How to make a Shelby Cap

Guest review: Inge van der Meulen

Peaky Blinders and the Shelby Cap
Who doesn't remember Peaky Blinders, the immensely popular television series that aired a few years ago? The story is set in England in the 1920s and was widely watched. Rarely has a TV series influenced the street fashion to such an extent. Suddenly, you saw men with buzzed haircuts everywhere. Even now, you only need to look on the internet to see how the fashion style from that era continues to influence men's fashion to this day.

A distinctive part of this style is the oversized 'newsboy cap,' now also known as the 'Shelby cap.' A direct reference to the Shelby brothers who play a central role in the series.

The Shelby cap has also been discovered by women. Rightfully so, as it is a fashion accessory that not only keeps you warm and comfortable in the fall and winter but also adds a substantial amount of flair to your outfit, more than a beanie or a baseball cap ever will. Now, you could rush to the store to buy one, but why spend a lot of money on such a stylish cap when you can easily make one yourself.

Making Your Own
You don't need much for this project. Some fabric scraps, interfacing, lining fabric, and, of course, material to make a brim. It's easiest to use the brim from an old cap.
I made my own cap in a couple of evenings using scraps from the jacket I made earlier this spring. It's not difficult at all. You need to be somewhat precise, but with the help of the instructions in the accompanying video, it's hard to go wrong.

YouTube link to Instructional Video

The instructions in the video are clear and easy to follow, with all measurements clearly indicated. I used a sewing ruler (Prymm) to mark the curves, but you can also do it freehand if you're skilled at that. The pattern includes a seam allowance of 0.5 cm, and you can easily adjust it to your own size. Just be mindful that sewing a seam slightly too loose or too tight will directly affect the sizing. It doesn't hurt to measure regularly to ensure everything is still on track.

Tips for the Video:

• You can also create a topstitch with a twin needle.
• A zipper foot is handy for stitching the brim.
• The more flexible the plastic of the brim, the easier it is to work with.
• Prevent fabric layers from shifting by always sewing from center front to center back.

Good luck!