If you are looking for a quick costume accessory, top hats can be a bit pricey.You don't need a lot of experience to make a top hat at home.All you need is some cardboard and felt, hot glue and scissors, and a hat.You can show off your top hat to your friends and family in less than an hour.
Step 1: Draw out a circle from a piece of cardboard.
There is a piece of cardboard on your workspace.The pencil is about 7 2 in (19 cm) away from the center spoke if you adjust a compass.A flattened cardboard box or a leftover cereal box are good examples of sturdy cardboard that can be used for this.You can draw the circle freehand if you are confident in your sketching and tracing skills.You can trace a round object like a flower pot.The size of your hat depends on who you are making it for.A 13 or 14 in wide hat may be better for a child.
Step 2: The larger circle has an 8 in (20 cm) inside.
The pencil is 10 cm away from the spoke if you read your compass.Go to the center of the previously traced circle and arrange your compass there.Depending on your head's circumference, you can change this measurement.If you are making a hat for a child, a 7 in opening might be better.
Step 3: Cut out the circles.
Cut the central circle with a pair of scissors or a box cutter.Cut out the larger circle by setting the small piece of cardboard aside.To make your top hat look professional, try to keep the edges smooth.The smaller circle will be the top of your top hat.
Step 4: Measure and trace a sheet of cardboard.
Think about how tall you want your top hat to be.Once you have a rough measurement, divide it in half so you know how wide each circle needs to be.To sketch out the dimensions of your hat, use a piece of flexible cardboard.If you want to bend them as you make the hat, you have to trace them on flexible cardboard.You can cut out 2 rectangles that are 12 by 6 in.If you want to save time, you can bend and curve the large rectangle into a cylindrical shape later on.A child may look better in a 3 to 4 in top hat than a 5 to 6 in tall hat.
Step 5: To build the barrel of your hat, cut out the cardboard rectangles.
The center barrel of your top hat can be cut out with a box cutter or pair of scissors.If you want to create the barrel of your hat, you need to cut the rectangles a bit wider around the edges of the template.Make sure that the two rectangles are the same size by setting them next to each other.
Step 6: There are felt shapes that match the dimensions of your hat.
Place the templates on the felt.Use a white colored pencil to outline the felt shapes.Instead of tracing 2 sections of felt for the barrel of your hat, trace around both cardboard pieces to create a large felt rectangle.To make your finished hat look more sleek and cohesive, you only need 1 felt rectangle for the barrel of your top hat.You can trace around the outer and inner rim of your piece of cardboard to save time.The felt shapes that you need will be given by this.To cover the top and bottom of the brim, you may want to cut out 2 pieces of felt.
Step 7: Take out the individual felt pieces.
Take a pair of scissors and cut out the felt pieces that you traced.You can keep track of the felt pieces by setting them aside.To make it easier to adjust, try to make these pieces a few millimeters larger than the original cardboard sections of the hat.
Step 8: To make a cylinder, tape the 2 cardboard rectangles together.
If you want the edges of the two rectangles to overlap, hold and bend them next to each other.If you want the cardboard to hold a cylindrical shape, apply strips of tape along the sides.To make sure it fits in the brim, measure the cylinder's circumference.A friend or family member may be able to hold the cardboard in place while you tape the pieces together.Clear tape looks less obvious than any kind of durable tape.The barrel of the hat fits into the brim if the edges overlap by a few millimeters.
Step 9: Attach the cylinder to the larger circle with tape.
The cardboard cylinder should be centered over the open brim circle of the hat.Put the cylinder into the opening.Attach a few pieces of tape along the edges of the cardboard to hold it together.At this point, your cardboard will look like a hat.
Step 10: There is a small circle on top of the assembled hat.
The small cardboard circle should fit on top of the cylinder.Place a few strips of clear, durable tape along the edges of the small circle to hold it in place.The base of your top hat is now in place.
Step 11: Attach the felt to your hat.
There is a piece of felt on top of the hat with a donut-shaped piece around it.Put glue in small sections to the bottom of the felt and work with 1 piece at a time.The felt should be placed over the brim, barrel, and top of the hat.To make the hat look more cohesive, glue the felt over the edge of the brim, and cover the cardboard edge completely.If you want your finished hat to look good, try to use small amounts of glue.Glue the section of felt you cut out to cover the bottom of the hat at this time.
Step 12: As a finishing touch, glue extra decorations to the hat.
Glue some feathers or add a long stretch of ribbon around the base of your hat to make it look like a band.You can decorate your hat until you are happy with how it looks.You can glue a red ribbon band around the base of your hat to make it look classy.For a more exotic touch, glue several feathers in one spot along the front or side of your hat.