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How to Make a Beret (FREE French Beret Hat Pattern + VIDEO)

Do you know what will never go out of fashion? French berets. They were popular 30 years ago and they are still popular today because they are so stylish and fashionable! The only problem with them is that you can find only the expensive ones or the low-quality ones. That’s why I decided to sew my own DIY beret at home! Why not put my skills to use, right?

The first time I tried to make it, I thought it would be difficult and complicated. Turns out, it’s easy, fun, and doesn’t even take all that long. In fact, a sewing beginner could finish this project easily as well!

DIY beret hat

Now get your pretty head ready for a new hat because I’m about to show you how to make a beret!

Read on for my step by step french beret tutorial with VIDEO instructions for all the visual learners.

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How to make a beret out of felt

Supplies and tools

diy beret hat pattern and all supplies for sewing a beret hat

DOWNLOAD: beret sewing pattern (Free PDF file)

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How to Sew a Beret Hat

Watch the diy beret hat video first and then follow the written step by step instructions below.
Please enjoy and don’t forget to Like and SUBSCRIBE over on YouTube to be kept up to date with new videos as they come out.

DIY BERRET VIDEO TUTORIAL

INSTRUCTIONS:

STEP 1: Prepare the beret hat pattern

This french beret pattern or baret pattern consists of two parts. One for the main body, and the other for the bottom of the beret. When you put those two together, you get the final pattern.

beret sewing pattern placed on fabric

NO PRINTER? Here’s how to make your own beret pattern

If you don’t have a printer, or you’ve run out of ink, you still can make this beret hat. Either zoom our beret sewing pattern to 100% and trace it from your monitor using a SOFT TIP pencil, or make your own pattern.

Start by drawing out a circle with a diameter of approximately 12 inches, on a piece of paper. Then cut that circle out and cut it in half along the diagonal. The first piece will be your beret sewing pattern upper piece. You will need to cut out an opening in the second paper piece to make the lower (bottom) section of the pattern.

To make the bottom section of the beret pattern, first, measure out your head circumference. Then take that number and divide it by 3.14. The number you get will be the diameter of the bottom circle.

Draw the circle onto the second beret pattern piece and cut it out. Your finished pattern should look like a ring or a small hoop.

STEP 2: Cut out the fabric

Fold the fabric in half and place the beret sewing pattern on the fold.

Use the beret pattern pieces to cut out two pieces out of the main fabric and two pieces out of lining. From each fabric cut one piece according to the upper section, and one according to the lower section pattern.

diy french beret cut fabrics - all 4 pieces of lining and outer fabric

TIP: As with any other sewing project, don’t forget to treat the fabrics before using them! Wash them thoroughly and press them flat. That way, you’ll prevent it from deforming later on when your project is complete. No one likes a disfigured beret!

STEP 3: Assemble the main body and the lining

Take the two pieces of main fabric and place them on each other with their right sides facing one another. Align the edges and pin the two together.

Pinned berret fabrics

Sew all around them with a quarter-inch seam allowance.

Do the same thing with the two lining pieces.

Turn both pieces right sides out and press the seams flat with your iron. Be careful about the heat settings, you’ll be dealing with materials that are sensitive to too much heat!

TIP: Test your heat setting on a small scrap of fabric

STEP 4: (Optional) Make a stem

You can learn how to sew a beret without this step just fine. But it adds a bit more originality to your finished beret, so I suggest you don’t skip it.

Cut a small strap of felt for the stem. It should be  around two inches long and a quarter inch wide.

Fold it so that it forms a loop. Use a needle and a thread and sew the two ends together by hand.

Now just sew it onto the center of the beret main fabric, on the right side.

attaching stem to the beret

To find the center, fold the fabric in half and then fold it in half one more time. The tip of the cone you’ll get is the middle of the entire circle. Mark it with sewist chalk or a piece of a dry bar of soap. When you unfold the entire thing, you’ll have a mark on the center.

Making of the diy french beret folding in quarters to find the center and attach loop

STEP 5: Assemble the beret

Trim the seam allowance on the inner circle of the lining by 1/4 ” (6mm) to prevent the lining from peeking out. This allows for a turn of cloth from the main fabric and is definitely I step I strongly advise you not to miss. I’ve made a beret without trimming the lining but I just couldn’t keep the lining from showing, so I ended up topstitching around the inner circle.

Cut small notches all around the outer curve on both pieces of fabric. Keep the cuts about half an inch apart.Small nothces around the perimeter of the beret

Put the main fabric piece into the lining piece with their right sides together. Align the edges and pin everything in place.

how to make a beret guide showing the stitching line

STEP 6: Sew the lining and the main fabric together

Sew the main and lining together with a quarter-inch seam allowance. Leave a section of about 2-3 inches unstitched to turn the beret inside out in the next step.

making of the french beret - sewing lining to the felt

STEP 7: Turn the beret around and close the opening

Turn the beret inside-out through the opening you left.

Use a needle and a thread to close the opening shut using either a slip stitch or a ladder stitch.

hand stiching the gap of the beret hat

STEP 6: Finish the French beret

Press your seams flat. Give the whole thing a good press.

final pressing of the french beret hat

(optional) If the lining is still peeking out, you can topstitch along the inner circle as well.

And that’s how to make a berret! Now dress up and show the world your new french beret hat!

 

Did you use my beret sewing pattern to make yourself a French berre? How did it fit you?

Was the tutorial useful and fun? Now that you know how to make a beret out of felt, try making a few for your fashionable friends or family members! It’s a great idea for a handmade Christmas present, right? They’ll surely love the gift! Have fun wearing your new French beret!

 

Do you like this DIY beret hat tutorial? Pin for later:

DIY French Beret pattern and tutorial by HelloSewing

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Click Here to Leave a Comment Below 16 comments
Emma Peach - December 8, 2020

Great tutorial! I really want to give this a try! Thanks for linking up!

Emma xxx
https://www.style-splash.com

Reply
Jennifer Dynys - December 9, 2020

So pretty! It looks lovely on you! Thank you for sharing this how-to at Embracing Home and Family!

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Sarita - December 16, 2020

Too cute! I’ll have to try making one of these with my girls. Thanks for sharing at The Homestead Blog Hop.

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Shelbee on the Edge - December 16, 2020

Such a wonderful tutorial! I love berets and want one in every color! Thanks for sharing with me and linking up.

Shelbee
http://www.shelbeeontheedge.com

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Alexandra - December 17, 2020

So happy I found this! Pinned to try later.

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Lynn@DIY Barbie Blog - January 4, 2021

I wanted to say thank you, I adapted the pattern for Barbie-so cute!

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    Helen - January 5, 2021

    That Barbie hat turned out so cute! Thanks for sharing and linking up with me!

    Reply
Kathleen Poole - January 29, 2021

I like the generous size of the beret. Good job.

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Spirit - June 3, 2021

Love it!

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Margaret - November 13, 2022

How do I make the beret a little smaller? I am not a very experienced seamstress!

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    Helen - November 16, 2022

    you can cut it on the seam line instead on the cut line and again use 1/4″ seam allowance

    Reply
Margaret - November 17, 2022

Thanks! I was made a beret for my niece’s doll and she LOVED it.

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Myrrhlynn - November 17, 2022

I tried to download the pdf, but the link just led to a blank page. Where is the pattern?

Reply
    Helen - November 19, 2022

    clear your cookies or try another device/browser

    Reply
Davinia - January 14, 2023

Thank you for this! I love it and it looks great. Curious what are the clips you are using to hold your pattern in place? I think I would prefer this over pins.

Reply
    Helen - January 14, 2023

    These are sewing clips. I’ve links some of my favorite at the supplies and tools section

    Reply

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