"It's a Me, Mario!" he yelled, as he ran across the living room. It was his favorite quote and to this day we can hear him say it.
Who is that, you ask? Our oldest son, Turner. He passed away in 2022. It has been one of the hardest things I've ever had to bear. But we've found, cherishing what he loved is helping us heal.
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That being said, Turner LOVED Mario. Everything Mario. From games, to books and comics, to stuffed animals, stickers and toys. If it had Mario on it, he was a fan.
It all started when he was 2 years old and he never looked back. Naturally, over the years we had to figure out how to get him Mario gear because it wasn't readily available in the U.S.
We ordered from overseas or would spend months looking in stores for stuffed animals. Mom resorted to creating her own Mario t-shirts (or Princess Peach for sister).
So in 2012 when he asked to be Mario for Halloween, we had to get creative. That's when this DIY Mario Hat (and subsequent Luigi hat) was born.
Yes, I am saying that this pattern started 10 years ago!! It has been on the list to share that long. But now, in honor of our sweet angel boy, you are getting it today!!
We hope your little ones, or even those grown up ones, will get as much joy out of it as our sweet boy did his caps. They are mess, pilling, and worn down with age, but we wouldn't have it any other way.
DIY Mario Hat Tutorial
Materials Needed
- Super Bros Cap pattern pieces - get at the end of the post, look for the peach colored button
- 1/2 yard red or green felt
- 1/2 yard cotton lining fabric
- White felt - scrap piece
- Matching Thread
- Optional: 4" of 1/4" elastic
This is a one sizes fits all pattern. It should fit heads sizes 20-22". The optional elastic can help tighten the cap if needed for small heads.
Print out the pattern (get at end of post). Cut out pattern pieces. Cut 6 felt cap pieces, 6 lining pieces, 2 cap brim pieces and one white logo piece.
Cut out the letter in the center of the logo pattern, either the M or the L.
Trace the letter to the wrong side of the white felt logo piece. The "L" needs to be backwards. This way the fabric marker is on the wrong side of the fabric when sewing and can't be seen.
Cut the letter out of the felt.
Place the logo about 1.5" from the bottom edge of one of the cap felt pieces. It should be centered. Stitch around the letter and the outside circle.
Place 2 cap top pieces with RST and stitch down one side of the curve. Repeat with other pieces of the felt cap and for the lining pieces.
Open the cap felt pieces and place them with RST and stitch along one side. Repeat with lining pieces.
Open the cap felt pieces and place them with RST and stitch along the top curve. Repeat with lining pieces.
Place the two cap brim pieces with right sides together (RST). Stitch at 1/4" around the curved edge of the brim.
Turn brim right side out and finger press the seam.
With RST, match the brim edge to the raw edge of the front of the hat. The logo should be centered over the brim.
Stitch the brim to the cap.
With RST, place the felt cap inside of the lining. Match all the seams and pin. Mark a 3" opening on the back of the cap to allow for turning later.
Turn the cap right side out through the hole in the back of the cap. Press. Stitch the opening closed.
Optional: If the cap seems a bit big, stretch the elastic along the inside of the back of the cap and stitch it down. This will add a gather that helps keep the hat from falling off.
That's it! Now you have your own diy Mario hat that you can add to a costume, wear to your next family adventure or just enjoy playing around the house.
Your sweet boy looked so happy with these hats. Thank you for sharing his memory with us. Many hugs xx
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry for your loss of a very special boy he looks such a Happy Boy to be the model of his hats and looks good in both of them I will try and make his hat I’m new to sewing
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