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According to Hat Shapers, the bowler is the same type of hat as the derby. "Derby" is an American term for the bowler hat, which was regularly worn by the Earl of Derby at the Epsom Derby horse race in London. However, the first bowler was made for Edward Coke, brother of the second Earl of Leicester in 1849. In the 1950s and 1960s, this hat became a city uniform for businessmen of London. You can make the historical bowler hat for a doll, using craft-store felt.
Whether your little girl wants a winter wardrobe for her collection of Barbie dolls or you would like to outfit a porcelain display doll with seasonal accessories, felt hats are an easy sewing project for beginners. Felt does not fray, so the edges don't need to be hemmed, eliminating much of the work of sewing doll accessories. By sewing these items yourself, you can make an entire wardrobe of hats for all your dolls for the price of a single store-bought accessory item.
Some people like to make clothing and accessories so their children or grandchildren can play dress-up with their dolls. Others have a doll collection or doll house and want to customize their dolls for the scene. Making your own millinery doll hat from straw makes a hat that fits into the Victorian era or the Pioneer era, depending on the way you decorate the hat. However, the basic construction of the hat is the same.
Knitting hats for dolls are best done by knitting in the round starting at the top, or crown, of the hat. By knitting them from the top down, the hat is easily fitted over the dolls head to determine the proper length of the hat. The yarn and needles used should correspond to the size of the doll. For a small doll, use a thin yarn with small needles and for a big doll, use thicker yarn and bigger needles.
Queen Victoria of England wore many types of headgear, including a miniature crown she had custom made. In her later years, she favored small hats with a point in the front. You can make a simple variation on a highland bonnet that mimics this style out of ribbon and a bit of velvet. Plaid ribbon is especially appropriate for a winter hat of this time period. Make a summer bonnet with pastel satin ribbon and a bit of lace.
During the reign of Queen Victoria, a lady never went out of the house without her hat. Complete your doll's Victorian-era costume with a matching handmade hat. Victorian hats were small and lavishly decorated, so it is easy to replicate them with wire and trim. Choose small trim and small millinery flowers to give your hat the proper proportions.
A character doll adds an element of whimsy to a doll collection, especially when the doll is displayed in a shadow box, open-sided dollhouse or diorama. A granny hat can turn your doll into Betsy Ross, Little Red Riding Hood's grandmother or a colonial era girl. A granny hat is easy to make. A circle of gathered cloth, with a lace-trimmed or rolled edge can be made in minutes. Use a larger diameter circle for a toddler doll and a smaller circle for a fashion doll. The cloth can be bleached or unbleached muslin, cotton prints, satin, or even velvet.…
When making doll hats, appearance is everything. Felt and cloth are important tools for the hobbyist, but sometimes you can get good results with less effort by simply using paper. It is easier to cut, attach and shape than fabric and is extremely inexpensive. Because it is so thin, it can be layered to create different textures and decorations in a way that cloth can't. Try this design for a doll hat, then add your own modifications to make a unique creation.
Making a hat for a child's doll is an easy and rewarding project. Not only can you choose the style and design, you can also make it in any fabric you choose. You can even make a dress to match, giving your child an outfit that is uniquely hers. The following directions are for a little hat with a ribbon, flowers, and flared sides that will sit loosely on the doll's head, so you don't have to fuss with the fit.
Crocheting a doll's hat is fairly simple to do and gives a great sense of accomplishment. Follow this pattern for a head roughly 3 inches in diameter. Pick out some lovely colors of yarn. The yarn can be a single color or multicolored.
