Making a top hat may seem difficult, but a little material and a couple of hours are enough to make a simple one that lasts long enough. Read on to find out how.
Steps
Method 1 of 5: Prepare the Pieces
Step 1. Choose the material
The material traditionally used to make top hats is no longer manufactured, but there are many alternatives to choose from. When choosing the material try to orient yourself towards one that is quite stiff and heavy. A light material will produce a fluffy hat.
- Craft felt is an excellent option. Easy to find, inexpensive, easy to work with and comes in a variety of colors. Fleece and thick wool are other options.
- Fosshape, rigid canvas, and plastic canvases may be harder to find, and more expensive, but they tend to be stiffer and can give better results once the job is done. If you don't find them in the color you want, you can always color them later.
Step 2. Cut the brim pieces
You will need to cut two round pieces of equal size. The largest diameter will be about 38cm.
The pieces will be stacked and sewn together to create a double layer. In this way the brim will be more rigid and will give more support, while using one piece alone it will not be rigid enough
Step 3. Cut the pieces of the “cylinder”
By "cylinder" we mean the raised central part which is the hallmark of this type of hat. You will need two rectangular pieces of equal size. The length should be approximately 16.5cm and the width approximately 61cm.
- Like the brim, this part will also be made of a double layer of fabric with the aim of obtaining greater support. Without the double layer the hat will sag or fold in on itself when worn.
- If you want to make it a more playful version you can cut different colored pieces to make this part of the hat. You will then need to sew them together lengthwise until you have a single piece of 16.5 cm.
Step 4. Cut the top piece
You will need a single circular piece with a diameter of about 20 cm.
Unlike the brim and the center piece, the top does not require a particular structure, so only one piece of fabric is enough. If you don't like it you can always add a second layer of the same size as you did for the other parts of the hat
Method 2 of 5: Making the Brim
Step 1. Stack the brim pieces
Put the two pieces on top of each other, the right side inside and the reverse side outside and pin.
When you insert pins, slide them on both sides around the shared edge. You will need enough pins to keep the two layers from moving along the edge as this is where you will need to start sewing
Step 2. Draw a circle in the center of the brim pieces
Use a fabric pencil or chalk to sketch a smaller circle in the center of the larger one used for the brim. This smaller circle will need to be the size of your head.
- This circle will be the opening where you can put your head, which is why it must have the right size. Use a tape measure to measure the circumference of your head and make the circle coincide with the center of the brim.
- Usually the inner circle has a diameter of about 15 cm.
Step 3. Sew the brim pieces
Use a sewing machine or needle and thread and sew around the outer edge of the pieces and leave a seam allowance of about 3mm.
- Do not sew around the edge of the inner circle (not yet).
- Once finished you should have some sort of hard drive with a circle drawn in the center.
- While sewing or when you're done, remove the pins.
Step 4. Remove the center of the brim
Use scissors to cut only the circle in the center of the brim. Cut from the inside of the circle and not along the outside.
If you find it hard to hold the pieces and prevent them from moving, you can work around this by pointing pins along the outside of the circle you drew before cutting. This will limit the movement of the pieces of fabric
Step 5. Reverse the brim
Flip the brim pinwheel across the circle you cut out in the center.
If possible use an iron so that the material is easier to work with
Step 6. Sew the rest of the brim
Sew the central opening using a sewing machine or needle and thread and leave a seam allowance of about 6 mm.
As before, if you see that the fabric around the center continues to move, pin it
Method 3 of 5: Making the Cylinder
Step 1. Stack the cylinder pieces
Put the pieces on top of each other, the right sides inside and the back sides outside and pin.
You need to pin all four sides of the rectangle, and place them as close to the edge as possible to prevent the edges from loosening as you sew
Step 2. Sew the pieces
Sew around the four sides of the stacked pieces to create a two-layered piece to work on.
Leave a seam allowance of approximately 3mm
Step 3. Form the cylinder
Slightly fold the cylinder in half across the width and pin the ends. Sew along the edges using a sewing machine or needle and thread.
- Do not iron or crease the fold. This part of the hat should be round and not flat.
- The seam allowance varies depending on the size of your head. The portion of fabric leading to the edge should have half the diameter of the opening of the brim, and once this part of the cylinder is unfolded it should have the same size as the opening of the brim.
Step 4. Open
Open the fold of the cylinder and shape it with your fingers so that it takes on a rounded shape.
If it is creased on the side you folded before and you can't fix it with your fingers, you can try placing the cylinder on a round vase, lamp or similar object to give it the rounded shape. Eliminate creasing by using the steam from your iron
Method 4 of 5: Assemble the Hat
Step 1. Put the cylinder on top or the “lid”
Put the lid upside down on the work surface and put the reverse side of the cylinder on top. Pin some pins.
Pin close to the edge to keep the pieces from moving
Step 2. Sew
Sew the cylinder to the lid using a sewing machine or needle and thread, and leave a seam allowance of about 3mm.
Turn the barrel and lid by pulling the straight side out once the two pieces are joined
Step 3. Align the cylinder with the brim
Push the bottom edge slightly through the hole you cut in the brim leaving 3 to 6mm of fabric under the brim. Pin some pins.
The pins should be placed on the part of the fabric that protrudes under the brim and should be placed as close as possible to the edge
Step 4. Sew
Sew the part of the fabric that protrudes to the bottom of the brim using a sewing machine or needle and thread.
The seam allowance should be approximately 3mm
Method 5 of 5: Finishes
Step 1. Eliminate excess material
Any excess fabric part inside the brim or cylinder must be eliminated with scissors.
This is not a strictly necessary part as it will still be hidden, but the result could be a more comfortable hat to wear
Step 2. Decorate the hat as you like
You can leave the hat as it is, or add decorative elements and personalize it and make it usable for a costume.
- If you use it as a disguise, study the character you are trying to imitate and decorate the hat accordingly.
- If you want your top hat to have a more “classic” look you can attach a black silk ribbon to the base of the top hat.
- To make it more versatile, put something that can also be removed.
Step 3. Wear it with pride
It should now be finished and ready to wear.
Advice
- If you are using a sewing machine, a straight stitch should suffice. If you do it by hand, a backstitch is better.
- If you use a thick material, it is better to change the machine needle and use one suitable for leather or denim.
