Wheel Hat

[russ]

Popular from the 20's through the mid 70's. The wheel cap/mechanics cap was used by both civilians and the military.
Here is how to make one.

Materials: 1/2 yard of fabric (wool works well but heavy ticking or canvas is also good)
               thread that matches the color of your fabric
               sewing needle
               pins
               interfacing
               scissors
               medium sized saucepan lid
               large sheet of paper
               1/2 inch wide strip of canvas (optional)
               black paint (optional)
               2 buttons (optional)



Spread the fabric out on a flat surface that you can cut on like a self-healing mat.  On the paper, trace the pot lid.  The resulting circle should be somewhere around 9 to 13 inches in diameter.  Cut out the paper circle.  This will be your pattern piece for the top of the hat.  Now cut out another circle with the same diameter from the paper.  About 1 to 3 inches from the edge of the circle (this will depend on the size of your head and the size of the circle), cut another circle with the diameter of your head.  If you have a larger head, try making the top of the hat bigger to accomodate your big ole' melon.  Smaller heads can get away with a nine inch diameter on the top.  Once you have your pattern pieces, cut them out of the fabric. 

Sew the two circles together.  If you want to, turn it inside out to make the edge neater.  You can also just leave it raw.  It was commonly done either way during that period.  Go back to your piece of fabric and cut out a band piece to go around your head and a semicircle for the brim.  The band should be like a long rectangle.  The band can be up to 2 1/2 inches tall.  Just remember to double the desired height when you cut out your band or else you will not be able to fold it.

Fold the band and sew the top and bottom edges of it together with the brim in between them.  The brim should be made of two identical pieces with interfacing in between them to keep it stiff.  Then, turn the band inside out and sew the ends together to make a circular tube that should fit snugly around your head.

Sew the band and the top together and you have a pinwheel hat.

[n5lyc]

PICTURES!!!
PICTURES!!!
PICTURES!!!
without pictures it is just

[bull frog]

Dennis has made at least one that I know of and maybe two.  The one I remember turned out pretty good as I recall.  Not sure where he got the pattern, but have seen them advertised.

[DandJofAZ]

sounds neat,  need pictures if posible..We are visual type people here..