BEANIE BAG! the Hat That Transforms Into a Bag!!

We've all had a few times when we can't find our gloves or scarf before heading out the door. Maybe they've fallen out of our pockets or we've just misplaced them.

How many times have we sent the kids to school all bundled up only to have them come home with one glove and no scarf?

Well with this hat bag you'll never go looking again!

It's a hat that turns into a bag large enough to store your gloves, mittens, earmuffs & a scarf!  

Take you hat off when you get indoors, pull out the bottom and store ALL your winter items inside. 
Then use the draw string to hang your bag on the same hook or hanger where your coat is!  Next time your headed out
everything is ready to go and the bag turns back into a hat in seconds!

A Good idea? I thought so.

Step 1: Simple--SIMPLE Supply List

1 yard of fleece.  This will make two large adult hats.  It also  depends upon individual head measurements and the width of the                                          fleece you purchase, it mostly comes in 60'' widths.  I'll explain more on head measurements in the next step.
Scissors
Yard stick or ruler
1 yard of cording (approximately)
5 inches more or less of  trim, webbing, elastic, braiding (almost anything will do) this is for the "pull" loop in the bottom of the bag.
Machine & matching thread.
Pins
Scrap of thin weight fabric for casing, you can use the fleece but it makes the tossel bulkier.                            

Step 2: Getting the Measurements.

First take your head measurement at the widest part of the head usually above the eyebrow.  
Wrap a measuring tape around your head and where the end meets the tape that is your measurement in inches.
My head measures 23 1/2" then I added a 1/2" extra for the seam allowance which equals 24''.  Then since we will be cutting the hat out on the "fold" we divide the measurement in half and cut 12'' out from the fold, see the diagram above.

The length depends on how deep you want the hat to set on your head and the length of the tassel.  My hat measures 30" long.  I then have a nice fluffy tassel and a nice brim/cuff that I can turn up.
After you have made your first hat, it will be easier to adjust measurements for various sizes.

You will be folding your material with the salvage edge running from top to bottom, see the diagram above.  The salvage edge is the semi finished edge when you have the fleece cut off the bolt.

There will be extra material at the top ( 6")  that we will be using later and enough extra along the side to make another hat.

Step 3: Basic Pattern and Information

Listed below is the basic pattern and information needed to begin. (Last Photos)

After your material is cut, mine again is 12'' wide (doubled because it's on the fold) x 30'' long, you will open your cut fabric up so it measures 24'' wide x 36'' long since you only need to buy 1 yard=36''.

Now  fold your material in half so it is measuring 18'' long x 12'' wide.  Basically your folding in half the opposite way from cutting.
Photo one shows the fold.

STEPS:
1) Now measure and mark one inch running along the fold, & sew on this line. Photo 2, 3, & 4.
2) Next you will open up the fleece, laying flat.  You now have the sewn one inch piece creating a 'mountain" in the center
    of your fabric.  Photo 5.
3)  You will push this mountain fold to one side or the other, pin if necessary, and sew a straight stitch along the folded,edge                 which will stitch the mountain down to the fabric making a thick ridge running the entire length of the 48". Photos 6,7,8,& 9                 show various angles of this step.

Step 4: Cutting the Casing

Off one end of your fabric (36'' long side) you are going to cut off a 3'' strip which we will then use later.

Photo 1-- the 3'' cut off the end of the bag
Photo 2- cut a strip of material from any thin weight material you have, approximately 2'' wide and as long as your head measurement, mine is 24''.  You may use the fleece for this step but  it will make your tassel/drawstring area bulkier.

Step 5: Sewing the Casing in Place.

You will need to measure 3'' down on the top of your hat and mark Photo 1.
 Next you will place your casing onto the markings and pin in place. photo 2 & 3.
After you have sewn down both legenths of the casing you will have a tube in which to run your string. Photo 5 & 6.

Step 6: Sewing the Back Seam

With the casing sewn in place, fold fabric in half, making a tube.

Be sure to align the casing & the center mountain/ridge. Photos 1 & 2.

Pin to hold in place and sew the entire length EXCEPT for a small section on the casing where you can thread your string through.
Photo 3 & 4. Stop at the casing and back stitch to secure the thread, then skip over the casing, back stitch and continue sewing the rest of the length of the hat. you should now have a tube.

Photo 5 shows the orange marker in the unsewn area and the pencil is in the casing hole.

Step 7: Threading the Casing

Through one of the casing openings that you left unsewn in the back seam, thread your cord through and out the other side.
Using a large safety pin on the end of your cord you can push (caterpillar) it through the casing and out the other side.

Pin both sides of the cord in place so it does not pull out in the next step.

Turn your hat to the center front of the casing, here you will be cutting a small slit, through only the top piece of fabric, NOT the entire way through. 

Pull your cord out through the hole in front. while adjusting and repining the cords on the back at the casing openings.  What we are doing here is getting the cord out the front of the hat, mostly for decorative purposes. If you wish for your cord to be on the back side at the seam omit this step and do not cut a hole in the front of the casing.

Once you have the cord adjusted and just the 'tails'' are hanging out the back seam, turn your hat inside out and sew the seam, on the casing, where we previously left un-stitched.  This will close this small hole and catch the "tails" of the cord so it will not pull out and get lost!

Finally thread the cord through toggle and knot the ends so they don't pull through.  Now you can adust and tighten the top of your hat!

Step 8: Adding the Draw String Stopper

You can purchase drawstring stoppers or use one that you've salvaged off an old jacket.  I've reused one so the color would match.

Wrap both ends of your cord with tape to make a sort of point. While pushing down on the stopper, which opens a small hole, insert the string through and out the other side.

Remove the tape and tie a knot in each end so the will not pull out of the stopper.

Step 9: Getting Ready for the Bottom and Pull Cord.

Now that the back seam is sewn,  and your draw string in place, turn your hat rignt side out and stuff the bottom up into the the top of the hat, remember the top is the side with the casing  sewn on.

When folded into one another the unsewn edges will be equal.  With a ruler measure down to where the inside layer (which will be the bottom of the bag) falls just ABOVE the casing line.

Unfold bag and using your measurement, cut the bottom off.

Step 10: Adding the Pull Loop!

Turn the hat inside out, keeping the bottom edges even find the center point by folding it in half and mark with a pin.

Using your piece of elastic or whatever you've chosen, pin it to the bottom center of the bag,See Photo, and sew the entire length of the bag stitching the elastic in place and closing the bottom.

Reach down into the top and turn right side out like a pillow case.

Step 11: Finishing UP!!

The hat should be right side out at this point and the top of your hat is all up to your preferences.  you may choose to cut small fringe at the very top, or maybe longer fringe by cutting down almost to the casing.  If the top is too long or tall for your taste simply trim it down a little at a time. Photo 1.

Reaching down through the top fringe of you hat/bag you will grab the elastic pull at the bottom and bring it up through to the top of the fringe area. Photo 2.

With the extra scrap material you will need to cut several strips you can measure as Photo 3, to get a idea of the length. Cut  as many as you want, and tie around the loop as in the photos 6 & 7,  this helps fill out the tassel and also makes the pull loop easier to grasp on to and pull.

Step 12: How to Go From Bag to Beanie!

FROM HAT TO BAG
To turn the hat into a bag simply remove it from your head, loosen the draw string to open the top, and push the inside down.


FROM  BAG INTO HAT
To return the bag to a hat form remove any item inside, reach down into the bag, finding the pull loop with the tassels on, pull the loop up and out of the bag then tighten the draw strings around the elastic, adjust the mountain/ridge area along the brim  (that is why it was added, to help with exact re-assembly) and finished!

It's that SIMPLE!  If you like this project and would rather purchase a finished  "BEANIE BAG"  I have an etsy shop, TheYeomansHouse,  where you can custom order and purchase one of your own!!