How to Make a Homemade Hot Dog Vendor Hat

Hot dog vendors once wore neat, crisp paper hats.

In the 50s and 60s, many soda jerks, sidewalk vendors and fast food employees wore white paper hats as part of their uniforms. These hats have since been replaced by permanent, washable baseball caps bearing the company logo. Though rarely seen outside of retro theme restaurants, the classic paper hat lives on in food service-inspired Halloween costumes. You can fold your own hot dog vendor hat with a 8-by-12-inch sheet of white paper or cardstock.

Instructions

1. Turn the paper so the short end faces you. Fold the entire length of paper in a series of six two-inch fan folds. You now have a 12-inch strip of folded paper.

2. Orient the strip so the long end is facing you. Fold one of the short ends two inches toward the center. Take the other short end of the paper and tuck it into the first short end's cavity to hold it in place. The paper should now be a closed loop.

3. Puff out the two inside folds of the paper circle. You now have a hot-dog vendor hat. Write "Hot Dogs" or the brand name/slogan of your choice on one side of the hat. Wear it with the two pointed ends facing your front and back, with the flat ends on the sides.

References

• PajamaCity; How to Make a Homemade Adult Hot Dog Costume

Resources

• Disney Family Fun; Hot Dog Vendor; 2001