I’ve been wanting to recreate this look using some of my favorite Charm patterns, and now that we have a tutorial for a Santa Hat, it’s the perfect time!

Patterns Used

• Barbie Top Pattern
• Barbie Turtleneck Expansion Pattern
• Judy Vest Pattern
• Charm Circle Skirt Pattern
• Santa Hat tutorial

Fabrics & Supplies

• Barbie Turtleneck
  • Two colors (army green and olive green) of stretch knit ribbed fabric
• Judy Vest Pattern
  • This vest is from the Charm archive (which has now grown into the world’s best closet!). I think we made it from this black boiled wool blend.
• Charm Circle Skirt Pattern
  • This is from the archive, too. It’s in a basic black denim, but I think it would wonderful in wool felt or cotton twill, too.
• Santa Hat
  • Red velvet fabric – it’s polyester but feels and drapes like silk!
  • Ivory faux fur

It’s gorgeous, but I wanted something a bit simpler. My version calls for a full circle skirt and modified sweetheart neckline, hacked off of the Peggy Bodice.

The pattern pieces and instructions for this pattern hack are available to all patrons on Patreon as a gift for the holidays! I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season and a great start to a lovely new year!

Supplies Needed

• Lush red velveteen fabric
• Red lining fabric
• White faux fur fabric
• White lining fabric
• Polyfil (or extra faux fur fluff)
• Thread to match
• Pattern drafting or tracing paper
• Large French curve or curved ruler
• Straight ruler measuring at least 24 inches long
• Pencil or marker

Santa Hat Pattern Drafting

Begin by measuring the circumference of your head and the length that you want your Santa hat (from brim to pompom). For my hat, I wanted it to sit back on my head while wearing a vintage hairstyle, so I measured a circumference of about 26 inches (66 cm) and a length of 20 inches (50 cm)

Draw a line equal to the length of your hat (from brim to pompom) on your pattern drafting paper. I drew a line 20 inches long. From one end of your line, swing your ruler down and measure another 20-inch-long line. Do this a few times, to create a triangle shape, like below. The more lines you add, the easier the next step will be!

Use your curved ruler to smooth out the bottom edge of the triangle shape. Then, starting at one side of the curved edge, measure along the curved edge a length equal to your circumference measurement (about 26 inches in my case). You may need to add more straight lines to extend the sides of your triangle, or you may have already made it large enough. Once you have the correct circumference length measured along your curved edge, draw a line from that measurement to the point, creating the final shape of your hat.

Add a 5/8-inch (1.5 cm) seam allowance to all sides of the hat and cut out your pattern piece.

Fold the pattern piece in half. This will be the ultimate size of your hat, so you may want to try it on to see how it works!

And just like magic, your fold line becomes the fabric grainline. Mark it on your pattern piece (like we did here in green).

To draft the faux fur brim, lay the hat over a scrap of pattern making paper, and trace out the bottom edge. Trace up both straight sides a little ways.

We wanted our final brim to measure 2-1/2 inches (6.3 cm), so we added two 5/8-inch seam allowances (1-1/4 inch or 3.2 cm) to that measurement for a total of 3-3/4 inches (9.5 cm).

Using the lower edge as a guide, measure 3-3/4 inches up from the curved lower edge and draw the upper edge of your pattern piece. Your curved ruler will help!

Once you have the four sides of the brim pattern, draw in the sew line, 5/8 inches inside the outer edge of your pattern piece.

Cut out your pattern piece and fold in half as you did for the hat. Draw in your fabric grainline along the fold.

For the pompom, create a circle of fabric measuring about 7 inches in diameter.

And here’s your three final pattern pieces! Be sure to label them with the name of the pattern, today’s date, and your cutting instructions like we did below.

Santa Hat Construction

Cut out your pattern pieces following the cutting instructions in the image above.

Fold the hat right sides (RS) together, pin, and sew the vertical seam using red thread. Repeat for the hat lining, but leave an opening about 4 inches wide at the point.

Fold the faux fur brim RS together, pin, and sew the vertical seam using white thread. Repeat for the brim lining.

Pin the faux fur brim to the brim lining, RS together, and sew along the shorter curved edge. Grade your seams and turn the brim RS out.

Pin the brim to the hat, with the white lining (not the fur) next to the red velveteen. Turn the red lining inside-out and pin along the hat brim so the RS of the lining is facing the faux fur and red velveteen. You’re sandwiching the brim inside the lining and the red velveteen.

Stitch completely around the hat opening. Grade the seams, and using the opening in the lining, turn the hat RS out.

Slipstitch the opening in the lining closed (by hand, or just edge stitch the opening with your machine).

To make the pompom, sew a line of long gathering stitches around the outside of the circle by hand. Place polyfil or a scrap of faux fur inside the circle, and pull up your gathering stitches to enclose it inside the pompom. Tie off your gathering threads to secure. Attach the pompom to the point of the hat by handsewing through all layers of the hat at the tip.

Enjoy your new Santa Hat!

Recently, as a break from spending time in the studio, we all took a trip to our local craft store and browsed the aisles for fun and festive supplies. We gathered a pile of our favorites and took them back to the studio for some play time.

I wanted a simple vintage-inspired corsage that could spice up my Santa Baby holiday outfit, but this tutorial works equally well to create a hair flower, wrist corsage, or even a small broach. I used this vintage corsage from my collection as my inspiration.

Resources

• 3/8 in wide ribbon
• 1/2 in wide green floral tape
• floral or craft wire
• pin bar backing (for a corsage or small broach) or a metal hair clip or comb (for a hair flower)
• faux greenery sprigs
• decorations: pine cones, mini ornaments/bells, and berries (these are sold at craft stores on sticks, and can be cut off individually with wire cutters)
• hot glue gun

Corsage Construction

There’s honestly no right or wrong way to do this! I suggest first looking on Pinterest or elsewhere for a shape, size, and style of corsage or hair flower that you want to use as inspiration.

Cut your greenery and items to size and play with the number and placement of the decorations. Shape your ribbon into a pretty bow or floof, if desired. Use the craft wire and/or the hot glue gun to assemble the decorations.

Once you are happy with the general design, use the floral tape, craft wire, and hot glue gun as needed to hold everything together. If you want a stem on your corsage (as in the image below), then wrap the ends of your greenery and wire in green floral tape.

When everything is beautiful and secure, use the hot glue gun to add the corsage bar pin or hair clip to the back.

Happy holidays from Charm Patterns!

Resources

• Landis Bodice pattern (available to all Charm patrons)
• Scarlet red lush velveteen
• White faux fur
• Holiday corsage (tutorial available)
• Santa Hat (tutorial available)

Santa Baby Dress Construction

This one is easy-peasy and doesn’t require any pattern alterations. Sew the strapless Landis Bodice in red velveteen with a white faux fur band. Add a free Charm Circle Skirt (or any Lamour-series skirt of your choice) and trim the hem with more white faux fur.

Before sewing with faux fur, you’ll want to prepare your tools and your space. (There’s a great article with tips in the Fall 2023 issue of Vintage by Gertie magazine). Cut the fabric backing only (not the fur!) with sharp scissors when cutting out your fabric pieces, and be sure to wear a mask while sewing. You’ll want to have a vacuum handy, too. Those faux fur fibers will get everywhere!

The holiday stockings are sewn in rich midnight blue velveteen, while the scalloped cuff is cut in a single layer of ivory wool felt. To make the stockings feel really personal, I created the names by hand writing them on my iPad and then cutting them out of felt on my Cricut. (See the video below for how I did it, but you could also use a font like Hello Linnea for a similar look). Then I stitched on little rhinestone snowflake charms for some sparkle.

If you don’t have a craft cutting machine like a Cricut, you can use very sharp embroidery scissors to cut out your appliqués, or embroider the names using ribbon or embroidery thread.

Resources

• Holiday Stocking PDF sewing pattern and instructions
• Navy blue velveteen fabric, or fabric of your choice
• White boiled wool or felt fabric
• Green felt fabric
• Thread to match
• Silver snowflake charms

We are excited to share the Charm Patterns appliquéd Hanukkah Skirt with you! Created in partnership with Rachel Petterson from Pigs in Pajamas, this lovely circle skirt will have you celebrating the holiday in style!

Resources

• Hanukkah Skirt appliqué files in SVG format (for your craft cutting machine) or PDF format (to cut with scissors)
• Stanwyck Circle Skirt pattern (or any circle skirt pattern of your choice)

We recommend following the instructions for the Modern June Cleaver Holiday Skirt pattern to apply the appliques. Of course, you can use any applique method you prefer!

Our Guest Designer

Rachel Petterson is the wonder behind the sewing blog Pigs in Pajamas and a Charm Inner Circle patron. She helped to design the appliqué icons found on the Hanukkah Skirt. We’re so grateful she took the time to educate the Charm team about this Jewish holiday and her traditions! In addition to her blog, her sewing and crafting adventures can be found on Instagram @pigsinpajamas.

Make it in a faux fur like we did here, or play around with any warm-and-stable fabric like flannel, velvet, or fleece.

Resources

• Free detachable Peggy Collar pattern
• Faux fur fabric
• Lining fabric. We used some basic cotton from our stash.
• Ribbon for the collar ties and the muff
• Fusible interfacing
• Poly-fil batting to stuff your muff

Working with Faux Fur

• Faux fur has a nap, which is the direction the fur lays (just like on a real animal). Mark the nap on the back of the fur before cutting, and align the nap in the same direction on your pattern pieces. (Generally, you’ll want the nap running vertically, from your head to your toes.)
• Cutting the fur can be very messy, so you may want to wear a mask. Use small snips of your scissors to just cut the backing, trying not to cut the fur itself. Keep a lint roller on hand to pick up the loose fur, which will get everywhere!
• Try using a walking foot if your fur is very thick. You may need to increase your stitch length as well.
• After sewing a seam, use a pin or small knitting needle on the right side of the fabric to pull out the fur that is caught in the stitching. Trim your seam allowances, and trim the seam allowance’s fur as close to the backing as possible. This will help reduce the bulk in your seams.

Collar Instructions

Follow the instructions on the free Peggy Collar pattern as written. I used faux fur for the collar and cotton lining fabric (with fusible interfacing applied to the wrong side) for the underside.

Muff Instructions

Cut the following:

• a rectangle of faux fur, 13 inches by 19 inches
• a rectangle of lining, 12-1/2 inches by 19 inches
• a rectangle of fusible interfacing, 12-1/2 inches by 19 inches

Sewing instructions:

• Apply fusible interfacing to the wrong side of the lining fabric
• Baste the wrong side of the ribbon to the right side of the lining, approximately 5 inches from one short edge of the rectangle.

• Press the short edges of the lining 5/8-inches to the wrong side.
• Pin the long edges of the faux fur to the lining, right sides together, with the ribbon sandwiched inside. Stitch, starting and stopping 5/8 inches from the edge. Grade the seams. Turn muff right sides out.

• Pin the short edges of the faux fur right sides together. Stitch, being careful not to catch ribbon or lining in your seam.

• Fill your muff with poly-fil stuffing until you reach your desired fullness.
• Pin lining to itself, being careful not to catch poly-fil or outer fabric. Whip stitch closed by hand.
• Turn muff right side out and bask in the cozy warmth.

Inspired by Mary Poppins during the carousel scene, this outfit is perfect for a trip to Dapper Day in Florida or warm-weather winter holidays (for our Southern-hemisphere sewists). Of course, you could easily make it cozier with the addition of tights and a Princess Coat!

Fabric & Supplies

• The Patsy Blouse pattern
• The free Janet Jabot pattern
• The Waspie Corset Belt pattern (available to Patreon subscribers)
• Pink and white candy cane border print fabric from Spoonflower in poly chiffon for the blouse and skirt
• Red silk taffeta, red coutil, and white bone casing for the Waspie Corset Belt
• White cotton sateen for the skirt lining (although any white lining fabric will do)
• Red ribbon for the bow (see our bow pin tutorial here!)
• Straw boater hat with red ribbon band (I pinned a poinsettia hair flower to mine for extra festive vibes)
• All other supplies listed in the above patterns

Pattern Alterations

• There were no special pattern alterations. Easy peasy!
• I sewed the Patsy Blouse with balloon sleeves and a band collar, and added the free Janet Jabot pattern during assembly following the jabot instructions.
• The skirt is 4-1/2 yards of fabric, hemmed 6 inches past the bottom of the candy canes. The finished skirt length is 28 inches (I’m 5’6″ tall), and I used the waistband from the free Charm Circle Skirt.

Sewing Instructions

• Sew the Patsy Blouse as instructed, adding the Janet Jabot during assembly. Make a ribbon bow and pin to the center front of the blouse at the collar.
• Sew a gathered skirt using the waistband of the free Charm Circle Skirt. Since our poly chiffon fabric was see-through, we lined the skirt. If your fabric is opaque, lining the skirt is optional.
• Sew the Waspie Corset Belt as instructed, with one exception: for the four boning channels on either side of center front, sew exterior white boning channels (rather than sandwiching the bones between the corset layers as instructed).

Enjoy your Jolly Holiday in this festive look!

I wore this lovely combo during my Christmas-time Dapper Day adventure to the Disney parks in Orlando, Florida where I met so many beautiful Charm fans!

Fabric & Supplies

• The Lana Dress pattern
• The Dorothy Bolero pattern
• Black velvet fabric. I took mine from the studio’s stash, but any stable velvet will do. I prefer cotton velvet for sturdiness and ease of sewing.
• Red plaid fabric. Mine is a polyester plaid taffeta with metallic threads and came from Fabric Specialties on Etsy.
• All other supplies listed in the Lana Dress & Dorothy Bolero patterns
• I pinned a poinsettia hair flower to my bolero
• Mickey Mouse ears optional! ????

Pattern Alterations

• None! I sewed the Lana Dress with the Basque-waist option and the Dorothy Bolero with the wing collar. I made a slight adjustment to the usual recommended fabrics by cutting the midriff and outer petal in a contrasting fabric to the rest of the dress (rather than just contrasting the inner bra and/or petal like in the Lana samples in the pattern photos!)

Sewing Instructions

• Sew the Lana Dress as instructed. I used the red plaid for the skirt, inner bra unit, and petal lining. The black velvet was used on the outer bra unit and midriff.
• Sew the Dorothy Bolero as instructed. I used the black velvet for the main fabric and the red plaid for the facings, although you could fully line Dorothy in the plaid (just follow the instructions in the booklet).

Enjoy the holidays in style in your lovely Charm ensemble!