How to Tighten Your Baseball Cap

If you have a baseball cap that is too big, don’t despair! You can easily tighten it at home with a few simple steps.

Materials

To tighten your baseball cap, you will need the following materials: a baseball cap, a pair of scissors, a needle and thread, and a piece of cardboard.

Needed: one baseball cap, scissors, thread and needle OR a sewing machine

You will need one baseball cap, scissors, thread and needle OR a sewing machine. If you are using a sewing machine, you will also need a straight pin.

Method One: Hand-Sewing

If you have a baseball cap that is too large, you can make it smaller by hand-sewing it. This is a simple process that anyone can do with a little bit of time and patience. All you need is a needle and thread and you can make your hat smaller in just a few minutes. Let’s get started.

Cut a horizontal slit along the band of the baseball cap, about an inch from the brim.

Open up the slit with your fingers and insert a needle and thread. Start sewing along the band, keeping your stitches close together. As you sew, gradually pull the thread tight. This will gather the fabric of the band and make it smaller. Keep sewing until you reach the end of the band. Knot your thread securely and trim any excess.

Thread a needle with a length of thread, and knot the end.

Thread a needle with a length of thread, and knot the end. You can use any type of thread, but a heavier thread will be more durable. If you’re using a contrast color thread, choose one that will show up well against the fabric of your cap.

Position the needle under the brim of the cap, and poke it up through the fabric. Bring it back down through the fabric about 1/4 inch (6 mm) away from where you first poked it through. This will form your first stitch.

Continue stitching around the brim of the cap, making sure to keep your stitches even and close together. When you reach the end of the brim, knot your thread to secure it in place.

Insert the needle through the underside of the band, and pull it through to the top.

This will be a running stitch. Make sure the needle is inserted through the fabric beneath the band, not through the top layer of the band itself. You don’t want the stitch to show on the top of the band.

Run the needle in and out along the length of the band, making sure to keep the stitches close together. If your stitches are too far apart, the band will be loose; if they’re too close together, the band will pucker.

When you reach the end of the band, insert the needle through both layers of fabric, then back through just the top layer. This will secure the end of your thread.

Continue sewing the band closed by inserting the needle through the band and pulling it through to the top, about a quarter-inch from the previous stitch.

Now that you’ve sewn one side of the band closed, it’s time to move on to the other side. Again, start by finding the center front of the band. Then, insert your needle through the band and pull it through to the top, about a quarter-inch from the previous stitch. Continue sewing the band closed in this manner, making sure to keep your stitches even and tight.

Knot the thread when the band is completely sewn shut.

Tug on the thread gently to make sure the knot is secure, then trim the excess thread. You’re all done!

Method Two: Sewing Machine

If you have access to a sewing machine, you can use it to tighten your baseball cap. This is a quick and easy method that anyone can do. All you need is a sewing machine and some thread. Start by stitching along the brim of the baseball cap, about 1/4 inch from the edge.

Cut a horizontal slit along the band of the baseball cap, about an inch from the brim.

Cut a horizontal slit along the band of the baseball cap, about an inch from the brim. This will allow you to insert the ribbon. If you want to make sure the ribbon doesn’t show, choose a ribbon that’s the same color as the cap.

Feed the ribbon through the slit, being careful not to make the slit too big. Tie a knot in the end of the ribbon to keep it from slipping through.

Sew the band shut using a sewing machine, starting at one end of the slit and sewing to the other.

If you have a sewing machine, this is the fastest and most secure method. You can use thread that matches the color of your hat or choose a contrasting color for a decorative effect. Start at one end of the slit and sew to the other, following the curve of the band as you go.

Trim any excess thread.

Trim any excess thread with a pair of scissors, then wear your baseball cap with the new smaller circumference. If your baseball cap is still too large, you can try Method One again with a smaller stitch length.