Introduction: Burton's Mad Hatter Hat
This are instructions to make the Mad Hatter Hat from the new Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland
Step 1: Cardboard Box
The size of the cardboard will be the measurement of your head, remember to add half to one extra inch of size so that it can fit over the wig.
How tall you want it is up to you, I made it the size of my head and a half, after this cut strips about an inch or 2 apart. DO NOT go all the way through the cardboard except on the bottom and top tabs that will be used to glue the top and the visor.
Step 2: Make Cylinder
Fold it and tape from the inside so that you end up with a cylinder, you will get a good idea of how tall it will be from here, just remember you will loose about 2-3 inches when you expand it.
Step 3: Make Expansion
Once you have it taped cut through the strips to a little more than half way down the hat, then bend each strip outwards so that you end up with something like this.
Step 4: Top Part and Visor
Cut a large circle, this circle will give your hat its size on the top, to measure according. Cut 2 of this circles, one will serve of that expansion the other as the main cover. Then using the cylinder trace the circle to be cut out of the visor part, draw another circle the same size as the top circles and draw the sides so that it has an oval shape you should end up with this.
NOTE: Use the circle and trace the pattern on the cloth that will be used to cover the hat, do the same with the visor, but trace it twice, one for the top part and one for the bottom. You should do this now because it will be very hard to do this once the hat is assembled.
Step 5: Glue Visor
To put it together insert the hat into the visor and then just fold the tabs and glue on the bottom using hot glue sticks.
Step 6: Top Part
The circle for the top should hold by itself right where the tabs fold, inserting the top part will give your hat the expanded look, now just glue the tabs on preferably by gluing one then its opposite counterpart. This will help keep your top centered.
Step 7: Almost Done (not Really)
Once this is done glue your second top circle on top so that it will cover the tabs and it will give the top of your hat a smooth look.
Now take your hat and using a water bottle wet the edges of the visor, wait till it is completely wet and fold upwards, use something heavy to keep the folds in place and wait until it has completely dried, this way you will get the folded edges look of the hat.
Step 8: Cloth
Buy a green patterned cloth of your choice, first glue the top circle that you all ready cut, glue the excess to the sides of the hat. For the body of the hat cut your cloth into strips then into squares and glue one by one. I found out using a prit stick worked best and it is less messy. After this is done glue the bottom part of the visor folding the excess onto the top of the visor, then glue the top and then just trim, Wrap a salmon colored scarf to the hat it should hang down all the way to the back.
Step 9: Details
Glue buttons onto coat hangers and stick them into the hat, I also glued some feathers to the other side and finally add the 10/6 card and you are done (the 10/6 is the price of the hat by the way)
Now you have the hat on the last step you will see my whole costume and I'll tell you about the clothing.
Step 10: Complete Costume
For the rest of the costume I got everything from a thrift store, brown coat, colorful vest, salmon shirt, black with bright accents scarf/bow, striped pants and extra scarfs to pin to the coat. I used about 24 thread spools that are held together with yarn to make the "bullet belt" on the chest and the wig is a regular orange clown afro wig that I straightened with a regular hair straightener, and that is it.
Good Luck and remember Why is a raven like a writers desk?
Because Poe wrote on both

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122 Comments
3 years ago
Thank you so much for posting this awesome, doable build. Worked perfect for my daughter's theater performance.
3 years ago
I love your ideas and tutorials, if it wasn't 5 a.m I'd start immediately! I think I'm going to give it a try and make one on a much, much smaller scale for one of my dolls lol Has anyone tried to do so? xx
5 years ago
I love your idea.. sending picture of the one I made
Reply 3 years ago
OMG, I love this one!!!
Reply 5 years ago
It looks amazing!!!!!! Just in time for All Hallows, and the rest of the year, why not.
4 years ago
Me at the Renaissance Faire. Everyone was stopping me to take my photo and telling me how much they loved my hat! Even people that worked there!
Question 5 years ago on Step 10
Love the instructions and inspiration, but do you recommend using hair clips or something else to help keep the hat in place? And did you use spray adhesive or hot glue for the fabric? Tia
5 years ago on Introduction
Haven't made mine yet but really appreciate your thorough and easy to follow instructions. I was considering buying something but with your detailed guide, I think I can do so much better. Thank you.
Reply 5 years ago
Thank you very much, go forth and creativize!!! Godspeed builder!
5 years ago on Introduction
It is called the Brim, not Visor!
6 years ago
I'm not understanding the fabric instructions someone please help??
Reply 6 years ago
Basically the rim you just cut the fabric the same shape, leave the top part for the rim a bit longer so you can wrap it around to cover the edge.
The top part same indication, the sides are strips, about an inch and a half thick, overlap them around the body of the top hat, flip them on the top and then put on the top fabric part.
7 years ago
Thank you for putting this tutorial together. I used your great idea and turned it into a card box for my niece's graduation party. I added all sorts of things, from a large Queen of Hearts card with accompanying playing cards to a toy tea set and a pocket watch. She loves Alice in Wonderland, and thinks I'm the greatest uncle in the world. She loved it! Thanks, Badia.
Reply 6 years ago
that's awesome I was thinking the same thing! I planning a sweet 16 party for my daughter end of april and theme is alice in wonderland I want to turn the mad hatter hat into a card box could you share any ideas on how big you chose to go? to ensure cards fit? thank you
6 years ago
Parabéns e obrigada por me ensinar a fazer esse maravilhoso chapéu!!!!
7 years ago
Thank you so much for this tutorial. For this Halloween I am going to be the Mad Hatter, and I didn't want to spend a ton of money for a costume. This saved me budget wise.
8 years ago
decided to make this for my drama assignment...any tips on approx. how much fabric I would need?
8 years ago
Your tutorial is nicely laid out and came in handy for a costume horse event last Haloween. We won First prize, of course. I had to improvise a bit and build the hat around my helmet. It was quite large but came out great. Thank you!!!
9 years ago on Introduction
I made a Mad Hatter themed Easter Bonnet. It won first prize whoop ! Thanks for the tutorial xxx
9 years ago on Introduction
i used it for my Drama exam!!! thank you so much