How to Make a Cat in the Hat Hat
Dr. Seuss's mischievous cat first appeared in 1957, and was an instant success that, according to Publisher's Weekly, has gone on to sell more than 10.5 million copies (in just its classic edition). The cat's trademark giant, floppy red-and-white striped hat is one of the most beloved and recognizable symbols of childhood, and is a fun and easy project to make with the little ones to celebrate Halloween or a trip to the local library.
Things You'll Need
- 1 yard white craft felt, 36 inches wide
- 1 yard red craft felt, 36 inches wide
- 2 pieces of white posterboard, standard size
- 1 white paper plate, 9-inch diameter
- Craft glue
- Strong craft tape
- Ruler
- Pencil
- Drawing compass
- Scissors
Instructions
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1
Hold a sheet of poster board and orient it so the long side is horizontal.
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2
Roll the poster board into a tube that has a 9-nch diameter (it will measure about 28 inches in circumference). Using lengths of the craft tape, tape the tube securely into shape. Set aside.
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3
Lay the paper plate onto the center of the other piece of poster board. Use the pencil to carefully trace around the paper plate, and then place the plate to the side. Use the ruler to find the center of the circle made by tracing the plate.
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4
Place the point of the compass in the center of the circle, and move the compass arm out so you can draw a circle 2 to 3 inches larger than the circle you made tracing the plate. Move the compass around to mark that second, larger, concentric circle.
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5
Use scissors to cut around the larger circle, and then poke a hole in the center and cut around again, following the lines made by the smaller circle (the paper plate.) It will have a doughnut shape. This is the brim of your hat. Set aside.
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6
Pick up the tube and tape the paper plate to one end of the tube, "closing" it off. This will be the top of the hat. Make sure the plate is securely attached.
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7
Prop the tube with the closed side up so you can see how tall the hat will be. If you'd like it to be shorter, use the scissors to cut evenly around the bottom of the tube to shorten it. Set the tube aside.
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8
Lay out the red felt and cut even strips. They can be as thin or as wide as you'd like, but strips about 3 to 4 inches wide will look most like the Cat in the Hat.
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9
Glue the strips of red felt around the tube, leaving equal white space between them. This forms the stripes on the hat. Allow to dry.
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10
Take the doughnut-shaped brim and fit the open end of the tube through the hole. Tape securely and put on your new Cat in the Hat hat!
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Tips & Warnings
If you'd like to camouflage the tape on the top and brim of the hat, you can also use white felt and glue it around the brim and the top of the hat when it is complete.
To make a truly accurate Cat in the Hat hat, use a white brim and three red stripes alternating with two white ones.
