Scrap-busting fabric crowns

I saw a reel over on Instagram, about how to make fabric crowns from deadstock waxed cotton. Frustratingly, I can’t find the actual reel any more, but if you have basic sewing skills you can work it out yourself fairly easily. The poster suggested using waxed cotton because it’s stiff and will stand up in that distinctive pointed crown shape. It was a few weeks before Christmas I saw this and thought it would be a great idea for kids for the holiday season.

This is a short-but-sweet post, because there’s not a huge amount to say about this simple project! I made myself a half-crown template (folded in half lengthwise) to cut out my fabric on the fold of the fabric. The ties were placed along the short edge, facing in to the middle of the length. I placed my lining fabric (white cotton from my stash) and remnant upholstery fabric right sides together, with the ties sandwiched in the middle. I also used a piece of sail cloth, leftover from one of my Sierra totes, as a piece of sewn-in interfacing, to add that stiffness suggested.

The ties were from some old pyjama bottoms, long since relegated to the textile recycling. I left a gap along the lower edge, to fold the crown the right way out, once I’d cut all my corners to produce those points. I then topstitched the long edge, to close the gap.

I made 3 of these for my pal with 3 kids. Seems appropriate for Christmas, to be making 3 crowns. You could make these any time of year though, for the dressing-up box or as favours for a kids birthday. It’s a great little scrap-buster and perfect for featuring a small piece of special fabric. If you were really inspired, I could imagine adding buttons and beads as embellishments, really lean into the crown aesthetic!