Sixth Army Group

Tony Barton

This is really a very simple thing to do if you can use a needle and thread : and if you can't , get someone to show you , it really is very simple . This is a hand-sewing job : no use for a machine .

The Russian fleece cap , the Ushanka , was the incredibly characteristic winter wear of the Red Army soldier from 1942 to the present : so far the only ones offered in 1/6 , by DML , are much too big , because they have been lined and made of the wrong quality fabric , and really don't look very convincing at all .

What I'm trying to do here is show a simple way to make an " other ranks " version that looks convincing : all it really entails is sewing a cylinder of grey fleece , of a single thickness .

First find a suitably piece of grey fleece : this one was made from a scrap cut from a fleece jacket bought in a local charity shop : £3 ( $6), which is enough for about 50 hats ! Pale grey is best , but mid-grey and browny-greys will also do.

Cut out a rectangle that is going to be wide enough to go round your figure's head , and long enough to go down and up , if you follow me : I've used the old Kodak 35mm canister as a guide and former :

You can see the card template marked with the circumference of the dolly's head , with an allowance either end for the seam : the edge in between is shaped into four equal sized , right-angled flaps : these are going to be sewn together to form the top .

Wrap that around the canister and catch it together with the thread :

Then start sewing the four flaps together : remember the fleece is on the outside at this stage :

When the " cross " is finished it will look like this :

And you can sew the back seam down for about 12mm at the same time : all these seams are going to end up on the INSIDE of the cap .

Turn the cap inside out , with the seams you've done now inside , and replace on the canister : the remaining open seam is now turned outwards and sewn up : this is going to be hidden inside the fleecy turnup :

This cap is only of a single thickness : we are faking the fact that the originals had a fabric outer and a fleece lining . To give better illusion , I paint the outside a darker grey , using acrylics laid on fairly thick :

When it's dry it will look like this : I've trimmed back that outside seam to the absolute minimum :

Now to the fun bit : cutting it to shape : apply to the head of the victim :

And then cut two vertical slits as shown : these are going to make the face opening and the flap over the forehead , which on this one is 25mm wide:

Trim this flap to size and shape , and the side flaps to their curve :

Add the ties from suitable ribbon : some had a button and a loop :

And you can turn up the flaps , or leave them down as you prefer. The finished cap may need a little adjustment , and I can't guarantee absolute success on your first try , but I think they look a damn sight better than the commercial ones .

Word of advice : don't fit them too tight to start with : once they are sewn up they have a mysterious habit of coming out smaller

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Tuche · Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2007 11:23 am Post subject: Download Post

Thanks, for this great tutorial .

Dougmo · Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2007 2:16 pm Post subject: Download Post

Good one, Tony. You'd think that being so common this would be something one of the big companies would do really well...
Thanks for sharing your talents, Tony-