Conductor Hat Craft

Conductor hat crafts can be made out of different materials.

Fashion conductor hat crafts from a variety of materials for a project you can complete in a jiffy. Whether you need a conductor hat for dress up, a train-themed party or for the finishing touch on a Halloween costume, conductor hats can be designed to fit children of any age. The kids can each make a hat or you can make the hats ahead of time and have each child decorate his own hat.

Paper

Cut a band of construction paper to fit around the head. Cut another "U" shaped piece for the brim of the hat and a circular shape for the top of the hat. Exact dimensions will depend on the size of the child the hat is intended for. Tape the pieces together and decorate the hat. Glue train cutouts to the sides of the hat. For a variation, use recycled newspaper to make the conductor hat. Decorate the finished hat with rubber stamps with a train theme.

Cardboard

Turn thin cardboard like Bristol board into a conductor hat. Print a template directly onto the cardboard or freehand it to fit the size of your child. Cut the hat out of the cardboard along the lines of the template to create the hat. The cutout will be the front piece of the hat, which you will attach a strap to. Before assembly, paint the hat, color it with crayons or felt pens or leave it white. Assemble the hat by folding the brim. Attach a length of paper or elastic to the back side of the conductors hat. Make adjustments to the paper or elastic until the hat fits. More or less elastic may be required depending on the age of the person wearing it.

Felt

Craft conductor-style hats from felt. As this is a sewing project, little ones may need help and supervision to complete a hat. The hat will consist of three felt pieces -- the brim, the band and the top -- and must be sewn together. Alternately, you can make the hats ahead of time and allow kids to embellish the hats with buttons and ribbons. Look for felt in a solid dark color such as grey, black blue or brown. Patterns can be found online or in your local craft and sewing supply stores. If you cannot find felt, look for canvas in navy and white or grey and white striped patterns.

Other Ideas

Purchase a group of plain white ball caps or painter's hats and decorate them with felt markers, stickers, and fabric paint. For a birthday party, have each child decorate a cap, hang it to dry and wear it for the duration of the train-themed party. Have stickers or patches made ahead of time with each kid's name on it, a number or a picture of a train. Place the patch on the front of each hat to customize it.

References

• DLTK Kids: Thomas the Tank Engine Birthday Ideas
• Making Learning Fun: Train Engineer Hat

Resources

• Mushroom Villagers: The Eddie Cap Tutorial