How to Make Washington's Wig for a Craft
A barrister wig, also known as a George Washington wig, was worn by judges and lawyers in England for approximately 150 years, starting as early as 1680. The wigs were considered a symbol of privilege, white in color and came in varied lengths. George Washington's wig often featured rolled sides covering the ears and a tail at the back. Today, Washington's wig is recreated for everything from colonial re-enactments to school plays.
Things You'll Need
- Old baseball cap
- Scissors
- Polyfill batting
- Extra large cotton balls
- Craft glue or hot glue gun and glue sticks
- Stapler
- Ruler
- Black ribbon
Instructions
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1
Cut off the bill off of an old baseball cap with scissors. Throw away the bill.
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2
Cover the remaining portion of the cap by gluing on white polyfill batting or extra large cotton balls. You may need to trim the batting to fit evenly on the cap. Use craft glue or use a hot glue gun for a stronger hold.
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3
Cut a strip of batting in the shape of a leaf for the ponytail. Attach to the bottom back of the baseball cap with glue.
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4
Cut eight strips of batting that are 5 inches wide by 3 inches long. Tightly roll each strip and glue to seal shut.
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5
Glue one roll to the left side of the baseball cap just above the ear. Glue another roll to the bottom of the first roll, directly underneath it. Continue until you have four rolls that hang down the left side of the cap.
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6
Attach the four remaining rolls to the right side of the baseball cap in the same manner as the left side of the baseball cap.
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7
Tie a black ribbon where the ponytail meets the bottom back of the baseball cap, once the glue has dried.
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Tips & Warnings
You can also choose to stitch the wig together instead of using glue. If you don't have an old baseball cap, use a ring of white construction paper to form a base for the wig.
References
- Photo Credit Photos.com/Photos.com/Getty Images
