How to Make a Felt Flapper Hat
- 1). Measure the wearer's head using a tape measure. Start at the middle of the forehead and measure up and across the top of the head, ending at the nape of the neck. The ending point should be in a direct line with the bottoms of the ears. Divide the measurement by two.
- 2). Make a pencil mark in the center of a sheet of newspaper and measure outward from that mark in any direction until you reach the halved head measurement. Make another pencil mark at that point.
- 3). Tie a piece of string to a pencil. Put the string on the center pencil mark and the pencil on the second pencil mark. Pull the string taut. Hold the string firmly with one hand and draw a circle with the pencil in your other hand.
- 4). Measure 3 inches outward from the edge of the circle in any direction and make a pencil mark. Put the pencil on that mark and hold the string in the center as before, pulling it taut. Draw a second circle 3 inches beyond the first.
- 5). Cut the circle pattern out of the newspaper using scissors. Cut the larger circle first, then cut the inner circle.
- 6). Pin the pattern pieces to the felt fabric with straight pins. Cut around the pattern pieces using scissors.
- 7). Measure one side of the wearer's head from the crown to a point just below the ear. Add 1/2 inch and record the measurement. Measure the circumference of the wearer's head. Position the tape measure about 1 inch above the eyebrows and keep the tape measure straight and snug around the head. Add 1 inch and record this measurement.
- 8). Cut a piece of felt for the hat band using the first measurement as the width and the second measurement as the length. For example, if the first measurement from crown to below the ear is 4 inches plus 1/2 inch, and the second measurement, the head circumference, is 22 inches plus 1 inch, cut a piece of felt measuring 4-1/2 inches wide by 23 inches long.
- 9). Sew the short ends of the hat band together on a sewing machine or by hand, using a 1/2-inch seam allowance.
- 10
Set the hat band on one long edge, with the seam running vertically. Set the smaller felt circle in the center opening of the hat band. Hold the edge of the circle even with the top edge of the hat band and sew them together using a 1/2-inch seam allowance. Ease the circle to fit by gathering it slightly as you sew it to the top of the hat band. - 11
Turn the hat right-side out. Set the hat on its crown, with the opening facing up. - 12
Slip the larger circle over the hat. Hold the inside edge of the circle even with the raw edge of the hat band and sew them together using a 1/2-inch seam allowance, forming a brim. - 13
Put the vertical seam at the back. Turn the hat brim up in the front and tack it to the band with a needle and thread. - 14
Sew on embellishments such as lace appliqués, ribbons, beads, feathers and fabric trims.
