Toddler's Dragon Hat

I created a dragon hat with a scaley patterned fabric using a free pattern I found on Pinterest LINK

There are a lot of patterns that would suit, but to fit the ear flaps for the dragon head into the hat the pattern just needs to have a vertical and horizonal seam.

Fabrics:

1 x Lining Fleece, Black

1 x Outer fabric, scale pattern or black fleece

A small piece of wadding, to be sewn into the ear flap pieces for stability

This pattern uses very minimal fabric, about 1/3 yard of each the lining and outer fabric

Sewing Equipment:

1. Scissors
2. Pins
3. Sewing machine, and black thread

I found the above pattern on Pinterest, but there are a lot of other free or paid for patterns that could also work.

Print the pattern for the hat and the ear pieces, and ensure the measurements are accurate. Cut all the pattern pieces out.

Fold your fabric in half and lay the pattern with the 7cm edge on the fold of the fabric

Cut around the pattern, leaving a quarter inch seam allowance

The lining can be fully sewn together before we start working on the outer.

Pin the front edge and the back edge together and sew. This is the vertical front and back seems

Lay the hat out flat, and pin the horizontal seam together, matching the seam in the middle, then sew again. This finished the lining.

Each of ear pieces are made of 2 layers of scale fabric, plus one layer of wadding. You will need to cut enough layers to make 2 x sets of each ear/ scale. Even though the actual hat pattern does have "Ear Flaps" I commonly refer to the pattern piece C as an Ear Flap or Scale, since it is hard to tell exactly what this part of the dragon is when looking at reference pictures from the inspiration.

I also did not end up using the scales that were labelled D.

Once the fabric is cut, stack and pin the layers together. The order of the fabric is:

1. Top - Wadding
2. Middle - scale fabric "Right" side Down
3. Bottom - scale fabric "Right" side Up

Sew around the curve edge of each piece, and turn the inside out. The wadding should now be inside, with the scaley fabric on the outside.

You can top stitch around the outside of each piece if you like. I did not.

The first step of adding the scales to the hat is to sew the smallest of the scales into the vertical seam

Pin the vertical seams together, just like the lining

Remove the pins from the last inch of the vertical seam closest to the front edge of the hat, and tuck bottom edge of the two smallest scales into the seam. The point of the scale should be pointing into the hat.

You can gently flip the hat right side out to check that everything is pinned correctly and the scales will end of in the right position. Adjust if needed.

Sew the front and back vertical seams, sewing carefully over the seam allowance of the little scales

Turn the hat inside out.

Line up the large ear flaps, and the 2 smaller scales along one side of the horizontal hat seam and pin in place on one edge.

Sandwich the other side of the fabric so that right sides are against each other, and the 4 scales and in the middle, with the points facing down. Just like the smaller scales, carefully turn the hat right sides out and check the positioning.

Sew along the horizonal seam.

Hold the scaley outer fabric right sides out, and place the lining fabric ride side down over the top. Ensure both pieces are facing the correct direction.

Pin the bottom edges together, and leave a gap so the hat can be turned inside out once sewn.

Sew around the bottom edge, and turn.

Use your fingers to press the bottom edge seam flat. Slightly roll the edge between your fingers so that the outer scaley fabric is lower than the inner lining fabric. Pin around the outside edge.

When this is sewn this will ensure that the lining fabric does not peak out and look untidy.

Use your presser foot on the sewing machine as a guide to keep the top stitching line even- keep you sewing needle in the middle, and the presser foot off the edge of the material, and top stitch around the bottom edge of the hat.

Sew over the turning hole, and then your hat is finished

The ear flaps and scales and scales on this hat can be manipulated to stand up, or can lie flat, just like the little dragon this hat is inspired by.

If I were making the hat again, I would cut further into the horizontal seem of the hat, and add the extra D shape scale that was sewn but not used. Perhaps even adding 2 scales on each side.

I am really happy with how this turned out.