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Cost
$ $ $ $ $
Difficulty
• • • • •
Time
45 mins

Recycle some old tights and a chocolate box into a fabulously mad hat!
I thought the box would make a good hat, couldn't find any fabric that i thought would be any good so tried it with tights, and the result is pretty perfect... Please post versions if you feel like making it, I'd love to see different styles!

Posted by Little L. Published See Little L.'s 4 projects »
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  • How to make a top hat. Fabulous Mad Hatter Hat - Step 1
    Step 1

    You will need an empty Celebrations box with a lid (good excuse to buy some chcolates ;) )

  • How to make a top hat. Fabulous Mad Hatter Hat - Step 2
    Step 2

    Flip the box upside down...

  • How to make a top hat. Fabulous Mad Hatter Hat - Step 3
    Step 3

    ... And carefully cut out the bottom panel.

  • How to make a top hat. Fabulous Mad Hatter Hat - Step 4
    Step 4

    Should look like this :)

  • How to make a top hat. Fabulous Mad Hatter Hat - Step 5
    Step 5

    Slide the box, lid first, into one leg of the tights. Make sure that the part where the toes go it at the highest point of the box.

  • How to make a top hat. Fabulous Mad Hatter Hat - Step 6
    Step 6

    Cut off the rest of the tights about 4/5 inches away from the bottom of the box.. This does not need to be neat. KEEP THE OTHER PIECE OF TIGHTS.

  • How to make a top hat. Fabulous Mad Hatter Hat - Step 7
    Step 7

    Pull the tights down quite taught, but then push up the bottom part so you can see about an inch of the box.

  • How to make a top hat. Fabulous Mad Hatter Hat - Step 8
    Step 8

    Get your hot glue gun and, an inch at a time, glue a line along the inside of the box and stick the tights down (ie, tuck the fabric into the box and glue it to the side) Do this all the way round. When glueing, pull the fabric REALLY TAUGHT. Last thing you want is bobbly bits at the top.

  • How to make a top hat. Fabulous Mad Hatter Hat - Step 9
    Step 9

    Repeat steps 5-8 using the other leg. KEEP THE OTHER PIECE OF TIGHTS.

  • How to make a top hat. Fabulous Mad Hatter Hat - Step 10
    Step 10

    Get your ringbinder and cut off one of the big sides. Draw out a circle of 11.5cm radius onto it.

  • How to make a top hat. Fabulous Mad Hatter Hat - Step 11
    Step 11

    Cut out the circle using scissors or a pen knife.

  • How to make a top hat. Fabulous Mad Hatter Hat - Step 12
    Step 12

    Get the other part of your tights and slip the waist band around the circle.

  • How to make a top hat. Fabulous Mad Hatter Hat - Step 13
    Step 13

    Stick the tights to the circle around the edge of the circle. The waistband will make a smaller circle a few inches in from the outer circle.

  • How to make a top hat. Fabulous Mad Hatter Hat - Step 14
    Step 14

    Stick the waistband down to the circle wherever it is on the circle.

  • How to make a top hat. Fabulous Mad Hatter Hat - Step 15
    Step 15

    Hold the leg stumps together and tie them into quite a tight knot. you can cut off most of the excess, but leave some so that the knot doesn't undo itself.

  • How to make a top hat. Fabulous Mad Hatter Hat - Step 16
    Step 16

    Position the other part of you hat onto the base.

  • How to make a top hat. Fabulous Mad Hatter Hat - Step 17
    Step 17

    When you think it is roughly in the middle, glue it to the base bit by bit. Dont worry if the glue looks messy, it will be hidden.

  • How to make a top hat. Fabulous Mad Hatter Hat - Step 18
    Step 18

    At this time the main hat part wont be stuck to the had circle base, just to the base fabric. To do this, dot some patches of glue (patch by patch) around the edge of the hat but on the base fabric. Pess this down with your finger while it is drying to stick the base fabric to the base. Don't worry that it looks messy, it will be hidden.

  • How to make a top hat. Fabulous Mad Hatter Hat - Step 19
    Step 19

    Take your scrap fabric. It doesnt matter if it is crinkled or has fraying edges, these will be hidden.

  • How to make a top hat. Fabulous Mad Hatter Hat - Step 20
    Step 20

    Tie the satin around the base of the hat with a bow at the back.

  • How to make a top hat. Fabulous Mad Hatter Hat - Step 21
    Step 21

    Glue it to the hat so it doesnt fall down, leaving a small gap where you want the feathers or decorations to be. Also hide any fraying or sticking out bits by glueing them in. Cut any fraying bits off the bow part.

  • How to make a top hat. Fabulous Mad Hatter Hat - Step 22
    Step 22

    Dot some glue on the bottom of the feathers and poke them behind the satin.

  • How to make a top hat. Fabulous Mad Hatter Hat - Step 23
    Step 23

    Hot glue the ringbinder base to a headband. Make sure you have enough glue to make it sturdy. Ta-daa!

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Comments

Belle
Belle · Waikanae, Wellington, NZ · 1 project
This is seriously cool! What a clever idea to use tights.
Reply
Panda-Goes-Rawr
Panda-Goes-Rawr · 5 projects
Tights are a great idea!I was thinking of ways to cover mine Happy:happy::for my Mad Hatter costume)
Reply
Mez
Mez · Liverpool, England, GB · 2 projects
Very clever! Would never of known it to be made out of that!
Reply
Little L.
Little L. · 4 projects
Haha thank you! You're very generous Happy X
Reply
Delphine J-B
Delphine J-B · 2 projects
Absolutely amazing... I am a top hat fan, but making one out of a chocolate box, I don't think even the Mad Hatter can top up that... - I'll post your project around on facebook as it is so great...
Reply
Krafty Kokatie
Krafty Kokatie · Orangeville, Pennsylvania, US · 20 projects
FABULOUS!!!!
Reply
Little L.
Little L. · 4 projects
Thanks Happy
Reply
Little L.
Little L. · 4 projects
Thanks Happy
Reply
michelle G.
michelle G. · Antigonish, Nova Scotia, CA · 1258 projects
great job
Reply

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