathering and joining the centers of flowers is one great frustration of mine!
Wonderful hat. With a whole bunch of grands and great grands and a big stash I will be busy for quite a while. Always ready to learn new things even if I am real old (76). Miss having your show on our PBS station. They don’t have it in DC or Maryland anymore.
Love the hat. Probably wouldn’t wear it myself(too old) but I have 18 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren of ALL ages who would undoubtedly will love it.
Hats, what’s not to love. Our grand kids love ‘em.
I’d love to learn more about couture sewing skills – those touches that make for that perfect fit.
I’d love to learn about smocking. It looks so difficult, but so beautiful.
My granddaughter has really gotten into ‘hats’ this year. This would be a great way for her to learn to make her own. My own interest would be to learn more about landscape quilt techniques. Thanks for sharing this project.
The beret is very cute. I need help with layering and basting a quilt “sandwich”. Thanks.
Oooh that would be a great chef’s hat too, I wish I’d had something like that back when I was in the kitchen! I would actually like to learn more about hats, as my husband has a large head and regular hats are too tight. I ordered some from a big head store
but they don’t fit as nicely even if they are big enough. I’d love to make both of us custom hats, and thanks for this great tutorial about some of the steps!
I found the whole process fascinating and would love to learn more techniques like these.
I love this hat, it would look great on my daughter. I would like to see shows on how to alter tee shirts at the neck. I know you have done them on sweatshirts, and those are helpful. But the tee shirts are more delicate and the necks just don’t hold up as well. Sometimes they ripple or the folded over material is too thick on the neck afterward.
Love the hat pattern. I would like to see more purse patterns and videos that do not require a 5 x 7 embroidery hoop. My is only 4 x 4.
I want to learn more about how to smocking. I love how little girls dresses look with smocking but have never been able to figure it out!
I would love to learn how to sew zipper to a bag with curving closure. Thanks for the giveaway!!
I would love to cure my “zipperphobia” with some tips on how to make installing zippers not so scary! Thanks for the chance to win – the flowers really add to an already great pattern!
I would like to try the Fuse and Gather. I am just getting back into sewing and there are so many new products I have not seen before. I love the pattern.
I’d like to learn about bias strips!
Thanks for a great giveaway!
Desperately need help with my serger!
I would like to learn more about sewing knits and more about gathering. Thanks for a chance to win!
Love the hat work you did. I’m trying to get back into garment sewing, especially for the ‘plus gifted’ person, and would love to see what you can do to help. Thanks.
I saw on a previous program that you had a quilt that you did embroidered cutwork on. I think the quilt was made using a Sachaik machine(?) I am interested in making a jacket instead of quilt and would like to know if you think this would work. I Also would like to do the background of the quilt , which was shown on your program)before putting the lace cutouts. I would like to know if this is done with an embroidery machine or regular sewing machine as I have both.
Thank you… you’ve read my mind! I’ve been looking for tutorials on hats! This one is perfect.
This hat looks like wonderful fun to make. I can see chemo caps from this design. What would I like to learn? How to fit my body. Pattern fitting isn’t something I ever had the opportunity to learn and nothing seems to fit anymore.
I would love a tutorial on when to change the tension in my machine. I am never completely sure that I have the right tension for the fabric I’m using.
Great beret! I’m sure that would look adorable on my tween daughter!
Valarie
How cute is this !!
I would like to know more about the Fuse and Gather.
My machine does not have a gathering foot which makes
me worried that the gathering thread might break. Do
you have any hints to prevent this ?
Love the beret. I never made a hat so may give this a try. I have a serger but do not know how to use it. Could use some direction.
My DD & her friends would love the beret. Thanks for the giveaway.
I was happy to learn about the Pellon Sof Shape Interfacing, and I am finally going to break down and get a pressing ham. Been sewing, quilting, embroiderying, etc., for over 60 years, so guess the time has come! Nancy, you have taught me ever since your Sewing With Nancy came on the air, and don’t know what I would have done without you. I am still watching, learning and loving it. A happy great-grammie in Pigeon Forge, TN
I have been sewing since I was a teenager. Would like to feel more confident cutting and sewing on the bias.
I wish my quilting skills were better.
Cute beret. I’d like to learn more about smocking with elastic thread.
Where can I get the pattern? I would like to try the beret, but I would make the top pieces a little larger.. so that it would look like a Renaissance hat that I bought a few years ago… Like the technique of the band… and the embellishment is fantastically cute
Cheryl, just clink on the link within the blog posting and you’ll be able to purchase the pattern right there!
I would love to learn gathering so I could make ruffle bags and skirts!
I would like to learn about tailoring.
urbanviolet(at)yahoo(dot)com
I would love to learn how to make clothing fit the body that I now possess. I learned fitting so long ago that the hints no longer work for me.
Would like to learn more about easing.
Cute hat and yummy fabric! I would like to learn more free motion quilting techniques.
This looks like the perfect hat pattern for wearing in surgery, I would love to see ideas on how to remake sweat shirts into different things. Everything old is new again.
This is really informative, and the pictures really helped. I still don’t really understand how to do a gather on a machine very well, so that’s what I’d read more about. It’s a very cool project. I’m excited to read the rest of the posts!
Zippers. I’d like to learn more about using zippers in creative ways and finding an easy foolproof way of setting them.
This is an adorable hat. I really like your flowers on the side. They just finish the hat. Thanks for the chance to win.
This is an adorable had. I really like your flowers on the side. They just finish the hat. Thanks for the chance to win.
I would love to learn the skill patience. I would love to do a project without frogging. I would love to know more about fuse and gather. thanks
I have always had trouble making ruffles.
I have lots to learn: quilting, appliqué, using the serger, interface uses and others. This is a great pattern. Thanks for the opportunity to win.
I’d like to know more about Fuse & Gather. Love the flower decoration!
Can’t wait to follow through on the parade!i would like to learn more about applique.
I’ve never used a ham but it looks very useful. Cute beret but I don’t look good in hats. I would like to learn more about sewing on bias tape or a binding. I have a hard time with it.
I would love to learn more about the Fuse & Gather, which is a new product to me. My granddaughter, Madilyn, loves this beret pattern, especially with the flowers, so for me, making a hat would be a totally new experience. Thanks for teaching me something new, and for the chance to win a great prize.
I have been looking for head coverings to make. This is cute. I am going bald and get sunburned easily.
JeanneZ
What a fantastic tutorial on constructing the hat! I have worn hats for certain occasions for years, as well as have been a sewer and quilter for many years but have never thought of making my own hats. This may be the time to try!
Thank you for the chance to win this cool Beret pattern…wow, and along with the fabric too!
I’d like to learn about machine quilting with a walking foot and a free motion/darning foot.
I just ordered this pattern fron IJ—sew these tips will be super helpful when I make this very cute berat-thanks Nancy & team!
I have been watching your shows for years. A skill….mmmm,
I am fairly well versed but always love quick gift projects!
I would love to learn more about sewing swearshirt material. I have a KwikSew swearshirt pattern I would like to make and convert to an embroidered jacket. I love converted swearshirts, but store purchased sweatshirts are too short, so I want to make my own.
I absolutely love this hat! I used to wear all sorts of hats when I was younger. I used to have to walk all over the plant I worked at to post jobs on bulletin boards and used to wear funky hats every day. This was back in early 1970.
The beret is very cute. I have a ham and didn’t really know when to use it. Seeing it used here was helpful. I would like to learn more about embellishments.
Thanks for the simple & clear directions for sewing and embellishing this beret. Besides your clarity, which won me over long ago, I appreciate how you thoughtfully illustrated and explained using “scraps” of fusible interfacing. I’m an enthusiastic advocate of using every possible scrap and thread, too! Looking forward to seeing and reading in the future!
Love it!
I have a notebook page dedicated to hat patterns that would be fun to make… very close to this pattern, with all it’s looks! Especially with the flower embellishment! I have two daughters that love to collect hats… they’d love that green versions shown on the pattern!
Thank you for sharing this great post.
Love the beret. I would like to learn some tips on how to make better curtains.