When I sat down to make these hats I wanted to make something simple to recreate but something that could easily be customized. These would make the perfect props for Holiday photos or simple handmade favors for a Holiday party!!
To make your own elf hat, you will need:
- Felt (green and red)
- a length of yarn the same height you want your hat
- jingle bells (I used red but any color will work)
- matching thread
- Needle
- Scissors
- Sewing machine
How to sew your Felt Elf Hat Pattern
1. Cut between a quarter and a third of a circle out of the green felt (Use your yarn to measure the height you want your hat and to measure the circumference of the head. The circumference of the head will create the distance along the curved edge in the third photo below. Use a generally circular shape, doesn't have to be perfect.)
2. Cut a rectangular strip of red felt and position along the round edge of green felt. Repeat until the entire round edge is lined in red (I used the sheets of craft felt for the red part and just cut the sheet in half vertically. I used three rectangles – a sheet and a half – for the small hat and five rectangles for the large hat.)
3. Using a small seam allowance, sew along the curved line in the hat
4. Trim the extra red felt hanging below the curve of the green felt
5. Flip the red felt to the opposite side of the green (hiding the seam) and pin in place
6. Topstitch along the curve
7. Cut triangular shapes into the red felt (You can be as even or haphazard as you want in this step. I tried to make mine random shapes and sizes.)
8. Fold the hat in half, with right sides together, and sew up the seam.
9. Clip the top corner (making sure not to snip the seam)
10. Flip right side and pop out the point of the hat
11. Sew jingle bells to the point in the hat
12. Check that all the red points look good, trim as needed
(My little monkey refused to sit still for pictures, despite bribes with M&M's.)
Each hat took about 20 minutes, from start to finish. They are perfect, easy projects. My daughter refuses to take her's off now!
I hope you enjoy making your own felt elf hats!!
If you liked our hats, be sure to check out some of our other Christmas projects, with more to come through December!
Hi! I'm Alicia from Felt With Love Designs where my husband, Patrick, and I write about all of our crafty and artistic endeavors. Patrick is the artist behind our designs. I create all our patterns and designs based on his sketches and bring them to life with a needle and thread.
[…] for some low-cost elf-based props for the holidays? This easy felt elf hat pattern is perfect for photo-ops or as part of an elf outfit. A bit of sewing know-how is required for this […]
These are fab. I need to make 30 for my brownies as we are doing all sorts of elf activities running up to Christmas this year. Thank you for sharing.
Hello, what is the actual measurement of felt? Did you just buy the pieces of felt as rectangles and then cut from each piece? I am trying to figure out how much felt to purchase.
Felt comes in big squares or rolls. Make yourself a paper pattern based of the measurements of the person you are doing it for, take it with you to the store. That would be the easiest way to know how much felt to buy.
Thank you for the tutorial. I made 21 elf hats with your post as motivator and just shared on my blog. They were a hit with my family.
Hi Sherry – wowee – 21 elf hats! I bet you needed to clean out your machine after all that felt. I dropped over to your site to take a look, and it made me so happy ! Thanks so much for letting me know – I pinned your article to my Your Sewing Creations board.
So dang cute! Love that even I can do this 🙂 Thanks!
These are so adorable! I’m going to need to make some of these for the kids. Thanks for sharing the pattern.