How to Design Your Own Cowboy Hat

Anyone can buy a cowboy hat with a tiara on it, but only you can create a masterpiece that will stop everyone dead in their tracks.

Cowboy hats have always been a way to express your fun, personal style. However, if you really want to show that you are one of a kind, then buying a cowboy hat in a store is certainly not for you. Instead, design your own headwear for a one-of-a-kind look that will let everyone know exactly who you are and what kind of cowgirl or cowboy you really are.

Things You'll Need

• Simple cowboy hat
• Glue gun
• Rhinestones
• Ribbon or leather cord
• Feathers or other accessories
• Notepad
• Pencil
• Weather proofing spray

Instructions

1. Sketch your design on paper. Drawing your design on paper will help you get an idea of what you want to place on the hat, and where you want it. Label different media so that you can use your sketch as a guide when you are designing your hat.

2. Assemble your materials. Make sure that you have everything you need in one place. If you will be using ribbon, go ahead and cut the correct length. Sort your rhinestones, feathers and other decorations by color and size. Make sure that you have plenty of glue sticks for your glue gun so you do not get halfway through the project and have to stop to stock up.

3. Glue your ribbon or leather cord around the brim of the hat. Before you glue it down, lay it in place to make sure you like the look. Then, glue one end down, wrap the rest around the hat, and glue the other end down. If you prefer, you can glue the ribbon or cord to the bottom of the part of the hat that holds your head.

4. 

   Add accents. Following your pattern, glue on your rhinestone accents and feathers, as well as any other beads or shells you may wish to place on the hat. Most people like to have a large design on the front and then have the design get smaller and simpler toward the back of the hat. However, you may want to be different by creating a design that wraps around the entire hat or spreads out onto the brim. Use a dot of glue for each accent. The back should be covered but the glue should not ooze out around the edges.

5. Allow your hat to dry completely. You should allow a full day to pass before weather-proofing your hat. Keep it in a warm, dry place until it is dry.

6. Spray your hat with the weather-proofing spray. Do this outside or in a well-ventilated area.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't be afraid to go a little wild with your cowboy hat design. It should express just exactly who you are and who you want to be.

• Be careful with the hot glue gun. If the glue gets on your skin, it can cause serious burns.

Resources

• Learn how to make a paper cowboy hat.