Making a Bonnet from a Straw Hat

Using a 14″ straw hat purchased from Michael’s as a base to make an
1850-60ish looking bonnet.

• 14″ straw hat with approx 4.5″ crown (Michael’s discontinuing)
• 4″ wide ribbon (Walmart)
• double wide seam binding
• lace
• fabric
• hot glue and thread
• artificial flowers, feathers, and trims

Note

[20210903] My eye for more historical bonnets has improved since creating this tutorial.
What seemed lovely when I first started, now is wrong for historical reenactment.
If you want your bonnets to look slightly more historical, do not use obvious big plastic
flowers. On the inside of the brim, try to find smaller, paper or fabric flowers.
Do not use flat lace as trim on the inside of the brim. (Oops! Sorry, younger self, those big
roses and black lace have to go.) Either leave plain gathered up
cotton lace for trim.

Cut out piece from bonnet. Leave approx. 2″ of crown (bottom/inside of hat)






Steam iron out the top a little and the sides a lot.





Stitch on lace on the inside brim. Sew on flowers, optional. [Edit: Don’t use flat black lace. Don’t use giant flowers like this.
Instead use small sprigs of paper or fabric flowers. Small. Flowers.]



Cut out fabric



Hot glue back and brim fabric to straw.





Hot glue or sew fabric.







Hot glue binding onto edges.




Sew on curtain. Sew on ribbon. Add flowers. [Note: Again, try to use more natural looking
flowers. Silk ribbons will look better than shiny polyester ones. Ribbons were wide during this
time period – around 4″ wide ribbons.]

Finished bonnet looks like this

Jade cotton no-wale cotton corderoy over straw hat.
Black lace on interior brim, black binding and pink satin ribbon ties.
Purchased pink flowers on interior and exterior.

Teal and Pink Straw Bonnet

Here’s one that was lined in fabric with smaller flowers.

[20111103] Finished covering and trimming one of the straw bonnets that I started.  Mostly hot glued.  Teal no wale corderoy with pink silk trim and silver polyester satin ties.  White ruched inside.  Turned out okay so feel a little better about sewing quality.  Hopefully sewing will continue strong for the buckram and silk bonnet.

Charcoal and Red

Straw bonnet covered with charcoal gray/black cotton
velvet with black lace front, red 4″ ribbon, red rose and apples on one side, red
mums on the other side, and red roses on inside brim.

Charcoal and Silver

Straw bonnet covered with charcoal gray/black cotton velvet with black lace front, silver 4″ ribbon, white feathers, blue/purple flowers, and purple floral on the inside brim.

Jade and Red

Straw bonnet covered with jade no
wale corderoy with red 4″ ribbon, black lace front, red mums, red holiday pick, and red feather.

Charcoal

Charcoal cotton no-wale cotton corderoy over straw hat.
Black lace on interior brim, black binding and baby blue 4″ satin ribbon ties.
Purchased blue and purple flowers on interior and exterior. Purple feather.

Charcoal and Red

Straw bonnet covered with charcoal gray/black cotton velvet with black lace front, red 4″ ribbon, red rose, red feather and red roses on inside brim.

Charcoal and Lilac

Straw bonnet covered with charcoal gray/black cotton velvet with black lace front, lilac 4″ ribbon, pink and white floral on inside brim, grape pick, and purplish feather.

Dark blue with roses

Straw bonnet covered with dark blue polyester suede with black lace front, black 4″ ribbon, white floral on inside brim, and blue roses.

These instructions are free and for your personal use.
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tutorial, donations are accepted:

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