Are you looking for a challenging project that will give you an immense amount of satisfaction? Then we have the Minu cap especially for you! The first-ever five-star difficulty pattern is a must-sew for anyone up for a good challenge . But don't be put off: after reading the tips in this blog and with the help of the Fibre Mood Academy video tutorial, your Minu will be ready in no time at all!
Before you start: what you need and what is good to know
Fabric
The first step is choosing an appropriate fabric. Caps these days come in a variety of fabrics, ranging from denim to velvet and twill cotton. So you have many options as long as it is woven (no stretch) and not too delicate. You can also fully customise the cap with fun details such as patches, embroidery or even contrasting stitching!
Boning
Bear in mind that you will need to cut the boning pieces to a specific length. There are different types of boning, such as spiral steel boning, transparent plastic or polyester boning. We recommend the polyester boning, as you can cut it to the desired length with scissors.
Brim
Some tips for constructing the brim:
The cap supplies suggest Vlieseline S133, which is a very strong adhesive interfacing that you can attach directly to your fabric and still stitch through by machine to achieve the distinctive decorative stitching on a cap.
Would you like to try something different or something even sturdier? Then you can search on Etsy for pre-shaped brims especially for making caps. We have seen them available in different designs and sizes. Attention!
- If you use these, you might need to adjust the pattern pieces to fit the one you bought.
- If you would like to have decorative stitching, it is best to do this on the fabric only before inserting the brim (in case you can’t stitch through the pre-shaped brim).
We also found sheets of plastic where you can cut out the shape of the flap and stitch through it, in which case you don't need to change the pattern pieces and can do the decorative stitching as described in the instructions.
A final good option would be to reuse the brim from an old cap you have already or find a second hand cap. Not expensive, and a bit sustainable!
Let's do this!
Now that you have your supplies, let’s get started … Here are some extra tips on some specific techniques you will need for the cap.
1. Sewing the bias tape
If you find it challenging to pin the bias tape in place because of the boning, try “wondertape”. This is a double-sided tape that you can use to stick the bias tape to the main fabric before sewing into place.
2. The buckle closure
The cap has a buckle closure with a strap that allows you to adjust the circumference of the cap. Is the strap too long and hangs too loose? You can solve this in two ways: fasten the end of the strap with a snap once you’ve decided how long the strap needs to be. Alternatively, embroider an eyelet through which you can slide the end of the strap (assuming the strap is long enough).
3. Button at the top of the cap
The finishing touch is the button at the top of the cap. For this, use a self covered button with a shank. Pull your thread well when sewing on your button to pull the shank deeper into the cap at the point where all the seams meet.
Still a little unsure? We’ve got you covered! For extra support, we have a full video tutorial at the Fibre Mood Academy where we show you step by step how to make the Fibre Mood Minu.
And now you're all set to get started with your Minu! Be sure to share your creations on our website under the 'Your creations' tab or share them on Instagram with #fibremood. We can't wait to see the results!
