Party Hat

Supplies:

pattern
party hat fabric (choose something bright and festive or coordinate to the theme of a birthday party) (1/4 yard will make 11 hats using the same fabric for lining or 22 hats using different lining fabric)
lining fabric (can be same as party hat fabric)
4 inch piece 1/8 inch elastic (or 2 -4 inch each pieces of 1/8 inch ribbon to coordinate)
optional: pompom, yarn, or fine tulle netting for embellishing top point

Making the pattern:

Use a compass to draw a 5 inch circle on a piece of paper. (Or find a bowl or plate that diameter to trace around). Cut it out and fold in half, then cut the circle in half on the fold. This half circle is your pattern. Some Beanie Babies need smaller circles since their heads are smaller, see note below.

Sewing:

Step one:

Choose a fabric that looks bright and festive. Trace the half circle onto the wrong side of the fabric. Cut out Ľ to ˝ inch outside the drawn line. Place this fabric right side down onto your choice of lining fabric (either the same fabric or an alternate fabric).

Step two:

Shorten the length of your sewing machine stitch. Sew on the drawn line, along the curved part of the design, for 2 inches, stop and insert elastic (or one piece of ribbon) with only the end tip poking out of the seam allowance (pin in place if that is easier for you), continue sewing over the elastic and sew until you have an 2 inches left of the curved edge to be sewn. Reach under your fabric and grab the other end of the elastic (try not to twist it) or the other piece of ribbon, insert this end with the raw end poking out from the fabric edge, just as you did on the first piece (pin, if necessary) and continue to sew to the end of the curve. Turn and press.

Step three:

With fabric right sides together* (add optional tassel now-see directions below), match the two remaining raw edges and stitch with a Ľ inch seam (or serge), then using a short, narrow zig zag stitch, zig zag between the stitching line and the raw edges to reinforce. Trim. Turn right side out and admire your party hat.**

*to make a tassel

—Cut a 14-16 inch piece of thin yarn (baby weight or specialty yarn), pearl cotton, or embroidery floss and fold it back upon itself once, twice, three times (you should have 4 loops on one end), holding the middle tightly, insert the half with the 4 loops into the right side tip of the hat and start sewing the last opening closed. After zig zagging cut off the yarn that remains inside the hat. Or try a small piece of tulle netting*** to give the medieval Princess effect.
**Or glue a tiny pompom on the tip to complete the party look.
Go ahead, put the party hat onto your nearest Beanie Baby and make his/her day!

Other suggestions:

1. These hats could also be made from felt and you could eliminate the lining fabric. However, you would see the spot where you sewed the elastic on.
2. Heavy paper is also an option and you could glue or staple the hat together then staple on the elastic.
3. Use a contrasting lining fabric and you can turn up a small brim on the front of the hat.
4. If you have a programmable sewing machine you can embroider the name of the child, the name of his/her school or team or the name of the beanie baby on the hat before the final sewing step.
5. The 5 inch circle seems to work best with the beanie babies that sit up like the teddy bears and bunnies. Beanie Babies that lay down, like the seal have smaller heads and work better with a 4 ˝ inch circle. Others (like the inchworm, the ladybug, the flamingo and the toucan) have very small heads, start with a 4 inch circle to fit them.
6. How about green and orange hats for Easter? Make the hat from orange fabric and in place of the tassel cut a 3 to 4 inch square of fine tulle netting***, fold in quarters and grab the middle with your fingers and twist tightly. Place the twist in the folded edge of the last sewing step and sew closed over the netting. After turning your hat fluff up the netting and trim, if necessary. Finely woven netting with very small holes works best for this effect.
7. Try black hats for Halloween witches.
8. Use felt and a bright flower color and you can cut the edges to make your hat look like a flower with petals.
9. As you will be able to tell after making several of these, it would be easy to ‘party hat’ your child’s entire doll or stuffed animal collection just by changing the size of the original circle.
10. On some Beanie Babies 4 inches of elastic may be too long. However, if small fingers are trying to manipulate putting the hat on the stuffed animal it is better to use too long a piece as too small. You can try to use ribbon instead of elastic but make sure the child knows how to tie first.

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