Learn how to line a crochet or knit hat with fleece in just a few easy steps!
As the chill of winter sets in and the snowflakes begin to fall, there’s nothing quite like wrapping yourself in warm, cozy layers to keep the cold at bay. But what about your beloved crochet and knit hats?
While they may be stylish and beautiful, they might not always provide the level of warmth needed during the coldest months.
Fortunately, I’ve got the perfect solution to make your favourite crocheted hat as cozy as a fleece hat without compromising in style.
In this blog post, I’m excited to show you a super easy and step-by-step technique that will transform your current winter hat into a brand new hat by adding your favourite fleece to the inside of the hat.
Whether you’re a seasoned crocheter or knitter or just someone looking to cozy up their winter wardrobe, this is the answer.
Get ready to learn how to line your winter hats with fleece the easy way, ensuring that you stay warm and fashionable all season long.
Say goodbye to the winter chill and hello to comfort and style with this must-try DIY project!
But that’s not all! If you’re eager to expand your hat lining skills, I’ve got you covered. Don’t forget to explore my other posts and video tutorials, where I show you how to line beanies with folded brims and hats with earflaps.
With these additional resources, you’ll be well-equipped to customize and line all your favourite cold-weather headwear. Lining hats has never been so easy.
Choosing the Right Type of Lining
We’ve all been there, right? You’re gearing up for a chilly day, and you eagerly reach for your beloved crocheted or knitted beanie, only to realize it’s just not going to cut it in the cold. And what’s even more disheartening?
Spending hours crafting that perfect beanie, whether it’s from a snazzy crochet pattern, a free pattern you stumbled upon, or your unique design, only to watch it collect dust because it leaves your ears feeling like icicles.
Our handmade beanies are undeniably cozy, but when the wind starts howling and the temperature plummets, we all need a little extra warmth. That’s where the enchantment of beanie lining steps in – it’s a fantastic project that can breathe new life into those neglected beanies at the bottom of your drawer.
Now, when it comes to choosing the ideal lining material for the winter, there’s a hands-down winner in my book: FLEECE. A fleece lining introduces that perfect layer of snugness to keep your noggin warm and toasty, even in the most bone-chilling weather.
Now, if you’re not sure what type of lining to use for your hat, I’ve got you covered. Check out this video tutorial where I discuss various fabrics you can use to line your hats, adding both practical warmth and a touch of style.
Read more about choosing a liner for hats!
Watch my Step-by-Step Video Tutorial Here
Step-by-Step Tutorial
To line your winter hat with fleece, follow these step-by-step instructions:
Materials Needed
Before we dive into the steps, let’s gather all the materials we’ll need for this project:
- Beanie Hat or Slouch Hat: The foundation for your lined hat.
- About 1/2 yard of Fleece fabric: The soft and warm material that will form the lining.
- Scissors: Essential for precise cutting and trimming.
- Sewing thread: Choose a thread colour that matches your hat for a seamless finish.
- Sewing needle: A regular sewing needle for precision and control.
- Marker or fabric pen: Needed for tracing the hat’s shape onto the fleece.
- Measuring device (ruler or measuring tape): Ensures accurate measurements and cuts.
- Liquid Stitch or Speed Sew (fabric glue): This adhesive secures the fleece lining in place.
- Optional: sewing machine: If you prefer sewing over gluing, a sewing machine can be used for a more traditional approach.
Preparing the Fleece Lining
To start, we need to prepare the fleece lining. Here’s how:
- Determining the right side of the fleece: Find the more visually appealing side, this will be the side that has the fuzziest texture, or the brightest pattern – designate it as the “right side.”
- Ensuring horizontal stretch: Lay the fleece so it stretches horizontally, not vertically. This provides the necessary stretch to go around your head.
- Folding the fleece: Fold the fleece, ensuring it’s larger than your hat – allow for about 1/2 to 1 inch seam allowance – to make the most of your fabric. If the seam allowance is too large you can always trim away the excess fleece so that the hat will not become bulky once the back seam is completed and turned right side out.
Creating the Inner Hat
Now, let’s craft the inner hat from the fleece lining:
- Laying your hat flat: Begin by laying the hat flat (inside or outside of the hat showing.)
- Aligning the bottom edge: Match the bottom edge of the hat with the bottom edge of the fleece.
- Tracing around the hat: Use a marker or fabric pen to trace around the hat onto the fleece, marking lines about half an inch from the edge.
- Cutting the fleece: Carefully cut along the marked lines, creating a fleece lining that mirrors the shape of your hat.
- Applying adhesive: Use Liquid Stitch or Speed Sew to apply small dabs of adhesive around the cut edges of the fleece. If you have a sewing machine you absolutely can use this instead!
- Folding the fleece: Gently fold the fleece in half, aligning the cut edges, and press them together to create a hat-shaped lining. Leave it to dry for a few hours.
More Free Crochet Patterns
Free Crochet Resource Downloads
Sewing the Lining to the Hat
The final step is sewing the lining to your hat:
- Make sure the fleece is inside out: This exposes the side with your markings or the wrong side of the fabric.
- Fold hat in half and insert into lining: The right sides of the hat and lining will now be touching each other.
- Aligning the hat and the lining: Match the right sides of the hat and the fleece lining, ensuring that the bottom edges are aligned.
- Creating a stopping point: Determine where to stop sewing, leaving a small opening (but big enough to pull your hat through) to turn the hat right side out.
- Sewing the lining to the hat: Sew by hand. Use the bottom of the crochet stitch as a guide to make sure that the lining is sewn evenly around the hat.
- Flipping the hat: Carefully flip the hat right side out, tucking the lining inside.
- Sewing the opening shut: Close the opening, ensuring the stitches are as invisible as possible.
- Weaving in loose thread ends: To give your hat a polished look, weave in any loose thread ends from your sewing.
- Preventing lining from slipping: Sew a couple of stitches through both the lining and the top of the hat near the top and the sides of the brim to prevent the lining from slipping out.
FAQ
- Can any type of hat be lined with fleece?
Answer: Yes, you can line most types of hats with fleece, including crocheted, knitted, and sewn hats. The key is to choose a suitable lining material that complements the hat’s style and offers the desired level of warmth and comfort.
2. Can I use a sewing machine to attach the fleece lining to my hat?
Answer: Absolutely! Using a sewing machine is a great way to secure the fleece lining to your hat. It provides a durable and neat finish, ensuring that the lining stays in place. Although I do believe that hand sewing if you are lining a crochet or knit hat is the easiest way.
3. Can a hat be lined with satin fabric?
Answer: While fleece is an excellent choice for adding warmth to winter hats, satin is not typically used as a lining material for warmth. Satin is more often used for decorative and luxurious finishes, like lining the inside of formal or special occasion hats. If you’re looking to add warmth, it’s best to choose a more insulating material like fleece.
4. How do I choose the right type of fleece for hat lining?
Answer: When selecting fleece for hat lining, opt for a soft and warm fleece fabric. Anti-pill or microfleece works well, and you can choose from a variety of colors and patterns to match your hat’s style. Ensure that the fleece has a bit of stretch to make it easier to attach to your hat. I did a whole video on it – you can check it out here. https://www.prettydarnadorable.com/2018/01/12/choosing-the-best-fabric-to-line-your-hats/
5. Can I wash a hat with a fleece lining?
Answer: Most fleece materials are machine-washable, but it’s essential to check the care instructions for both the hat and the fleece. Generally, it’s best to hand wash or use a gentle cycle and cold water to maintain the integrity of the lining. Air drying or using a low-heat setting in the dryer is advisable to prevent any damage or shrinkage.
Looking for the perfect hat pattern? Checkout these free crochet patterns I think you will love!
With this easy method, you can give your crocheted or knitted winter hats the fleece lining they need to provide you with the extra warmth and comfort you deserve. Say goodbye to cold ears and hello to snug and stylish winter headwear. Your hats will be ready to tackle even the chilliest of days, making this DIY project a great addition to your winter crafting repertoire.
Want in on extra free crochet patterns, crochet labels, crochet planners and more? Just hit ‘yes i want in’ and join the over 7500 people enjoying these downloads and become part of the PDAFAM!
