How to Make a Witch Hat (with Pictures)

2024 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 09:13

Even if you are a novice artist, you can learn how to make a wizard hat for a costume or for play. Build one out of cardboard if you need something simple and easy to make, or opt for a fabric version if you want a more durable product.

Steps

Method 1 of 2: First Method: Paper Sorcerer's Hat

Step 1. Cut out a semicircle from a sheet of construction paper

Take a compass and draw a semicircle with a diameter between 23 and 30 cm, based on the size of the head of the person who will be wearing the hat. Place the tip of the compass about halfway along the longest side of the card and draw the semicircle.

• After drawing it, cut out the shape with scissors.

  

• The exact size of your hat should be based on the size of the wearer's head. If it is a small child, make sure that the radius is 23-25 cm. For an older kid, use a 28-30cm radius.

  

Step 2. Roll up the cardboard to form a cone

As you shape the cardboard, try to make sure that the bottom edge can rest against your work surface, so that it is perfectly flat. Join the two edges of the card with glue or double-sided tape.

If you use glue, you may also need to put a paper clip to hold the cardstock in place while the glue dries

Step 3. Cut some fringes at the base of the hat

Each fringe should be about 1cm long and 2.5cm apart from the closest one. Fold the fringes so that they are facing the outside of the cone.

You will need these fringes later to attach the brim of the hat to the conical part

Step 4. Draw a brim for your hat

Take a new construction paper and draw a line as long as the diameter of the base of your hat. Draw a circle around this line, and then draw another larger circle around the first one. Cut along the two circular lines, and use the ring thus obtained as the brim of the hat.

• Measure the inside diameter of your cone in several places. Use the smaller size as the diameter of your flap.

  

• When drawing the inner circle of the flap, place the tip of the compass halfway across the diameter line and open the compass to draw a circle that touches both ends of the line.

  

• After drawing the inner circle, open the compass so that the new radius is 7.5 cm larger than the previous one. Use the same center point and draw a new, larger circle around the inner one.

  

• After you have cut out the two circles you can discard the inner circle. The only thing you will need is the ring for your brim.

  

Step 5. Join the brim to your hat

Slip the flap into the cone and slide it to its base. Glue the flap to the fringes.

• The brim should be the right size to adhere to the fringes. However, if you are unable to slide it to the base of the hat, cut a small strip of cardboard from the ring in order to enlarge its diameter and try again. Repeat the operation until the flap comes into contact with the fringes.

  

• The easiest way to join the flap to the fringes is to use a little glue or double-sided tape on the ring.

  

Step 6. Cut out the decorations

If you have any ready-made stickers or decorations you want to use, skip this step. Otherwise, draw a few stars and crescents on a sheet of aluminum foil, then cut them out using a sharp pair of scissors.

• If you do not want to use aluminum foil you can use other cardboard. For an extra touch, you can embellish the card with some shimmer paint or glitter.

  

• You can also paint the decorations directly onto the hat instead of cutting out the shapes.

  

Step 7. Glue the decorations to the hat

Put a little glue on the back of each decoration and arrange them randomly on the cone.

Step 8. Put on the hat when dry

Once the glue has dried, the wizard hat is ready to be worn and flaunted in public.

Method 2 of 2: Second Method: Cloth Witch Hat

Step 1. Cut out a semicircle from a thermo-adhesive interlining

Decide how tall you want your hat to be. Insert a fabric pencil in a compass, open the compass to measure the height of the hat and draw a semicircle. Then cut it out with sharp scissors.

• Usually a hat that is 23-25cm tall is enough for small children, while older kids and adults will need a hat that is 28-30cm, if not taller.
• When drawing the circle, place the fixed point of the compass in the middle of the edge of the interlining. Then draw a semicircle starting from this point, using the edge as the diameter. As you can see, the semicircle will be twice as high as the hat.
• If you want to be sure you get a hat of a specific height, add 2.5 cm to that measurement for safety.

Step 2. Roll the fabric into a cone shape

Roll up the interlining so that a point is formed. Keep the base of the hat resting on the work surface to make sure it stays straight.

When the opening at the base of the hat is the right size for the head of the wearer, put some pins to hold it in place and try it on. If the measurement is not accurate, adjust the hat opening until you get a perfect fit

Step 3. Cut out the leftovers

Once you have the right size of the cone, cut out all the parts of excess fabric inside the body of the hat.

Remember to leave at least 2.5 cm of overlapping material to be able to close

Step 4. Transfer the shape to the fabric

Remove the pins and place the interlining on the fabric you want to use. Pin and cut out a shape identical to that of the interlining from the fabric.

• Make sure that the adhesive side of the interlining rests on the fabric while you cut out. The sticky side is usually the shiny side.

  

• Choose a type of fabric that you feel comfortable working with. Synthetic satin is cheap and has a traditional look, but the edges fray easily and you'll need to make a hem. Felt looks less traditional, but it is cheap and easy to handle as it does not fray.

  

Step 5. Iron the two pieces to join them

Join the interlining to the fabric using a low temperature iron. Make sure that the two pieces are firmly attached to each other.

• If you use a synthetic fabric, you will need to be very careful and set a very low temperature to prevent the fabric from melting.
• Read the interlining instructions carefully before trying to iron it. The procedure is usually the same, but sometimes slightly different steps may be required.

Step 6. Sew the sides

Roll the material back into a cone shape and pin to hold it in place. Hand sew the side of the cone using the back stitch.

• Alternatively, you can use hot glue instead of the seam.

  

• If you use a non-fraying fabric, such as felt, you don't need to worry about making a hem. If you are using fabric that tends to fray, make a hem about 1.5 cm before rolling it into a cone.

  

Step 7. Cut out a flap from the fabric and the interlining

Take the measurement of the base of your cone. Use a compass combined with a fabric pencil and draw a circle of the same diameter on a piece of interlining. Draw a second circle around the first that is 5-7 cm wider. Cut out both circles to make an interlining ring.

• Join the interlining to the fabric using pins, making sure to put the adhesive side on the fabric side. Cut out the fabric with the same shape.

  

• Remember to add 1.5 cm both inside and outside the circle if you use a material that frays, such as satin. This excess fabric will be used to sew a hem.

  

Step 8. Iron the two flap pieces to join them

Use a hot iron to melt the interlining to the fabric. Make sure the two pieces are firmly joined before proceeding.

Join the two pieces of the flap using the exact same procedure you used to join the two pieces of the cone

Step 9. Hem the flap, if necessary

If you are using a fraying material, fold the inside and outside edges back about 1.5 cm. Secure them with pins, and make a hem using the back stitch.

Skip this step if you are using felt or some other material that does not fray

Step 10. Cut out small fringes at the base of the hat

Take the conical body of the hat, and using well-sharpened scissors cut out small fringes of about 1.5 cm around the base, at a distance of 2.5 cm from each other.

Step 11. Join the brim to the base of the hat

Slip the brim into the hat so that the inner circle rests on the flaps at the base of the cone. Glue the two parts together or join them with a seam.

• You shouldn't need to hem the base of the cone, unless it has frayed a lot in the meantime. The stitching and glue should be sufficient to prevent future fraying.

  

• As you sew the brim to the hat, try to keep the stitches as flat as possible. Don't pull them too hard or the fabric will curl.

  

Step 12. Embellish the hat

At this point the basic structure of the hat is done, you just have to decorate it as you like. Some ideas could be:

• Cut out some stars and half moons from a yellow felt fabric and glue them to the hat.

  

• Use a ribbon to cover the seam of the hat, or use it to wrap the entire body of the hat in a spiral.

  

• Look for small patches, beads, or other decorations to glue or sew to the hat.

  

Step 13. Flaunt your wizard hat

After you are done decorating the hat, put it on and show it to everyone.