Dog hats make a cute accessory for a holiday gathering or a
photoshoot. While you can always buy a hat, making your own is much
more convenient. It's not too difficult, and you get to custom-size
the hat to fit your dog's head. Best of all, you get to choose the
colors and patterns for the hat! Just remember: never leave the hat on
your dog unattended!
Cut a cardstock circle that's twice the height you want the hat to be.
Decide how tall you want your dog's hat to be, then double it. Find a
plate or bowl roughly that size, then set it face-down on sheet of
cardstock. Trace around the cardstock with a pen, then cut the circle
out with scissors.[1]
For example, if you want an 4 in (10 cm) tall hat, you need to make an
8 in (20 cm) wide circle.
You can also use poster paper and thin cardboard. The color doesn't
matter since you'll be covering it.
Cut a wedge from the circle that's a little bit more than a quarter of
its size. Use a pen and ruler to trace 2 lines from the outside edge
of the circle to the middle. If this were a clock, you'd be drawing
the lines from 12 o'clock and 4 o'clock to the center. Cut the wedge
out when you're done.[2]
Find the middle of the circle by measuring it, or by folding it in
half lengthwise and widthwise. If you fold the circle, be sure to
unfold it.
Discard the edge and curve the cut-out circle into a cone. Don't
staple or glue the cone shut just yet. You just need it to have a
slight curve before you add the fabric. If you don't have this curve,
the fabric won't stretch properly around it when you do curve it.[3]
Coat the back of the cone and your fabric with spray adhesive. Each
brand of spray adhesive will be a little different, so be sure to read
the instructions on the back of the can. In most cases, you need to
shake the can, then spray the adhesive using a sweeping motion in a
well-ventilated area.[4]
Cotton fabric works the best here, but felt will also work. You can
use a solid color or a pattern.
Match the fabric to the occasion. For example, if this is a birthday,
try a bright, happy color, such as yellow, with a colorful confetti
print.
Alternatively, choose a dog-themed pattern. For example, you could
pick black paw prints on a blue background, or white doggy bones on a
red background.
Press the cardstock against the fabric, then trim the excess fabric
away. Set the fabric face-down on a flat surface so that the sticky
side is facing up. Next, set the cardstock sticky-side-down on top of
the fabric. Smooth the fabric over the cardstock, then cut the rest
off.[5]
When you're done, you should end up with a cut-out circle that's
fabric in one side and paper on the other.
For a nicer finish, leave a 1⁄2 in (1.3 cm) seam allowance around the
curved part of the circle, then fold the excess fabric onto the back
of the cardstock.
Roll the cardstock into a cone that fits your dog's head. Use a
bulldog clip to secure the bottom of the cone as you try it on your
dog's head. Ideally, it should sit right between your dog's ears, with
a little bit of extra space to the left and right.[6]
This extra space will give your dog's ears more freedom to move around.
If you can't find a bulldog clip, try an alligator clip, bobby pin, or
paperclip.
Hot glue the cone together. Use a pen to mark the inside of the cone
where the overlap is. Remove the bulldog clip, then roll the cone back
into shape, using the mark as a guide. Apply hot glue to the 2 layers
of cardstock to hold the cone together.[7]
Hot glue sets up fast, so work quickly! You may have to hold the cone
together for a few minutes while the glue dries.
If you don't have hot glue, try tacky glue or fabric glue instead. Use
a bulldog clip to hold the cone together until the glue dries, about
15 to 20 minutes.
Add ribbon or elastic to the bottom of the hat. Which you choose
depends on which you think your dog will react the best to. Some dogs
are fidgety, so an elastic might be best. Calmer dogs might handle a
ribbon being tied under their chin. Something that is around 1⁄8 to
1⁄4 inch (0.32 to 0.64 cm) thick would be ideal.
Ribbon: cut 2 strips of 13 1⁄2 in (34 cm) long ribbon, then hot glue
each strand to the inside of the hat.[8]
Elastic: cut a strand of elastic long enough to wrap under your dog's
chin. Tie a knot in each end, then staple the knots to the inside of
the hat.
Decorate the hat with pompoms, trim, and other items. Hot glue a large
pompom in a contrasting color to the top of the hat. Decorate the
bottom edge with a trim or a row of mini pompoms. Add other
decorations to the hat, such as glitter or sequins, if desired.[9]
Don't use any decorations you think your dog might mess with. For
example, most dogs won't appreciate tassels dangling in front of their
face.
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Hat-for-a-Dog
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