How to Make a Raffia Hat

Raffia, or Raphia ruffia, is a palm tree which grows in the western portion of Madagascar. It's leaves can be split and woven into cloth and other items, making it a valuable export for the country. One of the common uses people associate with raffia are raffia hats, which are made from the leaves of the palm that are woven and then sewn together. Follow the instructions below to make your own raffia hat.

Things You'll Need

• 3/4 pound of raffia
• Knitting needle
• String
• Darning needle (#1)
• Raffia or thread
• Ribbons

Instructions

Prepare the Raffia

1. Cut the raffia leaves at the point at which they begin to widen. You should be left with raffia leaves that are 2 feet in length.

2. Wash the raffia leaves thoroughly with soap and water, rinse and let dry.

3. Split the raffia leaves in half and lay each leaf flat on a table.

Plait the Raffia

1. Tie a string around the middle of a knitting needle and secure it a door knob, a handle or a hook.

2. Lay five strands of raffia on a table and tie to secure the ends around the around knitting needle. All five strands should still be lying side by side.

3. Take the strand of raffia that's on the far left and pass it to the to the right. Work it under and over until it reaches the right. Do the same with every succeeding strand of raffia.

4. Take the top strand from the right and work it to the left, working the strand over and under every strand until it reaches the left. Do the same with the next raffia strand that's on the top right and all the ones following.

5. Continue the process, weaving all of the raffia strands to the left and to the right. When one raffia strand gets short, place another raffia strand on top of it and continue weaving with both strands until you're weaving with the longer strand. Continue weaving until you have a plait of raffia that's 17 yards long. Tie the ends.

Assemble the Raffia Hat

1. Coil the raffia plait around in a circle, and secure it by sewing it with a darning needle and raffia or jute thread. Keep coiling the raffia plait around the circle, making it larger and larger until you have made the crown of the hat. Fit the crown to your head as you sew the plaits together. Be sure to overlap the raffia plaits 1/8 inch when you sew them in place.

2. Angle the plaits over, and sew more rows of raffia plaits together to form the side band of the raffia hat.

3. Form the brim of the raffia hat by sewing together rows of raffia plaits. On the last pass, work the raffia plait underneath the outer edge of the brim and finish it by sewing it to the underside of the brim at the back.

4. Trim the hat as you would like with ribbons and other materials.

Tips & Warnings

• You can shape the raffia hat still further by laying the hat on an ironing board, laying a wet towel over the brim, and ironing it with an iron.

References

• More Baskets and How to Make Them, By Mary White
• Straw Braid Hat
• An economic history of Imperial Madagascar, 1750-1895 By Gwyn Campbell

Resources

• Raffia & Hat Making Supplies has raffia and thread