How to Make a Seattle Sombrero

In 1985, an outdoor company based in rainy Seattle, Wash., invented a foldable, floatable rain hat called the Seattle Sombrero. With a wide, waterproof brim, comfortable lining and handy drawstrings, the Seattle Sombrero gained popularity among boaters, kayakers and hikers, in addition to appealing to residents of rainy cities. Make a Seattle Sombrero-style hat for protection from the rain by approximating the style and using waterproof material.

Things You'll Need

  • Rain hat pattern
  • 1/2 yard exterior waterproof fabric
  • 1/4 yard lining fabric (breathable quilting weight cotton)
  • 1/2 yard stiff interface (pellon craft fuse 808 or thin neoprene)
  • Straight pins
  • Scissors
  • Thread
  • Sewing machine
  • Hook and loop fastening tabs (Velcro)
  • 3 feet of chin cord
  • Cord lock
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut out the rain hat pattern. In order to prevent water from rolling off of the brim onto your neck, ensure that the brim of the hat pattern is at least 2 3/4 inches. Add additional width to the rim by cutting out additional paper and taping it to the existing pattern.

    • 2

      Fold the exterior waterproof fabric in half, length-wise. Place the rain hat pattern pieces on top of the folded fabric and pin. Cut out the fabric. Remove the pinned pattern pieces from the cut exterior fabric. Fold the 1/4 yard lining (breathable quilting weight cotton) in half, pin the pattern pieces, and cut, set aside.

    • 3

      Sew together the exterior fabric pieces to make the top of the hat. Place the top right sides of the pattern pieces together for the crown of the hat. Sew along the curved edges, leaving a half-inch seam allowance. Fold together the remaining pieces, following the pattern.

    • 4

      Sew together the interior lining fabric pieces. Place the completed lining inside the exterior fabric cup and secure with a stitch at the crown of the hat.

    • 5

      Iron interfacing to one of the rim pieces; if using thin neoprene, sew in to secure. Sew this rim piece to the other with a 1/2 inch seam allowance. Pin together the remaining side of the hat rim. Iron in the remaining piece of interface or pin in the remaining piece of neoprene. Sew the pieces together, leaving a 1/2 inch seam allowance.

    • 6

      Turn the rim right side up and place the exterior of the hat cup down onto the rim. Pin together, leaving a 4-inch space for maneuvering the sewing machine. Sew together the cup to the rim, giving a 1/4 inch seam allowance. Trim away the remaining fabric.

    • 7

      Turn hat right side out out through hole in seam. Feed the chin cord through the space and around the base of the crown. Use a seam ripper to gently pry open a hole on the other side of the hat to reinsert the cord through. Reinforce these holds by handstitching button-style reinforcement. Stitch the remaining space closed by hand.

    • 8

      Sew in the hook and loop fastening tabs on brim and dome to allow the sides of brim to be flipped up.