How to Make a Pirate Hat out of Paper

Use paper to fold a pirate hat.

In addition to being a crucial component in writing, paper can be used to complete many arts and crafts projects, such as a paper pirate hat. Making a pirate hat out of paper is a simple task that requires a basic understanding of rudimentary geometry, particularly information about shapes and line segments. By labeling the paper you are using to create the pirate hat, you can ensure precise folds and a clean and nicely constructed pirate hat.

Instructions

1. Trim your paper into a rectangular shape so that its short side and long side are approximately seven units to nine units. For example, you could trim a paper so the short sides are seven inches and the long sides are nine inches, or you could simply use a standard 8.5-inch by 11-inch sheet of typing paper. The short side will be hereafter referred to as the width, and the long side will be hereafter referred to as the length.

2. Fold the paper in half lengthwise. This will form a new rectangular shaped folder sheet with the relative dimensions of seven units to four and a half units. For example, if you're using typing paper, the folded rectangle will be eight and a half inches by five and a half inches.

3. Label the corners of this new rectangle. The top of the rectangle will be the folded side. and the bottom the open side. From the top left, going clockwise, label the four corners "A," "B," "C" and "D."

4. Fold the rectangle so that corner "A" is flush with corner "B" and corner "D" is flush with corner "C." Unfold the paper back to rectangle "ABCD."

5. Label either end of the center crease. Label the top end "E" and the bottom end "F."

6. Measure from point "E" down to point "F," and place a dot three and a half inches from point "E." Label this point "G."

7. Fold corner "A" and corner "B" down to point "G" so that segments "AE" and "EB" directly overlay segment "EF." This will create a pentagon that appears to be built up out of two large right triangles on top of a long, thin rectangle. The open end or bottom of this pentagon should open with the rectangles being flaps.

8. Fold each rectangular flap up, using the straight, bottom line of the two triangles as a creasing guide.

References

• "Absolute Beginner's Origami"; Nick Robinson; 2006