So, you don't want to put a plate on your head

Hello again friends! I went from no posts for 5 years, to 2 posts in 1 day! WOW. Please don't expect me to keep up with this break neck pace. You will just be disappointed.

It occurs to me that some of you may not want to put plates on your heads. "Rachel", you'll ask, "isn't there another way?" Well yes, dear reader, there is. Also, not gonna lie, it's a little creepy that you know my name. But I'll get over it, probably.

The good news is that once you great a template, you can reuse it pretty much forever since your adult head size isn't going to fluctuate nearly as much as your waistline. The bad news is that this is going to require the dreaded Math. Duh Duh Duuuunnnnnn.

So, this is really just a couple of circles. If you remember your basic mathematical formulas for determining circumference, and radius of a circle, hurrah. You're a better student than I am. I had to hit the google. Speaking of the Google, you can find a circle calculator that will math for you! Huzzah!!!!!

So, with that bit of info out of the way, let's get to it. For this project you're going to need a measuring tape, pencil, poster board (or large paper/newspaper/wrapping paper) and scissors. (oh, and the circle calculator)

Measure around your head. This is the circumference of your circle. This number will then be fed into the calculator in order to find the radius. My head is about 24 inches around, so that gives me a radius of 3.82. Now, I don't want this hat falling down around my ears. So I'm going to want a circumference slightly smaller than my actual head. I'm going to start with a radius of 3.5 (C=22) and adjust until comfortable.


Using these measurements, you are going to draw a circle onto your poster board. I like poster board best because it's large enough to not have to piece it together, and it's a bit more substantial that newspaper or wrapping paper. It's going to last a bit and stand up to multiple hat making endeavors. Wrapping paper will work in a pinch. But I like to iron the wrapping paper so it doesn't roll up on itself while I'm working (#ProTip #LifeHack)

Everyone has their favorite way of drawing circles. You can choose a center point and then measure out a bajillion tiny dots and draw a line to connect them. Or you can use the old pushpin-and-a-string method. Basically put a pushpin in the center of your circle and then tie a pencil along the end of a string that is the length of your radius. Lovely, even circle.

Now that wasn't so hard, was it? Basically painless! And you did a thing, way to go! I'm proud of you :)

Next step is adding the brim. We're going to make another circle with a radius about 2-3 inches longer. This can be accomplished by adding 2-3 inches to the string you used to draw out the 1st circle and  using the same push pin as an anchor.
Or you can measure a bunch of dots 2-3 inches out from various points along the perimeter of your 1st circle. However you do it, you should end up with 2 circles that look like this

Still with me? This is all pretty easy, right? It sounded intimidating, but you made it this far, and I'm proud of you. Next we're going to add in a seam allowance. Along the interior of the inner circle, using your finger as a guide (or a ruler if you wanna be fancy. It's .5 inch) draw in another circle. This is where you will actually cut. It is slightly smaller, because you're going to lose that .5 inch to seam allowance. If you cut along your 22" circle and then sew .5" in, that opening will jump to just over 25" which is kind of a huge jump. And it's going to droop around your ears like Fievel

Here's what your pattern should look like at this point. (minus the lines and numbers. That's just for your reference.) Go ahead and carefully cut along the dashed red, inner line, and the outermost line. You now have a poster board doughnut. Just don't eat it! If you feel the temptation is too strong, put your project down and take a break. You might even want to head down to your favorite doughnut shop for a tasty treat. I think you've earned it by now. Make sure you thoroughly wash your hands before picking your project back up.

And there you go. You've made your hat pattern. Try it on your head. Pull the blinds so the neighbors don't see. Otherwise they'll think you're a crazy person. And next thing you know, their kids aren't allowed to play with your kids, and they're crossing the street to avoid you when walking to the mailbox.
As you try it on, you can clip to the seam allowance every inch or so and bend the poster board up. That will give you a good idea of the size it will be when sewn together. Adjust as needed until you are comfortable with the fit. Remember, it should perch lightly on your head, not come down around your ears.

And that's it. Have fun, make hats, go to art school, invade Austria......wait. Um, maybe not that last one. Have another doughnut instead.