While it has been an unusually warm autumn here in Sweden, sooner or later the cold will come so I thought it was time to be proactive and make myself a proper cap to wear under my bike helmet. For years I’ve been using various regular beanies but they tend to be both bulky and not staying put. So I thought I should try to make a proper fitted one myself. After visiting a few stores and studying the various construction methods I decided that a fitted hood with a band would be the best solution. Also I didn’t want it to have too much coverage on the forehead since those caps tend to slip down towards the eyes.
But this helmet cap I am 100 percent happy about. The fit is way better than any store-bought cap I’ve tried. Plus it is way cheaper obviously. I am also chuffed about the fact that I finally got the three threaded flatlock seam looking right. Stay tuned for a separate post on how I did that. The fabric is single layer and the hem is done with a thin fold over elastic. The fabric is just a cotton/lycra rib fabric that won’t suffice when the frost comes. But I can see this being made of regular fleece, windstopper fleece and of course wool. The options are endless and I love my new cap!
I took a lot of measurements and made several samples before I got it right. Not unlike how I went about when I tried to sew beanies some years ago. Sewing knitted hats are a whole another animal than making garments for sure. The hats might look simple but getting them to fit right on the skull has been a challenge for me.
But this helmet cap I am 100 percent happy about. The fit is way better than any ready-made cap I’ve tried. Plus it is way cheaper obviously. I am also chuffed about the fact that I finally got the three threaded flatlock seam to look right. Stay tuned for a separate post on how I did that. The fabric is single layer and the hem is done with a thin fold over elastic.
The fabric is just a regular cotton/lycra rib fabric and won’t suffice when the frost comes. But I can see this being made in regular fleece, wind stopper fleece and of course wool. The options are endless and I love my new cap!
9 Comments
Dawn
November 13, 2015 at 10:07 pmOoooh, I want to make my flatlock stitches like that!!! And the cap is fantastic! I want one for running!
Johanna
November 15, 2015 at 3:47 pmIt took me like 8 years to figure out my flatlock stitches :), I think I just wasn't systematic enough before. Will share my tips in a post soon!
Juliette
November 14, 2015 at 12:50 pmThe cap looks excellent. Are you willing to share a copy of your pattern? I would like to make some caps like that to wear under my motorcycle helmet.
Johanna
November 15, 2015 at 3:49 pmThank you! I might consider making the pattern, there are just so many things I want to do, just need to find the time 🙂
kezban
November 14, 2015 at 3:34 pmgreat cap, well constructed and practical. I am eager to read the instructions for this and try it on my little ones.
Johanna
November 15, 2015 at 3:49 pmThank you! I will try to share it somehow in the future, just need to find the time!
Donna
March 23, 2019 at 6:36 pmDid you ever make the pattern of this?
Johanna
March 26, 2019 at 4:21 pmIt’s coming this fall! I have it graded in three sizes and just need to do the instructions!
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