How to Make a Black Bicorn Hat

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Things You'll Need

  • Sheet of black 25-inch by 22-inch paper

  • Tape or glue

Bicorn hats were necessities for well-dressed men during the Gregorian Era.

During the Gregorian Era, bicorn hats were all the rage, and sported by a range of important public figures from Navy officers to stylish civilians. By the early 19th century, however, the popularity of the hats began to fade. Aside from the odd retiree or Navy bigwig, by the year 1810 you'd be hard-pressed to find a bicorn hat perched on anybody's head. Whether you want to resurrect the trend or simply channel your inner Napoleon Bonaparte, you can make your own bicorn hat right at home. Don't worry, you won't have to study up on millinery for this project; all you'll need is some black paper and basic folding skills.

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Step 1

Lay your sheet of paper on a flat work surface. Fold the 25-inch side in half; you should end up with a folded piece of paper that is 12 1/2 by 22 inches.

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Step 2

Fold the paper in half again, only this time, fold the 22-inch portion. The result is a 12 1/2 by 11 inch piece of paper. Unfold it to return the paper to its 12 1/2 by 22 inch size, leaving a crease in the middle.

Step 3

Fold the top right-hand corner of the piece of paper down to meet the bottom corner of the crease; this will form a triangular shape on the right side of the piece of paper. Flip the paper over and repeat this step on the left side of the piece of paper. You should be left with one large triangle-shaped piece of paper.

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Step 4

Fold up a stabilizing flap of about 1 inch across the bottom of the side of the paper that is facing you. Flip the paper back over and do the same thing on the other side.

Step 5

Take the edges of the stabilizing flaps and fold them down to meet one another. Flatten the piece of paper to form a diamond shape.

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Step 6

Fold the bottom corner of the front side of the diamond up to meet the top corner. Flip the paper over and repeat this step on the other side.

Step 7

Separate the two sides to create a space in the middle and place your index finger inside the top point. Flatten this point down on the outside of the hat, and use tape or glue to secure the shape.

Tip

Add embellishments like ribbon trim, feathers or faux medals to make the hat more extravagant looking.

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