Fabric Hat Ornament Made From A Ribbon Spool

Judy Tosh
by Judy Tosh
6 Materials
$5
4 Hours
Easy

What do you do with all those empty ribbon spools you end up with during the holiday seasons? You make fabric hat ornaments!

This project is similar to making Yarn Hat Ornaments except you are using fabric.

If you are not familiar with Yarn Hat Ornaments, check out this website for instructions and a video on how they are made:

http://www.craftelf.com/Christmas_ornament_Yarn_hat.htm

Here's what you need:

*Empty ribbon spool (1.5 inch ribbon size spool was used for this project)

*Fat quarter of fabric

*Glue

*1 12 inch piece of yarn, ribbon, or string

*2 or 3 Paper towels or tissues

*Embellishments (plastic snowflakes were used for this project)

Take the empty ribbon spool and remove the cardboard circles from the center spool. Some are easier to remove than others, but it does not have to be perfect since the spool will be covered with fabric.

Iron the fabric to remove the wrinkles and make it more manageable. You don't need to prewash the fabric since this is a project that doesn't get washed.

Make sure you have your fabric open with the right side facing up for the next step.

Hold the spool and fabric together and roll from one side to the other until you have an inch overlap. Mine measured 9 inches which is half the size of the fabric piece. Cut off the excess fabric. Spread glue on the cardboard spool all the way around the outside. Make sure to smooth the glue down so there are no bubbles or globs of glue.

Set the spool down about an inch from the top and side edge of the right side of the fabric, making sure it is straight and even with the edge of the fabric.

Pull the side edge of the fabric up and smooth it over the glue. Begin rolling the spool along the fabric to the other side making sure it adheres to the glue, smoothing out bubbles as you go. Glue down the overlap of fabric.

This is what it should look like once the fabric is glued to the spool.

Spread just enough glue on the inside of the spool to glue down the top edge of the fabric encasing the edge of the spool.

This is what it will look like once the top edge of the fabric is pushed in and glued to the inside of the spool. Be sure to smooth out any bubbles as best as you can - it won't be perfect. Let all that dry for a couple of hours or overnight.

Smooth out the rest of fabric.

Push the excess fabric through the spool to the other side. The right side of the fabric is now showing.

Once all the fabric is pulled through, smooth and straighten it out.

Tie a piece of yarn, ribbon, or string into a bow about 4 inches from the edge of the spool.

Stuff paper towels or tissues inside to give the hat fullness to you liking. Adjust the yarn up or down to make the hat taller or shorter as desired. Tie the yarn into a tight knot when you have it where you want it. Cut off the excess fabric leaving about 2 inches to create a pom pom. Lightly glue the seam of the fabric so that it doesn't open up.

Cut the 2 inches of fabric into 1/8" to 1/4" strips down to the yarn to create a pom pom - be sure to not cut the yarn.

Add embellishments (I used small white and blue plastic snowflakes)

I also made a pink one and embellished it with a rose.

You can hang these hats on the tree or use them as décor on a mantel or table.

Resources for this project:
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  • Frances Anderson Frances Anderson on Nov 30, 2018

    I often make these with wool and the cardboard rolls for gift wrap. Always wanted something bigger. Thinking cardboard base gift ribbon and I have a gift hat box for sweets and small presents like cookies. Thank you so much am inspired xxx

  • Judy Tosh Judy Tosh on Nov 30, 2018

    Glad I am able to inspire you! At Hobby Lobby, I picked up a long hard cardboard tube that is used for Home Décor fabric. It was sitting by their trash can in the fabric department. I will have to cut it with a miter saw but I will be able to get quite a few hats from it.

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