How To Make a Baby Sun Bonnet with Ruffles

Summer is right around the corner and although I think sunlight is such good medicine, baby’s are extra sensitive. In this post I’ll take you through how to make a baby sun bonnet with ruffles.

I can assure you that today’s sewing tutorial is great for beginner’s because that’s where I still consider myself. My thought is if I can do it, you can too!

This baby bonnet has ruffles included but I also share how you can make it without to make this gender neutral.

Last month my niece graced us with her presence into the world. Now, a month later I get to take a little road trip with my daughter and meet her for the first time. But I couldn’t possibly go empty handed when there’s so many cute things to dress babies in!

My mother lives on a lake and I imagine all of us visiting at some point this summer and soaking up the sun. Of course, babies are more sensitive to the sun, so I want to make sure my niece’s head is protected while she’s out. Plus, I think bonnets are one of the most adorable things ever!

If you have a new bundle of joy then this little project is great and will be worthwhile from the use you’ll get.

Disclaimer: I apologize for the poor picture quality. Have you ever done on a project on a whim? That’s what this was, and I had two days for my vision to become a reality before I saw my niece. I simply turned on the video camera and did it. For projects like this, I do much better with a video than just pictures, but I added some anyway.

Tips For Making A Baby Bonnet With Ruffles.

• There are a few basic things you’ll need to know for the bonnet. First is a gathering stitch. This project was my first time using the gathering stitch to make ruffles and I learned to have long tails at each end when you’re sewing and to not pull that longtail thread to hard or it’ll break! You’ll see me trying this in real time in the video below. Second technique you’ll need to know is the invisible stitch.
• This project is perfect if you have a baby anywhere from newborn-3T and need a little sun protection this summer for the summer months ahead.
• The sun bonnet is a great gift to give! If you are needing something for a baby shower, this is perfect!
• Pick two fabrics that are different but are coordinating. This pattern can be reversible.

Are Bonnets Safe For Babies?

Yes, but make sure the baby is always in view when they’re wearing the bonnet, and never let them sleep with it.

Baby Bonnet Sewing Pattern

* Make sure to print it at 100%. When you click the link, it’ll redirect to a PDF.

Newborn – 3T Sun Bonnet Pattern
(Pattern is from the Simple Life Company, Daisy Sun Bonnet)

As I said, I’m a beginner so I did watch quite a few videos while figuring it out. None of the videos seemed clear enough for me to get a big picture idea so I had to watch several for an overall view.

Plus, with sewing things yourself, you have room to play around with the design. The pattern I chose is with a regular brim to keep the sun out of the baby’s eyes, but I wanted to make it extra adorable and changed it up by making the brim of the hat ruffled. Because who can resist ruffles on a little girl?

My niece was very tiny when she was born so I’m opting for the 0-3 month option for the summer days ahead.

How To Choose Affordable Fabrics

Picking out fabrics is the funnest part for my daughter and me. It’s so enjoyable to be able to pick out a fabric specific to a person’s personality. Many times I look at the thrift store for fabrics and have had a lot of luck doing this.

Sometimes you don’t know how much you’ll get when purchasing from a thrift store but there’s so many things you can make from small amounts of fabric, like this sun bonnet.

One of my favorite things to do is find flat sheets at the thrift store because that is so much fabric for a great price as well. Browsing clearance flat sheets can be useful too.

In this case, I made sure to check the weekly ads at Hobby Lobby and opted for a pink gingham fabric since it was on sale. I never buy fabric full price anymore. JoAnn Fabrics will have sales too for fabric.

How To Change the Baby Bonnet Pattern for a Ruffled Brim

You would take the pattern and only adjust one thing. The brim measurement given was 13 inches long total. When you’re doing a ruffle, you’re wanted to have more fabric to give it that look. A general rule of thumb when making anything ruffled is taking the size you need and multiplying it by 1.5.

In the case of the 0-3 month size, the total length of the brim was 13 in. so when I multiplied it came out to 19.5 inches total.

Creating Your Own Ruffled Brim Pattern

I took 2 sheets printer paper and taped them together. Paper is only 11 inches long and so I knew I needed two sheets for the total length of 19.5 inches.

Then I marked 19.5 inches on the paper. On the one edge I traced the pattern as well as on the other edge.

Then I just drew a straight line that connected the two.

Simply cut out that new pattern piece and use that instead of what was given in the free pattern to make yours ruffled if you choose.

The Materials & Equipment You’ll Need To Make a Baby Sun Bonnet

• sewing machine
• two fabrics of choice: main & lining
• fabric scissors
• iron
• sewing pins
• thread
• interface (optional)

Cut List For The Baby Sun Bonnet

Cut 4, for bonnet side

• 2 of the main fabric, 2 of the lining fabric

Cut 2 for bonnet center

• 1 of the main fabric, 1 of the lining fabric

Cut 2 for brim (if doing a ruffle)

• 1 of the main fabric, 1 of the lining fabric
• Take the pattern piece appropriate for your size and multiply it by 1.5 so you can do a gather stitch. For example, mine called for 13 inches originally. I multiplied it by 1.5 and so my new brim size turned to 19.5 inches.

Cut 3 on fold (If doing a regular brim)

• 1 of the main fabric, 1 of the lining fabric, and 1 for the interfacing

Cut 2 for bonnet ties

Instructions To Make A Baby Sun Bonnet

1) Pick out two pieces of fabric for your sun bonnet. One will be used as your main fabric and the other will be used for the lining of the bonnet. Choose two coordinating fabrics. The bonnet has a reversible option.

2) Wash and dry the two pieces of fabric you’re going to use. I just feel better doing this to get any extra chemical residue off because this will be for a baby who is extra sensitive. For more comfort, you can always look for fabrics that are 100% organic cotton. Then iron and you’re ready to go.

3) Trace your pattern according to the instructions. The pattern does call for interface to make the brim sturdier. I don’t have any laying around my house and have never sewed with it so in a pinch, I would’ve used an extra piece of fabric I had on hand. But if you’re doing the ruffle brim like I did, you just need one brim piece in the main fabric and one in the lining fabric, no interface needed.

4) Cut the main fabric pattern pieces according to the bonnet pattern and cut list.

5) Repeat for the lining fabric.

6) Take a tie strap and fold one short raw edge in 1/4″ and press. Take your ties and fold them in half, creating a crease down the center part of the tie. Press. Take your long raw edges and fold them towards the crease you made in the center and press in place. Now fold the tie in half and press. Topstitch the long open end 1/8″ away from the edge.

7) Take your bonnet center piece in the main fabric and sew a seam, attaching it to the bonnet side, right sides together. Take the other bonnet side piece and sew a seam to the other side of the bonnet center.

8) Repeat the step for the lining fabric.

9) Sew the curved edge of the two brim pieces together.

10) Sew a gathering stitch on the straight edge of the brim. Create the ruffles by pulling the long tails and gathering the fabric until it’s distributed evenly.

11) Pin the center of the brim to the top center of the bonnet, right sides together. Pin the rest of the brim to the bonnet. Sew in place.

12) Place the tie strap to the bonnet/brim seam, raw edges together and pin. Baste in place.

13) Place the main bonnet on top of the lining bonnet, right sides together and pin. Sew all the way around the bonnet, leaving an inch or two as an opening in the back center.

14) Pull the bonnet right side out using the opening.

15) Using an invisible stitch, finish by sewing the opening you were left with.

Video on How To Make A Baby Sun Bonnet

More Sewing Tutorials:

• How To Sew a Reusable Bowl Cover

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*If you try this project, I would love for you to come back and give it a rating. I find reviews to be very helpful and your rating might help someone out!

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