Cold-Weather Cuteness #1: Hat

There once was a time where I’d buy things just to get a present out of my parents. Example: a baby blue cable knit RALPH LAUREN hat with a YELLOW polo person thing. I NEVER wore it. I’m pretty sure I got it on a trip to North Conway, Maine - which dates this chapeau to EASILY 1998. Which makes it okay for me to decorate it and make it wearable. I mean, I AM preppy, but not THAT preppy. Plus, that yellow horse-guy really just doesn’t match anything.

Enter inspirational Elle Woods, of Legally Blonde. This hat is one of her cuter accessories from the movie [okay, ALL her accessories are fab], and I never really got over giant flowers. SJP as Carrie Bradshaw as dressed by Patricia Field? I’m talking to you.

ANYWAYS, onto the craft. I wanted to make this idiotic looking plain hat look more charming.

Things You Need:

• 1 old knit hat that can use some SPUNK
• 1 big flower brooch OR any large brooch OR 1 fake flower [but if it's not a pin, be prepared to use the glue gun]
• T-shirt sleeve scraps [think the pieces leftover from the vest below]
• Safety pins
• Scissors
• Glue gun & glue - optional

How To:

1. Cut the sleeve off of the t-shirt scraps, and trim the seams off and open it so it’s long.
2. Cut 3 approximately equal width strips from the sleeve - and pull them to stretch them out, so they’re long and skinny.
3. Using a safety pin to hold the 3 strips together, make a braid.
4. Cut evenly spaced out small slits around the edge of the hat, where you’d like to weave your braided fabric through - for a weaved ribbon look. Be careful and cut your slits small and fairly spaced out but not too close to the bottom - knits rip easily!!
5. Weave the braid through - using a glue gun, glue the ends to the hat (weave it so the ends are on the inside!).
6. Attach brooch/pin/flower over the point where the ends of the braid meet.
7. Braid your hair, clean your smart-girl glasses, and be Elle Woods for a day!

   

   

   Some things I used

   
   

   

   3 "even" strips of fabric

   

   Pulled strips

   
   

   

   Braided pieces

   

   Almost ready!

   
   

   

   Done & ready for wearing!!

   
   

Craft Level: Easy
Estimated Time: 15-20 minutes, including internet research time on Patricia Field.

Stay tuned for some more cold weather cuteness! Up next: Cozy Fleece Scarf with Pockets!

Tags: brooch, cute, elle woods, hat, recycled