Jenny Whitlock models her Derby hat creation.

Mama likes: Making Derby Hats

Can we all just take a moment to admit that the Kentucky Derby, with all of its parades and balloons and pretty horses, is not a kid holiday? I know, you probably go to the Pegasus Parade and the Great Steamboat Race and are indignant that I would even suggest such a sentiment. Put it this way: The Derby revolves around gambling and bourbon. Not family friendly. That said, we Louisvillians have gussied up the event, turned it into a weeklong and then a monthlong celebration. Even Jefferson County Public Schools cancels school on Oaks Day to acknowledge the need for teachers to don their widest brimmed hats and head to the tracks.

Just so you don’t think I’m a Derby hater, I’ll admit, I enjoy several of the festival highlights and traditions. The Cherokee Triangle Art Fair is probably my favorite. Here you can always find me shackled to the children’s craft tent where both of my kids get busy making Derby hats. It occurred to me that this fun Derby tradition could easily be parlayed into a home activity, so I contacted my crafty friend Jenny Whitlock and together we (mostly she) came up with some Derby hat projects made from copies of The Paper for you and your kids. Happy crafting! And don’t worry, the newsprint washes right off.

Illustrations by Carrie Neumayer.

Illustrations by Carrie Neumayer.

The Derby Hat

Almost as signature as sleek thoroughbreds and mint juleps, ladies’ Derby hats have been worn to the track since the first Derby in 1875. Visitors to Churchill Downs and viewers at home enjoy gawking over the hats worn to the track. Here’s one your kids can make in a matter of minutes and enjoy flaunting around the neighborhood.

Materials:

A copy of The Paper

Clear tape

A small bowl

Stickers, feathers, pom poms, tissue paper, markers, or other decorations

 

  1. Lay down one spread (two connected pages) of The Paper, flat on the table.
  2. Loop two to three pieces of clear tape and stick them to this page. Take another spread of The Paper and lay it askew of the first piece, pressing down so the top sheet adheres to the tape on the bottom sheet.
  3. Take both sheets and wrap them around a small bowl that is close to the size of your child’s head. Fold and tape The Paper around the bowl to get a tight fit.
  4. Take a third spread of The Paper and roll it on a diagonal until you have a long, narrow band. Circle this band around the sheets resting on the bowl, close to the rim. This will be the hat band.
  5. Use loops of clear tape underneath the band to adhere it to the base of the hat.
  6. Take the hat off of the bowl and adjust the brim by folding up the ends and taping them down or just leave the ends asymmetrical for a bold fashion statement.
  7. Add finishing touches with stickers, feathers, pom poms, tissue paper, or markers.
Illustrations by Carrie Neumayer.

Illustrations by Carrie Neumayer.

The Pork Pie Hat

Derby hats are not just ladies’ wear. To make a fashionable pork pie hat for your fine dressed mister, you will need greater height than a bowl can provide. The process for making the pork pie is basically the same as the ladies’ Derby hat.

Materials:

A copy of The Paper

Clear tape

A small metal or plastic pail

Stapler

Stickers, feathers, pom poms, tissue paper, markers, or other decorations

 

  1. Lay down one spread of The Paper and tape a second spread on top of it, slightly askew.
  2. Fit these sheets around an overturned pail, taping as you go for a tight fit.
  3. Take a third spread of The Paper and fold it on the diagonal to create the hat band and attach this with loops of clear tape to the hat toward the lip of the pail.
  4. Men’s hats have small brims, so fold the brim up and tape or staple it in place until you have the width you prefer.
  5. Take the hat off of the pail and gently crease the top of the crown. You may want to staple the sides of the crown into place to maintain the crease.
  6. Add a feather or press pass in the band to look like a reporter. We added a bumper sticker from The Paper.

 

Illustrations by Carrie Neumayer.

Illustrations by Carrie Neumayer.

The Fascinator

Dating back to the 17th century, fascinators have long been considered fashion statements, but came back with a vengeance after two royal weddings in the past 10 years. At The Derby, women started sporting these micro hats in 2011. Your daughters should capitalize on this trend in newspaper form.

Materials:

A copy of The Paper

Clear tape

Stickers, feathers, pom poms, tissue paper, markers, or other decorations

 

Take one spread of The Paper and fold it so that only one page is showing. Fold this doubled-over page two times, as if folding a letter.

On either end of the sheet, fold the sides and tape down, as if you were wrapping a present. The sheet should now look like a rectangle with pointed ends.

To add a flower or flowers to the fascinator, cut a square from a page of The Paper, poke a finger into the middle, and tape the base to the fascinator. You can also do this with tissue paper to add color.

Decorate with feathers and ribbons or whatever you have around the house. Attach the fascinator with four bobby pins, two at each end.

 

 

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