Patterns of the Past: Creating a Classic Newsboy Cap

I am a big fan of newsboy caps, which I think flatter my somewhat long and narrow face. I own an assortment of store-bought caps, but I have long wanted to sew my own: a good-quality newsboy cap made from Irish tweed or Italian wool can cost $100 or more.
A self-drafted newsboy cap
A few years back, I tried my hand at cap-making, using a thrift store newsboy I disassembled to draft a pattern. I traced the pieces—actually, just one of the eight crown panels, as I mistakenly believed that the crown consisted of identical panels—and did my best to construct the cap. The result, while attractive, wasn’t right. The hat was too pancake-shaped; the lining was too thick, which puffed up the pancake; and the inner band, just a piece of grosgrain ribbon, was too flimsy.
Start your 14-day FREE trial to access this story.
Start your FREE trial today and get instant access to this article plus access to all Threads Insider content.
Start Your Free TrialAlready an Insider? Log in
Get the latest including tips, techniques and special offers straight to your inbox.
In French millinery, we use a gros grain ribbon to form the inside band of a woman hat. It is the Haute Couture option. The gros grain is also steam shaped into a curve to fit the head better. The gros grain has quite a bit of give and can be shape very easily, especially if it is in cotton as per tradition.