Making your own high hat may seem difficult at first, but you can actually make a simple but powerful version with just a few ingredients and just two hours of time. Keep reading to find out how to make one.
Step
Part 1 of 5: Preparing the Pieces
Step 1. Choose your ingredients
Traditional high hats are no longer produced, but there are other modern options for you to choose from. When you choose the material you will use, choose a fabric that is quite heavy and stiff. Materials that are light and limp will make a hat that is also limp.
- Flannel for crafts is one of the popular choices that you can choose from. This material is easy to find, affordable, easy to work with, and available in a variety of colors. Polar fleece and tightly woven wool are other possible options.
- Fosshape, buckram, and plastic canvas materials are harder to find and tend to be more expensive, but they are also slightly stiffer and can give better results than others. If you can't find these materials in the color you want, you can paint them or dye them any color you want.
Step 2. Cut the edges of the hat
You will cut two round shapes with the same size proportions. The largest diameter of these two pieces is 38 cm.
These edge pieces will be stacked and stitched together to create a double layer. This is done so that the brim of the hat has a stronger structure and support. If you only use one piece of material for the hem of the hat, the structure will become less strong and less convincing
Step 3. Cut out the “flue” pieces of the hat
The flue is the chimney-shaped part of the hat at the top of the hat that gives it the hallmark of a tall hat. You will cut two rectangular flue halves of the same size. It must be 16.5 cm long and 61 cm wide.
- Like the edges, the “flue” also consists of two layers of fabric to provide adequate support. Without this double layer, your high hat will sink or fold when you wear it on your head.
- If you want to make a more cheerful version of the high hat, you can cut the cap tires separately in different colors to make the flue section. Sew the tires of these hats together on the long sides to make a piece of flue section 16.5 cm high.
Step 4. Cut off the top of the hat
You will only need one piece of material for the top of the hat. Cut a circle with a diameter of 20 cm.
Unlike the brim and flue, the top of the hat or "cap" requires no structure, so you only need one piece of fabric. But if you don't like the look of the top of the hat with only one layer, you can make this section double by adding a second piece of the same size
Part 2 of 5: Making the Hat's Brim
Step 1. Stack the cut edges
Place the two edge pieces on top of each other, with the front side facing in and the back side facing out. Give it a needle to hold it in.
As you thread the pin, slip the needle into the two layers of fabric around the parallel edges. You'll need to use the needle quite a lot to prevent the two layers from sliding along the edges, as you'll have to start sewing at the edges of this fabric
Step 2. Make a circle in the center of the hat hem
Use a cloth pencil or sewing chalk to draw a smaller circle in the center of the larger edge circle. This small circle should be about the size of the circumference of your head.
- This circle will be the part to insert your head into, so it should be the right size for your head. Use a tape measure to measure the circumference of your head to match the size of the circle in the center of your cut edge.
- Usually, the center circle will have a diameter of 15 cm.
Step 3. Sew the cut edges
Use a sewing machine or sewing needle and thread to sew around the edges of the cut, with a seam of 3 mm apart.
- Don't sew the inner circle just yet.
- When you're done, you'll have a moon disk with a rounded line in the middle.
- Remove the needle as you sew or after you sew.
Step 4. Scrape the center from the brim of the hat
Use fabric scissors or yarn scissors to cut the center loop you've marked in the center of the hat's edge. Cut from inside the circle line, not outside the line.
If you're having trouble keeping the layers from shifting or moving in the middle, you can work around this situation by threading a needle around the outside of the line you drew before cutting the circle inside. This will limit the shift of the fabric
Step 5. Turn over the brim of the hat
Pull the side facing outward by turning it over from the slit you made by cutting the center.
Flat iron, if possible, to make your material easier to work with
Step 6. Sew the remaining edges
Sew the center of the open edge with a sewing machine or sewing needle and thread. Space the seams by 6mm.
As before, if you notice that the fabric in the center of the open is constantly moving, thread the needle around it to limit the movement of the fabric
Part 3 of 5: Making the Flue
Step 1. Stack the flue halves
Place one piece of flue on top of the other, with the back side facing out and the front side facing in. Give me a needle.
You will need to thread the needle around all four sides of the rectangle. Keep the needles as close to each other as possible to prevent the edges from loosening as you sew
Step 2. Sew the two pieces together
Sew all four sides of the stack to make a double piece to work with.
You should leave the seams 3 mm apart
Step 3. Shape the flue section
Bend the flue in half and thread the needle where the edges meet. Sew the edges where the sewing machine or sewing needle and thread meet.
- Do not iron or make sharp folds. In the end, you'll want this piece to be round, not flat.
- The seam spacing varies depending on how big your head is. The part of the fabric leading to the hem gap should be half the diameter of the hole on the edge, and when opened, this part of the flue should be the same size as the center hole on the edge of the hat.
Step 4. Unfold it
Unfold the flue and shape it with your fingers so that the entire flue is round.
If there is a sharp crease on the side you folded earlier and you can't remove it with just your finger, you can try placing it in a round flower vase, lampshade, or something similar to stretchable in a round shape. Remove those sharp creases by ironing them with steam
Part 4 of 5: Assembling the Hat Parts
Step 1. Place the flue over the top of the hat or “cover”
Place the cover piece with the back side on your workbench and place the flue with the back side facing out on it. Give me a needle.
Pin both pieces as close to the edges as possible to prevent the pieces from shifting
Step 2. Sew the two together
Sew the flue to the cover with a sewing machine or sewing needle and thread. Leave a seam of 3mm.
Turn the flue and top of the hat upside down after the two pieces have been sewn together
Step 3. Attach the flue to the brim of the hat
Pull the bottom edge of the flue slightly through the hole you cut on the brim of the hat, leaving the fabric 3-6mm below the brim. Give me a needle.
Pin the part of the flue that hangs down the underside of the hat, keeping the needle as close to the edge as possible
Step 4. Sew together
Sew the flue hanging off the underside of the hat with a sewing machine or sewing needle and thread.
Seam spacing is not more than 3mm
Part 5 of 5: The Final Touch
Step 1. Cut and trim the excess material
Excess material on the inside of the brim of the hat should be trimmed off with fabric scissors or thread shears.
While this is not required as excess fabric will be covered, it will make your hat more comfortable to wear
Step 2. Decorate your high hat as desired
You can leave your high hat plain and worn as it is, or you can add an element of decor to make it unique or make it match the costume.
- If you're using your hat for cosplay or other costume purposes, study the image of the character you want to emulate and decorate your hat with the character.
- If you want your high hat to look more “classic”, you can try decorating it by attaching a black satin ribbon to the base of the flue.
- To make your tall hat more flexible, add a removable embellishment.
Step 3. Wear your hat with pride
Your hat is now finished and ready to wear.
Tips
- If you are using a sewing machine, a simple straight stitch will suffice. If you are sewing by hand, use a back stitch.
- If you are using a thick material, you will need to replace the needle on your sewing machine with a needle specially made for sewing leather or denim.
