How to make your own teeny top hat
Posted by Ariel · Guest blog

I'm seeing a lot more little cocktail top hats on brides — adorable! You can buy them on Etsy, but you can also decorate your own. Here's a how-to, courtesy of Lily from the Offbeat Bride Tribe!

1. Hit up a craft store and checking out their stuffed animal section for top hats.
You should be able to find something like this (scroll down).

2. Assemble your materials:
• Teeny hat
• The material you want to use
• Matching thread
• Glue gun
• Popsicle sticks
• Whatever decorations you want.

3. Cut a circle of fabric big enough to cover the top of the top hat with about 3/4-1 inch overhang.
Center the material on top, and with tiny dots of glue, glue down the edges all the way around. I would probably put a dot of glue on each of the cardinal directions and then work my way in so it would stay centered and smooth.

4. Measure the circumference of the hat, and sew a tube of material that will slip over the outside.
Make it about 3/4 of an inch taller than the hat. Slip it over the hat and tuck the excess in so that you get a smooth edge around the top. With little buttonhole stitches attach the tube to the material on the top.

5. The brim will probably be the trickiest part.
I would cut another piece of cloth that is the same shape as the brim with a hole for the "tube" of the hat, and again 3/4 inch over hang. I'd slide it part way down, and then put some more little dots of hot glue right at the edge of where the brim joins the hat all the way around. If this gets messed up at all it shouldn't be too big of a deal as you will probably add your decorations around that area anyway. If the brim has a lot of curve you'll want to put some more glue on it, and gently smooth the material down to the edges. Don't pull it tight or it might get distorted and funky. At the edges roll the extra material over and glue it to the bottom of the brim.

6. Cut out a last piece that is the shape of the underside of the brim and glue it into place. make sure that it looks smooth around the edges, but other wise it doesn't need to be too perfect, since that part of it should be next to your head.

7. Decorate!

Tips:
• Use the popsicle stick for pushing the material down over the hot glue so you don't burn your fingers.
• Use a fairly heavy material so the glue won't show through. Heavy material will also hide the black base color better and look smoother.
• Attach pins to the hat. I've heard that toupee clips work really well, but I've never used them.