How to Make a Coonskin Hat

Measure the shape and size of your head at its widest point.

Buy or obtain a large, clean raccoon skin. The tail should be fluffy and smooth with attractive markings.

Cut thick paper, such as grocery bag paper, into four pieces—the crown piece, using your measurement, and three curved pieces roughly 4 inches wide. Two of the pieces should equal the length of the remaining one, and all three when placed together should be long enough to go around the crown piece.

Using straight pins, attach the longest 4-inch curved piece of your pattern into the bottom end and inside of the hide, near the tail.

Place the crown piece inside the arch of the curve, and pin both pieces securely into place. Using a dark marker, outline the pattern of both pieces, and cut them as one with the tail. Be sure to use very sharp scissors that can go through the pattern and the skin at once.

Place the remaining two paper patterns onto the remaining hide, skin side up, mark and cut each piece separately.

Using a sharp knife, cut approximately 1/3 of a slice on either side of the tail where it joins the arch.

Sew tail closed in a tubular fashion using a blanket stitch.

Sew back of headband to crown, keeping stitches on the skin side and close together so that the fur looks like one piece.

Add the two smaller pieces to the headband, and sew to crown. If the cap seems too big, you may need to trim the smaller pieces a bit to ensure proper fit.