Hey, I wanted to share with you this really cool DIY project that I found. It's all about making your own felt witch hat! With Halloween just around the corner, I thought it would be a fun and easy way to add some spooky vibes to your decorations. To start, you'll need a few supplies. Grab some black felt fabric, a ruler, scissors, a needle and thread (or a sewing machine if you have one), and some elastic cord or ribbon for the hat band. Oh, and don't forget a pencil or fabric marker for tracing. First, measure the circumference of your head to determine the size of your hat.
First, measure the circumference of your head to determine the size of your hat. Then, using your ruler, draw a circle on the felt fabric with a radius of half the circumference measurement. This will be the top of your hat.
How to Make Your Very Own Fabulous Witch Hat
Going out with girlfriends to Witches Night Out at Granny’s Korner in Tomball, Texas for a little pre-Halloween fun calls for a special witches hat! Inspired by the “best hat” contest, exceeding craftiness and my lack of funds, I decided to go online and find a tutorial for making a witch’s hat. I didn’t think it would be very hard. (Spoiler alert: it wasn’t).
[Related: Making My Loblolly Witch Hat (including downloadable witch hat pattern)]
I found this lovely YouTube video by Nightskylullaby. I love the video, but there were a few fundamental steps left out. It took me some trial and error before I got the right size brim/opening. I ended up using the old trick my mother taught me with the tape measure and a pencil (or protractor, in this case).
I cannot stress this enough: MAKE A PAPER PATTERN. After cutting the brim out of black and purple felt, I hand sewed them together with a blanket stitch, like the video said. If you’re in a hurry, this could easily be done with a sewing machine using the zig zag stitch. You could use a piece of bias binding tape for a nice finish too. I cut the hole for the head out here as well.
After the brims were together, I inserted the wire. This was a great idea from Sheila—if it wasn’t for the wire the hat would be a floppy mess! I cut the wire to match the circumference of the outer edge of the brim then looped the wire ends around each other to close a circle. Once that was in place, I used a running stitch and embroidery floss to create the “casing.” Basically, I stitched about a half inch from the edge of the brim to hold the wire as close to the edge as possible.
Returning to the video, I measured out the remaining felt for the rest of the hat. I didn’t have enough purple to make it the proper length, so I pieced it together using some black. Turned out well, I think.
I cut out the top pieces, used a zig zag stitch to sew the black to the purple, then sewed trim over it to cover the line and make it look like I meant to do that. I closed up the back and attached the cone to the brim, using the zig zag stitch.
Following the directions on the video, I also gathered/bunched the top so it looked crooked. I adjusted the wire rim to something I was happy with and played around with some different styles.
The hole is a little too big, so I need to add an interior hatband to adjust fit. For that I’ll just cut some felt that fits my head exactly and sew it in to the hat.
Finally, all that’s left is the fun part: embellishing! I created a feather medallion like the ones that used to be featured on cowboy hats in the 70s and 80s, appliquéd some gorgeous black lace up the back to cover the seam and couched a big black satin ribbon around the base using silver jump rings. Once things were positioned in a way I liked, I sewed it all down. The finishing touch was a black stone faceted bead sewed to the tip!
[Shopping list at the bottom of this post]
Quick Steps
1. Cut pattern- DO IT
2. Cut felt (video for using tape measure & soap to make a circle)
3. Hand stitch brim layers together
4. Insert wire (cut wire length to match brim circumference; join wire ends to form circle)
5. Running stitch “casing” for wire brim
6. Cut hat; attach trim (I had to piece it b/c not enough felt)
7. Sew hat to brim (I used zig zag stitch to finish edge as I sewed); sew folds/bends in tip of hat per video instructions
8. Apply lace, ribbons, beads, net, feathers as desired for effect (see shopping list below); cardboard or foam can be cut into a triangle, then wrapped in a cylinder (like a pope hat) and inserted to make the hat stand up more firmly
[Related: Making My Loblolly Witch Hat (including downloadable witch hat pattern)]
Sarah Evans, Guest Blogger
Sarah has been sewing for decades and even taught Sheila how to sew in 2015 (she’s pretty much Sheila’s sewing fairy godmother). She loves making doll clothes, vintage clothing, and her costume holy grail is an Elizabethan gown.
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Materials Shopping List
This project used wool remnants and leftover notions/materials from prior projects. You may already have these things in your supplies cabinet. But if not, here are some of the materials Sarah and I combined:
Edited by Sheila 9/2021: Since publishing this post, I drafted a pattern for myself to make a witch hat for each season. I’ve digitized that pattern and it is available for free download on any of the following season posts:
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Cut out the circle and set it aside. Next, you'll need to make the cone shape for the body of the hat. Take the remaining felt fabric and fold it in half. Then, measure and mark a radius using your head circumference measurement, starting from the folded edge. Draw an arc connecting the two points. Cut along the marked arc, and when you unfold the fabric, you'll have a cone shape. Now it's time to assemble the hat! Take the felt circle you cut out earlier and place it on top of the cone shape. The circle should overlap the edges of the cone by about an inch or so. Pin the two pieces together to hold them in place. You can either hand sew or use a sewing machine to stitch along the overlapped edges. Make sure to backstitch for extra durability. As you sew, try to keep the stitches close together to prevent any gaps. Once the stitching is complete, remove the pins. To finish off the hat, you'll need to add a hat band. Measure out a piece of elastic cord or ribbon that fits comfortably around your head and cut to size. Attach the hat band to the base of the cone using needle and thread, making sure it's secure. And there you have it - your very own felt witch hat! You can leave it plain black, or get creative and add embellishments like lace, feathers, or ribbon bows. It's all up to you and your personal style. I hope you have fun experimenting with this DIY project and enjoy wearing your custom-made witch hat this Halloween. Remember, the best part about DIY projects is the pride and satisfaction of making something with your own hands. Happy crafting! [Your Name].
Reviews for "DIY Felt Witch Hat: Add Some Magic to Your Halloween"
1. John - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with the "Felt Witch Hat DIY" kit. The materials included were very cheap and flimsy, and the instructions were not clear at all. The finished product didn't look anything like the picture on the box, and I ended up having to spend more money to buy additional supplies just to make it somewhat presentable. I would not recommend this kit to anyone looking for a fun Halloween craft.
2. Emily - 1 star - I bought the "Felt Witch Hat DIY" thinking it would be a fun project to do with my kids, but it turned out to be a complete disaster. The hat template provided was way too small, and the felt pieces were not properly cut, making it impossible to assemble the hat. The glue included in the kit was also very weak and didn't hold the pieces together. Overall, the whole experience was frustrating and a waste of money. I would advise others to avoid this kit and look for better crafting options.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - The "Felt Witch Hat DIY" kit was a letdown for me. The quality of the felt was very poor, and it started falling apart even before I could finish assembling the hat. The instructions were poorly written and confusing, making it difficult to follow along. The end result was nowhere near what I expected, and I felt like I wasted my time and money on this kit. I would not recommend it to anyone looking for a reliable and enjoyable crafting project.
4. Mark - 1 star - I have to say, the "Felt Witch Hat DIY" kit was a complete disappointment. The materials were of the lowest quality, and it felt like they would disintegrate in my hands. The instructions were also poorly explained, leaving me confused and frustrated throughout the process. On top of that, the finished hat didn't even fit properly; it was way too small and looked nothing like a witch hat. Save your money and look for better Halloween craft options out there.