How to Make a Child's Easter Bonnet

Easter bonnets have been a popular spring tradition since the 18th century. Create a unique Easter bonnet for your little girl using flowers, ribbon, lace - even tiny stuffed animals!

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Cloth Bonnet Sewing Patterns
• Lace Trims
• Silk Ribbon
• Cloth Hats
• Straw Hats
• Dried Flowers
• Fresh Flowers
• Green Or White Floral Tape
• Hot Glue Guns
• Hot Glue Sticks
• Sewing Needles
• Silk Flowers
• Threads
• Scissors
• 18-gauge Florist Wires
• Wire Cutters

Easter Wreath

1. Try your hand at creating the "original" Easter bonnet - a wreath of fresh or silk flowers worn atop the child's head.
2. Assemble wire cutters, 18-gauge floral wire, green or white floral tape and flowers of your choice.
3. Loop floral wire around the child's head. Position the wire slightly below where you want the wreath to sit.
4. Use wire cutters to cut the wire to the appropriate length.
5. Make a circle out of the length of wire and wrap it with the floral tape. Make sure that the joined ends are securely wrapped.
6. Attach flowers or clusters of flowers to the circle one at a time, by taping the stems to the wrapped wire.

Easter Bonnet

7. Use a purchased hat - straw or fabric - for an Easter bonnet.
8. Attach a length of wide silk ribbon or lace to the hat just above the brim.
9. Add a bow to the ribbon at the back of the hat. Use a hot glue gun to keep the lace or ribbon in place.
10. Decorate bonnet with only ribbon or lace, or add silk flowers as well.
11. Attach the flowers with a hot glue gun or floral wire.
12. Look for very small stuffed chicks or rabbits to attach to the bonnet.
13. Affix the stuffed animal to the bonnet with floral wire (the floral wire works best with straw bonnets) or sew them on with needle and thread.
14. Arrange small clusters of silk flowers around the figures with a hot glue gun or more floral wire.
15. Hide any floral wire by gluing ribbon or small flowers over it.

Tips & Warnings

• Make the head wreath out of silk flowers rather than real ones. This will allow your child to wear it again and makes a wonderful keepsake of the occasion.
• Tie silk ribbons to the back of the head wreath.
• Choose flowers and other decorations that are in proportion to the bonnet.
• Look for bonnets that are natural, white or pastel-colored. Keep the colors of all your decorative elements consistent with traditional spring colors.
• Look for prairie-style bonnet patterns in the pattern section of your local fabric store. Make your bonnet out of a cotton, cotton blend or linen fabric. Choose white or pastel solids and prints.
• Keep the hot glue gun out of the reach of children while it is in use.