Make a Kentucky Derby hat that rivals the stars.
Strut your flair for the flamboyant at the Kentucky Derby by wearing a hat that you have made yourself. You can use a quick crafty tip to make the color of the hat coordinate with your outfit and allow your imagination to run wild as you decorate your flashy fashion accessory with lace, ribbon and a few other special adornments. By making your own hat, you can save money and wear a one-of-a-kind accessory.
The Basics
Begin with a plain straw hat; place it on a cloth- or newspaper-covered work surface. Spray the entire outside of the hat with your favorite color spray paint. Let the paint dry for 30 minutes, and reapply a second coat for a darker finish. Allow the second coat to dry for 60 minutes. You can flip the hat over and spray the inside of the hat or leave the inside of the hat unpainted for contrast.
Ribbon Embellishments
Lay the hat on a fresh work surface and measure the circumference of the brim. Add 1 inch to the brim's circumference measurement and cut a piece of 1-inch-wide ribbon to this length. Fold the ribbon in half to make a long ½-inch wide-ribbon and iron along the fold to hold it in place. Coat the inside of the folded ribbon with fabric glue and press the brim in between the ribbon fold. Press firmly as you glue the ribbon all the way around the hat's brim. Allow the ends to overlap; press firmly for 30 seconds. Let the glue dry to ensure the ribbon does not slide out of place.
A Bit More Ribbon
Measure the circumference of the base of the hat's crown. Add 1 inch to this circumference; cut a piece of coordinating ribbon. Spread glue along the ribbon and press it firmly around the base of the crown. Let it dry thoroughly.
Flamboyant Decoration
Cut three circles of lace: one piece 12 inches in diameter, one piece 10 inches and one piece 8 inches. You can use the same color for each piece or make the hat more decorative by using different colors. Lay the three circles on top of each other, with the largest at the bottom and the smallest at the top. Pinch the center of the circles and sew five or six stitches through the center to hold the layers together and keep the pinched shape.
Lay six feathers on top of the lace circles, with the bottom of each feather in the center and the plume sticking outward. Sew each feather in place and add a bit of fabric glue for extra strength. Lay three large silk flowers at the center of the lace circles on top of the feathers; sew the base of the flowers to the lace. Pin the lace, feather and flower ensemble to the base of the hat's crown. Use strong safety pins and then sew through both the hat and the lace to firmly attach the decoration to the hat.
Just One More Element
Hold a long feather above the center of the three flowers. Use a pin to make a hole through the lace ensemble and through the hat. Poke the feather through the hat, fold the end inside the hat and sew it in place. The feather should stick outward from the hat. Bend it into place if necessary.
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