Home >> Toys >> Dolls

How to Make a Granny Hat for a Doll

A character doll adds an element of whimsy to a doll collection, especially when the doll is displayed in a shadow box, open-sided dollhouse or diorama. A granny hat can turn your doll into Betsy Ross, Little Red Riding Hood's grandmother or a colonial era girl. A granny hat is easy to make. A circle of gathered cloth, with a lace-trimmed or rolled edge can be made in minutes. Use a larger diameter circle for a toddler doll and a smaller circle for a fashion doll. The cloth can be bleached or unbleached muslin, cotton prints, satin, or even velvet. The hat can be trimmed with jewelry findings, feathers and bead strings. You are only limited by your imagination.

Things You'll Need

Needle
Thread
Muslin, cotton, satin or velvet cloth
Plates, bowls or jar lids of various circumferences
Scissors
Jewelry findings
Bead strings
Feathers
Hot melt glue gun
Clear, hot melt glue sticks
Chalk

Instructions

- 1
  Measure the circumference of your doll's head. Find a plate, bowl or jar lid whose circumference is the same. Measure the diameter of the plate, bowl or lid. Find a second lid 3 inches larger in diameter. This will be your template for cutting the cloth circle.
- 2
  Lay the template on your chosen piece of cloth. Use chalk to draw around it. Cut out the resulting circle of cloth.
- 3
  Begin one inch from the edge of the circle, and use a running stitch to gather the cloth until it fits around your doll's head snugly. Tie off the stitches.
- 4
  Roll the edge of the granny hat and stitch it into a hem, or edge all the way around the hat with bead string or fringed trim. Attach trims by sewing or by using a hot melt glue gun, according to your preference. Glue a feather to the side of the hat, along the gathered stitches. Glue a small brooch or pendant over the tip of the feather to conceal it from view.
- 5
  
  Place the granny hat on your doll's head. Use doll bobby pins or a hot melt glue gun to secure the hat in place. Place your doll in a display cabinet, shadow box, dollhouse scene or diorama as desired.

Dolls