How to Make a Tall Black Hat
The tall black hat, or top hat, was first worn by a group of men called Dandies in London between 1770 and 1790. The top hat was accompanied by a white knotted neck tie. The top hat was usually covered in silk and was made with cheesecloth, linen, flannel and shellac. The shellac was placed around a wooden hat block and baked with flat irons to harden it. Making your own tall black hat from cardboard is easy to do with a little time and patience.
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Things You'll Need
- Thick black cardboard (large pieces)
- Pencil
- Stapler
- Scissors
- Round dinner plate (or compass)
- Black felt (optional)
- Felt glue (optional)
Instructions
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Making the Brim
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1
Place the dinner plate on a piece of black cardboard and, using the pencil, draw round the plate.
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2
Cut out the circle you have just drawn. Cut a long thin strip of cardboard and place it around your head where the hat will sit. Staple the card together when you have determined the place where it sits comfortably.
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3
Use the band that you just made to make circle within the circle that you cut out earlier. Place the band in the middle of the circle and draw round the band on the inside. Press down to make an indentation you can see when you have to cut it.
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4
Cut out the inner circle. To do this, pierce the cardboard in the center and cut outwards, then follow the circular pencil line around. You now have the brim of your hat.
Making the Crown
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5
Take a large piece of black cardboard and, using the band that you made earlier, bend the cardboard around the band to measure width; allow a small overlap.
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6
Staple together at the seam; cut off any excess cardboard.
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7
Cut the cardboard at a height that suits you; the crown can be as tall or as short as you like.
Attaching the Crown to the Brim
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8
Make 1-inch vertical cuts about 1 inch apart all round the bottom end of the crown of your hat.
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9
Bend all the cuts outward and spread craft glue onto the side facing up.
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10
Place your brim carefully over the crown to meet the bottom and to sit on the tabs that you have just made. Press down all the way round, ensuring that the tabs are glued on securely.
Finishing Off
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11
Draw around the band you made earlier on another piece of black cardboard. This will be the top of your top hat.
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12
Draw four 1-inch-by-1-inch squares on the outer edges of the circle -- spread them out evenly. Cut out the circle with the tabs that you have drawn. Fold the four tabs downward, so that they are at a right angle to the circle.
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13
Spread glue on the outward face of each tab. Carefully place the circle on top of the hat, inserting the tabs inside. Reach inside the hat and press each tab to make sure it is secured with glue.
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14
Cut out a strip of cardboard that is about 2 inches wide and goes all the way around the hat just above the brim. This will be your hat band. Glue or staple it into place. Your hat is now complete.
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Tips & Warnings
Cover your hat in black felt to give it a sleeker finish.
If you are using craft glue, make sure it is glue that dries clear.
Do not let young children use scissors or staplers.
References
- Photo Credit schönheit image by Yvonne Bogdanski from Fotolia.com
