At some point, everyone wants to dress up as a pirate and no pirate costume is complete without the proper hat. You can make a pirate hat out of almost anything: newspapers, cardboard, or even an old cowboy hat. You can also use wrapping paper and a bowl from the kitchen.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Make a Newspaper Pirate Hat
Step 1. Use a sheet of newspaper
Unfold the sheet and lay it out on a flat surface. Make sure you have the necessary space to work.
A whole sheet of newspaper is used to make a large hat. For a smaller hat, cut about 1/4 inch (0.6 cm) from one end
Step 2. Fold the paper in half, horizontally
Keep the corners aligned so that the hat is nice and even. Run your finger over the folded paper to form a nice crease.
If you are working with children, have them make the "hamburger" fold to make sure they get the correct fold
Step 3. Bring the corners together in the center
Take the upper right corner of the paper and bring it to the center of the newspaper, forming a triangle. Repeat the same step with the other corner.
- Now, you should have two triangles with the vertical ends lined up in the middle of the paper. To make a nice hat, keep the edges straight. Make nice folds when you have everything lined up, the way you want.
- Tape the triangles if they start to unfold.
Step 4. Fold the bottom of the paper
You now have a piece of paper that looks almost like a pirate hat, except for the two bottom tabs. Fold one of the tabs in the direction of the bottom edge of the triangles and glue to secure.
Flip the hat over and repeat the same step with the bottom lash that remains
Step 5. Add details to the pirate hat
The hat is almost ready, the only thing left to do is decorate it. Draw a skull with crossbones on the hat or print a picture and glue it on.
You can also draw a skull with crossbones on a piece of construction paper. Cut out the design and glue it to the hat
Method 2 of 4: Make a Cardboard Pirate Hat
Step 1. Prepare the workplace
To make this pirate hat you will need the following:
- Black card
- Pair of scissors
- Rubber
- A pirate hat template
- Replacement white sheets
- Pens, pencils, markers, or crayons
Step 2. Design or print a pirate hat template
You can get the templates online, or you can draw one directly on card stock. If you need to make multiple pirate hats, draw a pattern on a separate piece of construction paper.
If you draw your own template, you have more freedom to choose the shape of the pirate hat
Step 3. Copy the template onto the card stock
If you find a template online and print it out, place it on the card stock and outline the shape on the hat. Make two copies of the hat shape.
Step 4. Cut out both shapes
Make the cuts the best you can. When you're done cutting, line up both pieces. Make sure they are the same shape.
Step 5. Draw a skull and crossbones design on a white piece of paper
Cut out the design and glue it to the hat.
- Draw some features on the skull with crossbones, using the markers. If you work with children, let them try to draw the skulls.
- If you don't have replacement paper, you can draw the skull with crossbones directly on the hat.
Step 6. Finish the hat
Glue the top edges of the hat together. Please don't glue the bottom edges of the hat or you won't be able to wear it.
Let the rubber dry before putting on your hat
Method 3 of 4: Make a Three Prong Pirate Hat
Step 1. Gather your supplies
To make this pirate hat you will need the following:
- A pencil
- Ribbon with wire
- Pair of scissors
- Rubber
- A bowl the size of your head
- A rule
- Brown wrapping paper or a paper bag
Step 2. Make a band for the bowl
Cut a 2-inch (5.1 cm) wide strip of paper that wraps around the edge of the bowl with an extra 2 or 3 inches (5 or 7.5 cm), so that the strip overlaps.
Don't worry if you have to glue two small pieces of paper together to form the band
Step 3. Cut the rest of the paper
You will need paper to make two larger cuts to form the top of the hat and the brim. Cut the first square approximately 16 inches (40.5 cm) and the second piece approximately 24 inches (61 cm).
If you want to give the hat a leathery texture, soak the pieces of paper in water and roll them up. Remove them from the water and mash them until they dry overnight. Be careful not to tear the paper when you do this step
Step 4. Shape the hat
Turn the bowl upside down on a table and place the smaller square on it. Begin to shape the paper, gently pressing down on the bowl.
Step 5. Attach the band
Once you've shaped the paper in the bowl, glue the 2-inch (5.1 cm) strip of paper around the bottom of the bowl to form the hat band.
You may need to use a good amount of rubber to stick the band to the bowl
Step 6. Cut the excess paper
When the band dries, cut off any excess paper. Leave some paper to fold under the bowl of the hat.
- To make cutting easier, slide the bowl to the edge of the table and rotate it as you cut.
- Once you've cut off the excess paper, remove the bowl. Test that the hat fits you well by placing it on your head. If it is very large, wrinkle it a little more and try to put another band for more support. If it is very small, you will have to start from scratch with another bowl.
Step 7. Prepare the wing
Take the largest piece of paper and draw a vertical line in the center of the square. Make a mark about 20.5 inches (52.5 cm) at the bottom of the paper. Draw some diagonal lines from the mark to the corners to form a triangle.
- When you have measured the triangle, cut it out.
- Make a mark in the middle of each triangle. Draw a line to the opposite corner of each mark to make two smaller triangles.
- Use the bowl as a guide and draw a circle in the center of the triangle. You should now have a circle with six small triangles in the center of the larger triangle.
- Draw three lines on the circle to cut each of the six triangles in half to make twelve triangles.
- Cut the inner triangles so that they stand up, but remain attached to the paper. Fold them up until they look like a crown.
Step 8. Glue the brim to the hat
Put some rubber on the twelve triangles and secure them to the inside of the hat. You may need to use quite a bit of rubber. Don't worry if you make a mess as this is the inside of the hat and will not show up in the final product.
Let the rubber dry completely before continuing
Step 9. Round the corners of the brim
Fold each of the brim points towards the center of the hat. Each point should touch the base of the hat. Fold each pleat and cut off the ends.
- Round the corners, cutting off the straight edges that were left when you removed the tips. There should be three rounded triangles left on the wing.
- Wrap the rounded corners around a pencil and roll them around the base of the hat. When you remove the pencil, there should be a slightly rolled corner.
- If you prefer, you can also roll the ends of each corner to further characterize your hat. To do this, use a pencil and roll the ends in the opposite direction.
- At this point, you should already notice how the pirate hat is formed.
Step 10. Join the corners of the brim to the hat
Wrap a string of wire around the pencil eraser and give it a few turns. You should have a loop with two ends. Remove the wire tape from the pencil. Repeat this step three times.
Align the brim a little higher than the hat and poke a hole between them. Keep the ends of the wire tape straight through the hole. Flip the hat over and flatten both ends to secure the brim tip to the hat. Do the same with the other wingtips
Step 11. Decorate the hat
You should now have a firm three-pointed pirate hat. If you want, add a skull with crossbones or some buttons. You can also decorate the hat band, although most of it is hidden.
Glue some buttons to the brim connectors to give the pirate hat a more authentic look
Method 4 of 4: Make a Pirate Hat from a Cowboy Hat
Step 1. Find a hat at a local thrift store
Find a wide-brimmed cowboy hat. Choose a dark color, like navy blue or black.
- The color is up to you. If you want to make a brightly colored pirate hat, go for it!
- Choose a flexible material. Felt or velvet hats are perfect.
Step 2. Sew or staple the edges of the brim to the crown on both sides
This will lift the brim in the front and back, like a three-pointed pirate hat.
Step 3. Decorate the hat
Look for a skull with crossbones design in the silk-screen patch section of a craft store. You can also cut a skull with crossbones from an old-fashioned shirt.
Sew the skull and crossbones design onto the front of the hat, if it is made of fabric. If you are using a screen print patch, follow the manufacturer's instructions for gluing the patch
Advice
- Earrings and a ring are good accessories for the pirate hat.
- Make an eye patch out of black cloth or thick black paper. Cut out the shape of a patch and attach a black rubber band or stapled elastic.