Easy Ways To Make A Witch Hat and Other Witchy Costume Accessories
This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s fall editorial intern Elizabeth Miller. Find them on Instagram at @Lizzy_7979. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
It should come as no surprise that Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. Though picking out a costume to wear on Halloween can be a challenge, some of the best costumes in my opinion are the ones that people personalize! Costumes like witches are so easy to personalize because they have easily identifiable costume pieces, but the theme can make the costume super unique. The most important piece to have is a hat, but different accessories can elevate the look so you can become any type of witch. For a DIY witch hat pattern and tips for other witchy costume accessories, read on!
Easy Ways To Make A Witch Hat
There are many different ways to make witch hats, but these two methods are pretty easy, even for the more inexperienced crafter. The first method uses a brimmed sun hat, and the second is for custom sizes. I prefer the second method because my head is small, so most pre-shaped hats are too big.
For the first method, you will need:
- A sun hat with a circular, stiff brim
- Stiff felt, can be black or whatever color fits your theme
- Hot glue
- Tape measure
- Scissors
- Optional but nice touch: spray paint that matches the color of the felt
- Decorations for your hat, such as ribbon, fake flowers, glitter, etc.
- Find a sun hat that has a circular brim. Measure around the domed part of the hat where it meets the brim and determine a measurement for how tall you want the pointy part to be. To make the point part, you need a circular shape so think back to geometry class. The measurement of how tall the point will be is the radius of the circle. Mark a point for the center of the circle, and make a line to mark the radius. Keeping one end on the center point, shift the tape measure over to start marking the arc of the circle. Continue making the circle until the arc measures as long as the measurement of the dome of the hat. Add an extra inch or so there is some overlap. Cut this out. The center point will become the top point of the hat. Fold it into a cone, and hot glue the straight edges to secure it. Then hot glue to point over the dome of the sunhat.
- Trace out a circle of felt to cover the top of the brim, cutting out the center to make it a donut shape so it fits over the point. Hot glue it on, covering the edge of the felt cone.
- Optional step: spray paint the bottom of the brim so that it matches the felt. Otherwise, repeat the last step, but cover the bottom of the brim instead.
- Lastly, decorate to your liking!
The second method is almost exactly the same as using a premade hat. You will need:
- Foam, about a quarter inch thick so it can hold its shape well
- Hot glue
- Tape measure
- Scissors or craft knife
- Optional: felt or fabric to cover the foam, tin foil
- Decorations
- Follow the same steps as the hat method, but use your own head’s measurements instead. Keep in mind that the height at which you measure your head will be where the brim of the hat sits. Use your head’s measurement and how tall you want the point to follow the above instructions. Cut out the shape, and glue it into a cone.
- Next, we will make the brim. Estimate how wide you want the brim to be, and make a circle on the foam. Optionally, if you want the hat to be super tailored to your head, take a strip of tinfoil to make a rough outline of your head shape and use this to cut out the center shape. Otherwise, use the cone to trace out a smaller circle inside the big circle. Cut about half an inch inside the line of the smaller circle so there is an edge to glue the pieces together on. Glue the pieces together and decorate!
- Ta-da! Pretty easy hat!
Accessories
Depending on the type of witch you dress up as, different accessories can accentuate your costume.
For more fantasy witches, you can make a wand with a stick or small dowel rod. Decorate it by making 3D patterns with hot glue, and then paint over it so it is uniform. Easy custom wand! Witches cast spells and use different components. Jewelry that has little bottles with different spell components can be a nice touch for a witch who casts spells and makes potions. Another fun touch could be to use a wicker basket and keep a stuffed animal of your preferred familiar, such as a cat, inside. And, of course, don’t forget your cloak and broom!
What did you think of the DIY witch hat pattern? Let us know in the comments below!