If you're interested in making a felt hat, whether it's for a fancy dress party or to wear every day, you can follow the instructions in this article and get the material at a craft store. To shape your felt hat you will first need to make a hat mold, if you don't already have one. You can use expanded polystyrene as a mold to customize the shape of your hat.
Steps
Step 1. Make a hat mold
It will serve as a base on which to style your hat.
-
Glue several Styrofoam blocks together. You may need 3-4, depending on the size of your hat. Let the glue dry before proceeding further.
Make a Felt Hat Step 1Bullet1 -
Cut out your styrofoam mold. The size of your head determines the size of the mold which, in turn, will determine the size and shape of the crown of the hat.
Make a Felt Hat Step 1Bullet2 -
Cover the polystyrene mold with glue with a 2-3 cm brush. Let the glue dry before moving on to the next step.
Make a Felt Hat Step 1Bullet3
Step 2. Cover the mold with cling film
It will help keep the inside of your felt hat clean. Secure the film to the bottom with T-pins. Secure the film further by applying a round of masking tape to the height of the pins.
Step 3. Cut out two circles in the felt
Each circle should be 8cm wider in diameter than the widest part of the Styrofoam mold.
Step 4. Create the top of the felt hat
To do this, spread the felt over the mold.
-
Wet the felt in the water. The felt should not only be damp, but completely soaked.
Make a Felt Hat Step 4Bullet1 -
Place the felt so that it is in the center of the mold. Secure it with a T-pin in the center to keep it from moving.
Make a Felt Hat Step 4Bullet2 -
Spread the felt over the mold. Gently pull the felt to spread it out, so as not to damage it. As you roll it out, apply T-pins evenly all around the base of the Styrofoam mold.
Make a Felt Hat Step 4Bullet3 -
Remove the pin from the top and leave the other pins around the base for now.
Make a Felt Hat Step 4Bullet4 -
Stretch the felt further by pulling harder. Continue to unfold the felt by pointing a T-pin every 2-3 cm. When you are done with this step, the amount of felt below the pin line should be the same throughout the mold. Make a loop of tape at the height of the pins to secure the felt more securely.
Make a Felt Hat Step 4Bullet5 -
Cover the felt with glue using a 2-3 cm brush.
Make a Felt Hat Step 4Bullet6 -
Wet the second circle of felt before placing it on top of the first. Repeat the steps above to roll out the second circle. Do not coat the second circle with glue after you spread it. Let the crown of the hat dry.
Make a Felt Hat Step 4Bullet7 -
Remove the felt wreath from the mold. Using a pair of scissors, cut the excess felt off the base.
Make a Felt Hat Step 4Bullet8
Step 5. Create the brim of the hat
-
Cut two pieces of felt of the same size. Regardless of which size you choose for the brim, cut the felt 5 cm larger.
Make a Felt Hat Step 5Bullet1 -
Moisten the two pieces of felt. Coat one with white glue. Press them together with the iron to create a double layer. But first, be sure to cover the felt with a cloth to protect it from the heat of the iron.
Make a Felt Hat Step 5Bullet2 -
Make a circular hole in the center of the pitch. The diameter of the hole should be approximately 2 cm wider than the base of the crown of the hat.
Make a Felt Hat Step 5Bullet3
Step 6. Attach the flap to the crown
Put the crown back on the mold and pass it around the flap. Secure the flap with T-pins.
Step 7. Sew the brim to the crown permanently using strong silk or wool thread
Remove the T-pins.
