Crepe Paper Party Hats
Step-by-Step Crafting Instructions
Easily customizable to suit any holiday or festive occasion, our step-by-step instructions
will teach you the the basic crafting techniques and tips necessary to make these fun hats.
For design ideas and examples of decorated crepe party hats as well as more helpful
crafting tips
from our artists, be
sure to check out
page 2 of these instruction.
This hat can be easily adjusted to fit head circumferences that measure from 20" to 23".
If you would like a more customized fit for the smaller sizes, just take off 2" from the
indicated lengths of the crafting materials; for larger sizes add 2" to our instructions.
• Instructions to make a standard 22" circumference crepe paper party hat •
2) Fold the crepe paper sheet in half lengthwise.
Next, lightly glue the cardstock strip just below
the fold, centering it evenly on the crepe paper.
Please note that it is recommended that you use
a tacky-style white glue-all when working with
crepe paper. A runny or "wet" glue doesn't hold
as well and may make the crepe paper bleed.
3) Glue one crepe streamer along the inside top
edge
of the crepe sheet. Run a small amount of
glue along the bottom edge of the streamer, not
more than ¼" away from the edge. Be careful
not
to
position the glue too
high up on the crepe
streamer, because this may it more difficult to
create a full, fluffy fringed tassel.
5) Now you're ready to create the hat's fringed
tassel. Starting on one side, and with both layers
together, cut down from the top in approximately
¼" wide sections. When cutting the fringe, make
sure that all of the cuts end about ¼" away from
the bottom of the crepe streamers.
Design tip: not all of your hats have to be made
with the same style of fringed tassel! To vary the
look of
your tassels, try trimming points onto the
ends of
each piece of fringe,
or cut the fringe
wider
and with rounded ends
to create "petals"
to make a
flower-inspired pom-pom for you hat.
6) In this next step you will create the
hatband.
With the crepe sheet positioned face up, fold the
bottom section up, using the inner cardstock strip
that was glued into place in step 2 as your guide.
This folded-up section creates a sturdy hatband
that will help the crepe hat hold its shape.
7) The final step before shaping the party hat is
to neaten the back seam. Flip the crepe sheet so
that the
front side
is face down, then fold over
about ½" or so on the left side so that the fold
butts up against the edge of the cardstock band.
Lightly tack down along the length of the fold.
8) You are now ready to form your party hat!
Please note that our hat instructions are for an
average, 22" head
circumference, but can be
easily adjusted to fit
almost any head size. To
size your hat, measure 22" out (or your desired
circumference)
from
the folded edge
of the band
and make a pencil mark. Roll the hat in a circle
so the neat side edge of the hatband meets the
pencil mark. Staple the two ends together, being
mindful to staple the hat so that the prongs will be
on the outside of the hat. And to help the hat hold
its shape, lightly glue down along the back seam.
9) Start shaping the party hat: gather the top of
the hat together, just under the fringe. The more
even you can make the gathers, the better!
10) Tie together the top gathers of the hat, using
a
sturdy thread or string. Loop the thread around
the
gathered point just under the fringe and pull it
tight to form the hat into a cone shape. Knot the
thread in the back of the party hat.
12) Your party hat is now ready to decorate. To
complete this Happy Halloween party hat, glue a
25" strip of decoratively-printed crepe streamer
around
the hatband, starting and ending in the
back. The final step is to fluff open the fringe to
create the party hat's frilly pom-pom.
11) Finish shaping the party hat by rounding out
the crown area of the hat. A really easy way to
do this is to put the hat on your head, then gently
pull down until the top of the crepe hat stretches
open to become more rounded.
