Introduction: Shark Attack Hat

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Get warm with a cool and scary shark attack hat. This lined hat is fairly simple, and is sure to be the coolest hat out there!

Step 1: Materials

To make one, you will need:

• ½ yard of dark gray fleece
• ¼ yard of light gray fleece
• ¼ yard of light stretchy knit
• Black and White fleece or felt scraps
• A handful of stuffing
• patience

*You will need a machine, and all the tools/things that you need to operate it

Step 2: Cutting It All Out

There are four basic parts to the Shark Attack Hat. The brim, the top of the shark, the bottom of the shark, and the lining.

Starting with the brim, just cut a rectangle of 6 inches by about 21 inches of dark gray fleece. Cut it on the fold. You will have to adjust the length so it fits you head, if you mess up this part, you'll have a lot of trouble later. (If in doubt, cut larger!)

Cut your brim in half lengthwise, so you have two skinny long rectangles. Fold one in half and place on clean table/counter space. (Pic 3) This will be your guide for cutting out the shark tail part.

Start with the top of the shark. I didn't have very much fleece, so I used a rectangle (about 7x12") And placed it diagnally on the brim. (Pic 3).
Now take a rectangle of light gray fleece (about 4x7") and place it in the area between the other two pieces. (pic 3)

Use chalk and trace a football-like shape with a shark tail in the end. (pic 4 and 5) You should have doubles of each piece.

For the lining, you can use the pattern (last pic) And cut 4 triangle pieces. You may have to enlarge it, Just do the math. My length along the bottom was 6 inches, x 4 is 24 inches. That sounds big but each seam takes off about ¾ an inch.

Cut a dorsal and 2 pectoral fins, 2 copies of each. You'll also need to cut eyes and about 40 little teeth, but you can figure that out later.

Step 3: Sewing the Shark Together

Start with the fins. Make sure that the right sides are together and sew close to the edge. Turn and put aside.

Take the top of the shark, the dark gray part, and mark where the light gray meets it right below the tail. Insert the dorsal fin and pin in place. Sew the two pieces together, over the fin and around the tail, stopping where you marked.

Take your shark's underbelly, and sew the on the two light gray pieces together.

Now you have an underbelly and a back. Put them together and pin at the tail. Insert the pectoral fins about an inch from the bottom and pin. Then sew all the way around. You now have your shark body, ready to be made into a hat.

Step 4: Sewing on the Brim

First, sew the back of the brim together, so that you have a circle shape.

Keeping the brim inside-out, put it on the right-side out shark body. (Like above) Scoot it up until bottom edges meet. Sew along the edge.

Once you get that finished, flip your brim down and admire. Try it on in the mirror to make sure it fits.

Step 5: Sewing the Teeth In

Now you will have to cut out all your teeth. There are two ways to do this. I cut out each individual tooth before I sewed it, and then just went slowly putting them in one by one. Or you can just sew in a white strip, and cut the teeth shapes when your done. They would both work, so do whatever you feel most comfortable with.

I made my teeth ruffly an inch long and ½ wide. You could make them bigger, or make a couple layers of teeth. With just one slightly spaced apart row, I had 37 teeth.

To sew them in, start with your shark body right-side out and the second brim piece inside out. Put the brim over the other brim part. (Right sides together) Put a few teeth in and start sewing, stopping every couple teeth to add more.

If you did the strip way of teeth, just put the strip in between the two brim pieces, and sew keeping all three edges aligned.

Once you've finished, turn right-side out and trim any teeth that look too long. It is nice to have some variety though.

Step 6: Add the Eyes

What's a shark without eyes? Cut out of fleece or felt two white circles about 1½ inches in diameter, and then two black circles about an inch in diameter. You can make different style eyes if you want. Be creative! :)

Sew on the eyes, about 2 inches away from the side seams. I sewed the black circle on first so I wouldn't have to change my thread an extra time. I doesn't really matter which order you do it in, just remember to start with the right color thread.

After you get that done, you can sew a tiny speck of white in the corner of the eye. It gives it a lot more character and doesn't make it look so flat.

Step 7: Adding the Lining

Take your four pieces of knit and sew them all together, making a bowl type shape. Start with your hat and the lining inside out. Put the two together and pin, matching at the seam. Sew around the edge, leaving a space big enough to turn it. Turn it right side out and try it on. You may need to make adjustments to the lining so it fits nicely inside the hat.

Turn right side out when finished. You can stuff the tail with a bit of stuffing, I think it makes it look fuller and rounder, giving it a nice shape. Don't forget to stitch up the hole!

Now, all that's left is to go enjoy your hat!!

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