How to Create a Leprechaun Hat for St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick's Day is a holiday that brings out the spirit of the leprechaun in many of us. Some people even like to dress up as leprechauns guarding pots of gold. To top off the outfit, make an easy leprechaun hat out of a recycled ice cream pail.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Half-gallon round ice cream container
• 4 pieces of green felt
• 1 piece of gray felt
• 1 piece of black felt
• 1/2-inch wide green ribbon (1 yard in length)
• Scissors
• Ruler
• Black marker
• Hole punch
• Hot glue gun

1. Clean the used ice cream tubs thoroughly. Use the black marker to trace the shape of the ice cream container onto a piece of green felt.

2. Cut a circle out of felt and hot glue it to the bottom of the plastic container.

3. Wrap 2 more pieces of green felt around the sides of the container. Trim the felt so that the hat looks neat and the container is completely covered. Glue in place.

4. Punch a hole half an inch to an inch below the rim of the container. Make another hole on the other side of the container in the same location.

5. Cut the ribbon into two pieces, a half-yard long. Tie a ribbon in each hole.

6. Create the brim by shaping the last piece of green felt so the entire width is preserved. Just round the corners a little.

7. Place the ice cream container upside down on the felt brim. Lightly mark the outline of the container. Make another circle 2 inches inside the lightly marked outline.

8. Cut out the inside circle. Make marks every inch around the perimeter of inside circle. Cut a tab from the mark to the lightly marked outline. Repeat around entire circle.

9. Turn the container upside down. Lay the felt brim on the container rim. Glue the tabs down inside the container.

10. Cut a 2-inch wide strip out of the black felt.

11. Create a buckle by measuring a 4-inch square from the gray felt. Cut out the square. Cut a 1 1/4-inch by 2-inch square from the middle of gray felt square.

12. Glue the buckle to the black band. Glue the black band around the container. Leave one inch between the brim of hat and the bottom of black band.

13. Place the hat on your head. Tie the ribbon in bow beneath your chin.