Best Fabric for Hats: 21 Options for Cap, Scrub Hat, Bucket
The many hat designs used for some special events make a person scratch their head in bewilderment as some of those designs are over the top.
There is a fabric to create the exterior portion of the hat and those fabrics are not always the same ones used for the interior portion. The best fabric to use is the one that fits the purpose, the weather, and the season.
To read about which specific fabrics are good for which specific hat design just continue to read our article. It has the information you want to know about so you can make the perfect hat for yourself and your family.
Fabric for Hats 101
What Fabric Are Hats Made Of?
This will depend on the type of hat you are making and its purpose. If the hat is for a fedora or a mature man’s hat then you want to go with felt. If you want a hat that is perfect for the farm or the back hill country then you may elect to use straw.
A touque for winter is best made from wool. That fabric helps keep anyone’s head nice and warm. Or if you want to emulate a historical figure you may go with coon skin or some other type of fur.
Then if you want to play sports, a hat made from cotton would suffice. There are a lot of hat fabric options and the material can come from denim, Horsehair, or a variation of the fabrics already mentioned in this section.
What Type of Fabric is Used For a Baseball Cap
You may be surprised to find out that at the beginning of baseball and for many decades thereafter, baseball caps made for the pro and minor leagues were made from wool. Although it can now be quite expensive, it was a manufacturer’s favorite fabric to use on baseball caps.
Today and in more recent times, polyester has replaced the wool and it is doubtful if anyone really noticed a difference. Next up is cotton. It has been used to make the sweatband and the logos on caps but there are some companies that make 100% cotton baseball caps.
There are minor fabrics like rubber, lycra, and nylon included but those fabrics are more for the stretch nature needed in baseball caps. One surprising development is that wood is often used in the bill of the cap.
Polyester Fabric Baseball Cap
This fabric option comes with many benefits when it is time to make a baseball cap. First, it blends well with other fabrics, especially if that other fabric is cotton. Second, polyester resists mold and mildew bacteria. It is a healthy fabric choice.
Third, not only does polyester insulate you from chilly weather, it allows your head to breathe at the same time. Fourth, polyester baseball caps hold their shape even after being washed in your machine.
Finally, polyester comes in many bright colors and is very durable. It will hold up through tough games. Oh, and it should not wrinkle nor be that expensive. Cost is always a concern where fabrics and sports are involved.
Best Fabric For Baseball Caps
This is probably a toss-up as both cotton and polyester present a strong case for being the best fabrics for baseball caps. Polyester has already stated its case in the previous section so this one will focus on the benefits of using cotton.
First, cotton is soft and comfortable. Your head should not hurt even if the game goes into extra innings. Second, cotton is very durable. That is a quality you always want in a baseball cap.
Third, it is a versatile fabric that allows you to do a lot of things to your cap without ruining the integrity of the fabric. The fabric allows you to dye it a different color if you want. Finally, cotton is also very absorbent, a quality that probably helps this fabric edge out polyester as being the best for baseball caps.
How To Cover a Baseball Cap With Fabric
Step 1. Get an old baseball cap and use a seam ripper to take it apart. You will use the old parts so be careful when you do this or you may be wasting your time and money.
Step 2. Make a pattern by tracing the old parts onto your new fabric. Add a 3/4 inch seam allowance and cut the pieces out.
Step 3. Trace the pattern on the interfacing if you are using that option. If not trace the pattern on the wrong side of your fabric of choice and cut them out. Make sure to do a left and right version of the cap pieces. Cut two pieces for your brim.
Step 4. Assemble the cap, finish the back, and add the closure. Once those are done you can add the brim Then the facing. If you want detailed instructions click here.
What Type of Fabric For Scrub Hats
The perfect fabric for those people with naturally curly hair would be a silky satin fabric. The traditional blue disposable scrub caps do come with fiberglass which is not good for you, your hair, or your scalp.
Not only do you get a comfortable fit, but you also have a wide selection of colors and designs to choose from. The next best fabric to use would be cotton. This is also a comfortable fabric that helps keep you cool.
You just have to design them to fit your head comfortably yet securely. Other than that your innovation and creativity can rule as there are some great colors and styles you can choose from so your scrub hat doesn't get lost in the crowd.
Being an individual in dress and hats help you stand out and lets people sit up and take notice of your talents.
How Much Fabric For a Scrub Hat
All you will need to make a scrub hat for an average-sized head is 1/3 of a yard. That measures out to be about 12 by 30 inches. Then you would need 8 1/2 by 11 inches of accent fabric and your average-sized scrub hat has all the fabric you will need.
If your hat size is below or above average you will have to make the appropriate fabric adjustments so you do not get caught with too little fabric. It is always okay to have too much fabric.
You will also need enough fabric for a 1/2 stretch band that secures the scrub hat to your head. After you have all of that, it is not that hard to put the scrub hat together. Just a little time and patience and the job should be done before you know it.
Best Fabric For a Bucket Hat
The best fabric for making a bucket hat probably would be polyester. That is because of all the benefits that polyester brings to that hat style. With its durability, your polyester bucket hat should last you a long time and through many fishing and hiking trips.
Then its resistance to mold and bacteria makes it the perfect fabric to use. Your head stays safe and you remain protected from those germs that could ruin your health. Next, your head will be insulated from the weather when you use polyester without losing any breathability.
Finally, this material is cheaper to buy and it should be wrinkle-free. These are all qualities that make polyester the top choice when you are making a bucket hat. If the color is important to you, polyester comes in a wide range of colors so you should be able to find your preference with ease.
How Much Fabric For a Bucket Hat
In making a bucket hat, you are going to need two different pieces of fabric. One is for the exterior and one is for the interior. So you are not buying fabric for one hat but 2 instead.
We would like to say you can get away with 1/3 of a yard but that may not be enough to make the 2 in 1 hat. Remember you always need to factor in more as mistakes happen or calculations could be off. The final count would be about 1/2 to 1 yard of material in total.
The material is cut in pieces and you have to double everything. If the exterior calls for two curved pieces 3 1/2 by 18 inches on the outside curve (12 inches on the inside curve) then you need to cut 4 pieces. 2 from each fabric you choose to work with. The same for the 8 inch top, you need 2 of these. And on it goes.
Best Fabric For Winter Hats
In this category, you actually have a choice of four very good fabrics to use when you are making a winter hat. The top choice of course is wool. This fabric helps keep your head nice and warm when those cool days threaten your outdoor activities.
Wool hats are found in numerous options and they go well with a lot of outfits for winter. For men, you would be looking at using wool felt. This is a non-woven cloth that cuts down on the breathability but keeps your head warm.
Leather is next and you know how durable that fabric is. It is also nice and thick so your head should not suffer when the temperature drops below normal. Finally, there is knit acrylic, a man-made fabric made with plastic.
Its yarn is good for a variety of winter hats including touques. You can knit or crochet this yarn into the perfect fashionable hat and make all eyes turn in your direction.
Best Fabric For Sun Hats
Like the fabrics for winter hats, you have some nice choices to work with when you want to create the perfect sun hat. Cotton may be the best choice as it is soft and comfortable on your head. Plus you can create unique designs that help you stand out in a crowd of sun tanners on the beach.
Next would be straw. It is used by farmworkers all over the world to keep the sun off their faces and head when working long hours in the cotton or rice fields, and so on. The only thing about using straw is that it may be uncomfortable to wear and the straw could break off rather easily.
You can try polyester and you know the benefits of using this fabric. It is more durable than straw but it is man-made and not a natural fiber. You won’t be seen as environmentally friendly when you use this material for your sun hat.
Bamboo is another sun favorite as it is strong, easy to work with, and makes you look great. It also brings a touch of the orient to your sun activities. Finally, there is linen. It is not the best but it is not the worst fabric you can use for a sun hat.
Some Final Words
Hats are an ideal choice for people to wear. Whether in or out of season or fashion hats help protect people with sensitive skin from the sun’s harsh glare. Protecting your skin from harm overrides the attitudes of those you do not like hats at all.
There was a time when almost all professional men wore hats. You were seen as a [pillar of the community, a man to be reckoned with and practical. Hats protect men from the rain and bad weather as well as send a message of their position in life.
Finding the best fabric for making a hat is not hard. There are lots to choose from, over 21 of them. Choosing the right one is all about season and purpose.
