~Hat Making~

By Cindi Stowell of Cindi’s BJD Designs

Step 1: Gather supplies

10″ x 10″ (25cm x 25cm) wool felt square

white glue, stiffening agent like Aileen’s Stiffen Quick

Small bowl around the size of doll’s head

Rubber band

Applique

Additional decorations

Step 2: Boil water

Step 3: Immerse your 10 x 10 piece of 100% wool felt in the hot water for 2 minutes

Step 4: After 2 minutes, using tongs, turn off the heat, lift the wool from the pot. Allow it to drip and cool.

Step 5: When the wool piece of felt is hot but not too hot to handle, place it over your small bowl.

Step 6: Mold the hot felt piece evenly over the small bowl.

Step 7: Place a rubber band around the bottom edge and let dry.

Step 8: Spray the felt piece with a stiffener like Aleene’s Stiffen Quick spray. Let dry. After your felt piece is completely dry, spray again with Aleene’s Stiffen Quick spray. Let dry again. Repeat this process for your desired stiffness. I usually do it about 3 or 4 times.

Step 8: Remove your hat from the small bowl. Take a ruler and mark your desired width for your hat brim. In this picture I did 2 inches, but I also like 1 inch brims.