| STEP #1: MAKE YOUR PATTERN There are 6 paper pieces to the pattern. (1) "TOP" --this is the 'egg'-shaped piece that is the very top of the hat (1) "VISOR" --this is the 'crescent' -shaped piece that is the hat's visor (2) "FLAP" pieces --these are the 'football'-shaped pieces that are the front and back outer pieces of the hat (2) "CROWN" pieces --these are the 'curved rectangle' shapes that make the left and right inner pieces of the hat (if you have trooper armor, the CROWN pieces look just like giant aerator cover stickers from the decal sheet that came with your armor) Trace out your pattern shapes onto a heavy newspaper or brown paper bag because you will be handling the paper pieces quite a bit to get the pieces to fit correctly. Cut out all 6 paper pieces and fit them to your own head by loosely taping them together with masking tape. Always make sure that all your pieces are symmetrical and that both pieces of the crowns and flaps are EXACTLY the same. Your paper hat should fit you slightly loosely, but not too loose. There will be about 10 layers of fabric and interfacing at the finished edge when the whole hat is done. Keep trimming the pieces as necessary and start over if you have to until your paper pieces look exactly like an imperial hat. Do not overlap your paper pieces, cut them exactly to a hat shape. YOU WILL BE ADDING SEAM ALLOWANCE AS YOU ARE CUTTING YOUR FABRIC. STEP # 2: CUTTING This is what you will need to cut out: TOP = cut 2 of fabric including your seam allowance*; cut 1 of fusible interfacing to the exact shape of your pattern piece VISOR = cut 2 of fabric including your seam allowance*; cut 1 of fusible interfacing to the exact shape of your pattern piece; cut 1 of heavy-weight stabilizer ~1/8" all around smaller than the exact shape of your pattern piece. FLAP = cut 4 of fabric including your seam allowance*; cut 2 of fusible interfacing to the exact shape of your pattern piece CROWN = cut 4 of fabric including your seam allowance*; cut 2 of fusible interfacing to the exact shape of your pattern piece *remember to add your seam allowance to the fabric pieces you are cutting out. I add ~ 3/8" to mine, because I am using a serger and I have already made a dozen of these..... I would suggest to add a 5/8" seam allowance in any case, so you have room to adjust. You can always cut excess material off when you need to. You are cutting the interfacing pieces to the exact size of the paper hat pieces that you just made to fit your own head. The shape of the inter facing pieces then will perfectly serve you as your guide lines to sew on! SEW EASY!! Make sure you have 12 pieces of fabric, 6 pieces of fusible interfacing and 1 piece of heavyweight stabilizer cut out. STEP #3 IRONING Read and follow the directions that came with your interfacing. Apply the 6 pieces of interfacing to one side of each of the corresponding 6 pieces of the hat. IF you were not able to locate a fabric that is EXACTLY IDENTICAL on both sides, make sure you are applying the interfacing to the 'wrong' sides of your fabric pieces. Apply the interfacing to the exact center of each of the 6 pieces. Remember, the shapes of the interfacing will be serving as your sewing guidelines. Make sure you now have 6 pieces of fused fabric, 6 plain pieces of fabric and 1 piece of heavyweight stabilizer. |
| Imperial Officer's hat tutorial Steps 1-3 |
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