Mini Top Hat Tutorial

Hello again, it’s Rebeca from ClipsNThings. Today’s tutorial is a mini top hat fascinator.
This top hat has many uses. It can be used for adults as a party accessory, or for girls or boys in a photo shoot. Many photographers offer photo shoots when your child turns one year old. You can make this top hat fascinator for girls and pair it with a fancy satin ruffle dress and a pearl necklace, or use it for a boy and pair it with a bow tie and suspenders.

These instructions are to make your hat for both boys and girls.
I have also included instructions for making the flower fastener part interchangeable, so you can make many flower options and attach it to the top hat.

Supplies Needed:
Felt piece 8 ½” X 11”
Cardstock for the pattern
Flower of choice (For this example I used 2 daisies pink and zebra)
Feathers of choice (Purple feathers, peacock tails)
Alligator Clip
FOE headband or alligator clips, 3 felt circles
Sewing machine, thread and needle
Pattern

~Mini Top Hat Fascinator~

Print off pattern.
(This pattern includes the sewing margin.)
Lay pattern on felt piece and cut out the pieces. Notice you will need 2 pieces of the brim. Cut both pieces out, and then cut out the inner circle from the pattern. Trace this circle on to your second felt brim piece and cut it out as well. Lay the pattern on some cardstock or empty cereal box and cut out the shapes. Trim off about ¼” of the cardboard.

This is what you will have.

Roll the piece that goes around the hat and insert it through the hole in the brim, as shown.

Sew the two pieces together. It will be a bit awkward, but just go slow.

Keeping it inside out, stitch the part that goes around the hat closed. Lay the crown on top of the top hat and sew it on.

Turn the hat inside out and insert the cardboard crown cut out and the cardboard cut out for the part around the hat. I suggest using the cardstock cut out inside the top hat to help it hold its shape, but this is optional.

Glue the brim cut out of cardstock on to the felt brim.

Stitch both brim pieces together. This part can be tricky because the top hat is stiff due to the cardstock, if you used it. Once sewn, you can trim the brim if the pieces aren’t evenly shaped.

Cut out a tiny rectangle piece of felt, approximately ½” by 1 ½”. Fold it over and stitch it to your top hat. Make sure it is big enough for an alligator clip to fit through, but small enough to hold the alligator clip in place.
I sew mine on the seam so that when I add the flower attachment it covers it. It also allows the opposite side to be seam free and you can use it as a boy’s top hat as well. You will need to add either alligator clips to the bottom of the brim, or sew on a headband to be able to attach it to your head or a child’s head.
Now to make the flower attachment! You will need a flower, feathers, and a rhinestone centre. Use any flower you’d like.
I chose to use 2 daisies, a pink one and a zebra one. I love mixing and matching my daisies, so I take the flower apart and lay the petals out. You will notice each daisy comes with 3 large petals and 3 small petals, plus the small petal with the rhinestone attached. Rearrange your petals to a design of your choice, as shown in the second picture. Make sure you glue each petal together to hold it in place.

Play around with the positioning of your feathers and flower. You will notice that the ends of the feathers are sticking out below the flower. Sometimes the feathers may need to be cut shorter than they are.

When you are happy with the feather placement,
trim them if you need to and sandwich them with glue between 2 felt circles.
Glue an alligator clip to a felt circle and attach to your feathers and flower piece. Don’t forget to glue the rhinestone embellishment you have chosen as well.
There you have it, a mini top hat fascinator!! It works for girls as well as boys. You can also make a bow tie and suspenders for boys to go with the top hat.

Feel free to check out my facebook page and see the other fascinator top hats I’ve made. You can use anything from feathers, tulle, french netting or anything you choose to make your fancy piece.
You can even make a flower using silk ribbon.

Thank you Rebeca! What a fun accessory for both girlees and fellas. I think this tutorial is fun and perfect for everyday, photo shoots, parties, and much much more. What a great and innovative idea. 🙂

If you love this Mini Top Hat by Rebeca, you will love visiting her on Facebook at ClipsNThings. She would love the visit, and you will love her creations.

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Have a wonderful crafty day!!!
Happy Creating!