Bonnet Pattern
Homemade Strawberry Short Cake Hat

The bonnet pattern for Strawberry Shortcake Costume was quite easy and fun to do. I had to draft my own pattern, and this is how I did it.

Strawberry Shortcake Bonnet

What you will need

  • Large pieces of construction paper 
  • Bowl (you will see what this is for later)
  • Pencil
  • Sharp Scissors
  • Sewing Machine
  • Thread
  • Fabric
  • Stiff lining (netting, non fusible interfacing)
  • Strawberry applique (Optional)

The Fabric I Used:

The fabric I used is from Fabric.com. In my search for Strawberry Shortcake fabric, I could not find it any where online or in a fabric store, other than Fabric.com.

Amazon carries some, but not what I really wanted. I do recommend using Fabric.com. They are a reliable option for purchasing fabric.

The amount of fabric I purchased is above each fabric sample. Unfortunately the strawberry fabric is no longer available, however I have shown a possible alternative. You can of course choose your own color and print to make your bonnet pattern. 

1/2Yard

1Yard

1/2Yard

Step by Step:
Strawberry Shortcake Bonnet Pattern

Step One: Making the Bonnet Pattern

  • I found a bowl large enough to create the top of the hat.
  • How large you make your hat is up to you, but, if you look at the vintage version of a strawberry shortcake image you’ll see it is quite large.
  • I would suggest measuring your head or whom ever will be wearing the bonnet around the fullest part of the skull and add about 6 inches.

On a large piece of construction paper, I traced a line around the bowl to form the top of the bonnet pattern.

  • Measure 3" from the outer line of the circle this will stand as your hat brim.
  • Now cut out along the lines that you have drawn.
  • These pieces will be your templates for the hat top and the hat brim.
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Step Two: Cutting Out

  • Using the circle template, cut out the top of the hat.
Strawberry shortcake fabric.
  • Using the same template, cut out your hat lining.
  • The stiff lining that will make the top of the hat stand up.
Strawberry Shortcake bonnet tutorial
  • Cut out the brim using the paper template from step one. You will need to cut two layers. In this case I chose contrasting fabrics.
  • Once I had my brim cut out, I decided to scallop the edges.
  • This is easy. I used a glass to draw scallop lines and then cut around them.
Strawberry short tutorial
  • Measure around your head to determine circumference of your hat.
  • This is the hat band.
  • Cut another band out of the same stiff lining you used for the top of the hat.
how to make a strawberry shortcake bonnet

Step Three: Stitching The Hat

  • For the brim.
  • Stitch the two brim layers together using a 1/4 " stitch width.
  • After stitching, turn the layers right side out.
  • For The Top of the Hat
  • Stitch two rows of basting stitches for gathering the edge of the top of the hat.
  • (Basting stitch is a long stitch length that is used to gather fabric.)
  • Before adding the hat bands, draw up the basting stitches to create a gather for the top of the hat.
  • Gather the same circumference as the hat bands.
  • For the Hat Band
  • Stitch the ends of the hat bands together.
  • Note: One of the bands will also have the stiff lining attached to it.
  • Press 3/8" on the one band with the lining, as shown in the photo.
  • Set the bands aside.

Step Four: Putting the hat together

  • Pin one band to the outside of the hat. Stitch in place.
  • Now pin the other hat band to the other inside of the top of the hat as shown.
  • Stitch in place the same as above.
  • You can see from the photo, the hat is now sandwiched between the band.
  • I discovered that the hat was a little too wide in circumference. If this happens to you. See my easy fix below.
  • I measured the hat to determine how much I needed to remove.
  • I have measured a piece of elastic to bring in the excess in the hat band.
  • Stitch elastic into the seam as shown.
  • Now you add the brim to the outside hat band. Pin in place.
  • Stitch the brim to the outer band as shown.
  • Press the seam toward the inside of the band.
  • Hand stitch the outer band in place as shown
  • This is what the inside of the bonnet should look like.
  • This is what the finished bonnet looks like.
Completed strawberry shortcake bonnet

For more costume ideas leave Strawberry Shortcake bonnet pattern page and go to my homemade costumes.