Introduction: How to Make a Pair of Fleece Twi'Lek Lekku to Wear As a Hat.
Materials List:
Blue Flece (blanket from Ikea £5)
Brown Fleece (blanket from Asda £2)
Polysyrene Beads (£3 from Hobby Craft for more than enough beads)
Brown and Blue/white Thread
3 Inches of sew in Velcro or other sutible fastning.
I wanted to make some proper latex Lekku like the excellent Pam at Pam' Twi'lek Creations but I don't have the facilities at home so I went with what I know and sewed them.
This was all guess work, not really working from a pattern and only really drawing upon a pattern for a jesters hat.
The hat is filled with polystyrene balls so its really cozy.
(Needless to say I do not own rights to this, I have nothing to do with Lucas Arts and this is simply a bit of fun and I won't be selling them or profiting in anyway.)
Step 1: Measure and Cut
The measurements you need are: Around your head from the nape of your neck to the front of your forehead (tophead), around your head over your ears (roundhead) and the length you want your Lekku (LL).
My roundhead is 60cm. My tophead is 40cm. My LL is 80cm.
Once you have that you can mark the shapes then cut them out.
Step 2: Check and Sew
Sew along the two longest sides. Due to the nature of fleece, the bottom fabric will feed faster than the top (unless you have a walking foot) but as long as you are neat it won't cause a problem but will not lie flat.
Sew the ends in such a way that when you turn it right ways out the ends will be pointy.
Step 3: Pin and Sew the Straight Bits
Now sew the straight bits together. (Sorry, it isn't a particularly good picture.)
Step 4: Inside the Hat
Cut two half moons and sew them together to create a simple beanie hat. Plonk it on your head and adjust to a good fit as this will be the inside of your lekku.
The second picture is the pointy bits from the last step inside the beanie so that it can be sewn in.
Step 5: Sewing in the Lining
I don't have any photos for this bit because this is a hindsight fix. The line highlighted below is where I have sewn to keep the stuffing in the tails and out of the head bit. Its a semi circle that takes in as much of the head bit as possible to avoid a big head. I did this after I stuffed it but I really recommend you do it before you stuff it.
Step 6: Stuffing
I used a toilet roll tube and a cone of paper to do the stuffing. I tried a plastic funnel but the static stopped the balls from going through it. It was possible to do this alone but a lot less hassle if someone else helps.
As you pour the balls in, make sure you squeeze them right down into the tips. XD
Keep checking the shape as it is way easier to get the stuffing in than it is to get it out. I made an absolute mess because I over stuffed at first and those things are a real pain to clean up.
Step 7: Hat/head-dress Bit
Cut a rectangle of brown fleece and round the corners off. This rectangle should be big enough to wrap around the back of your head and those blue bits should go over your ears.
Step 8: Ears
Cut two rings out of brown fleece and two circles out of blue fleece the same size. Put the blue over the cone of brown fleece then the ring over the top and stitch down.
If I were to make this again I would make the blue bits smaller and maybe have them sticking out a bit more.
Step 9: Tail Straps
Cut two half inch strips a couple of metres long each. Then wrap around from head to tip then back again crossing over.
Step 10: Sewing Head-dress to Head
Cut another long stip, thicker this time so you can hem it. I started from the back then wraped around the front, tucked it under the other brown bit and out round the front again. This bit was really hard to photograph because its brown on brown so i'll label as best I can and then you can just give yours a good eyeball and figure it out.
In these photos everything is just pinned. When it comes to sewing it make sure everything is in place (ie. the tail strips) so you don't have to make too many passes with the sewing machine.
Step 11: Velcro/chin-strap
I sewed a strap underneath to keep the flaps down over my ears.
I've used a previous picture to illustrate where I put the strap and velcro.
Step 12: Done!
And there you have it.
If you have any questions about my garbled instructable then feel free to ask.
18 Comments
9 years ago on Introduction
this tutorial looks helpful, but it most certainly is not. I went out, bought materials, which she does not specify as to how much fabric you'd need, and ended up with not enough. Please add more detail about that EXACTLY you're measuring, and what is being drawn into the pattern.
10 years ago on Step 4
It took me a full minute of staring at your last photo to realize the half moon pieces are pulled out of the hat. I kept trying to figure out where that 'extra' piece of fabric was coming from XD.
10 years ago on Step 12
I am def. going to make one of these before winter this year.. I wear Aayla as a costume, and it'd be fun to have this as a hat too! I need to remake my lekku, and I might just use your basic fleece pattern when I do that - my costume ones are cloth - spandex.
10 years ago on Introduction
Um my friend and I seem to be having issues with your measurements. We are confused as to which ones go where on the pattern. Help!
11 years ago on Introduction
This reminds me of a hat I saw on deviantART, but you took this amazing idea to a whole new level of awesomeness by adding the the headband and laces on the Lekku. Good work!
http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2010/217/1/2/Twi__lek_Hat_by_Allyson_x.jpg
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
Their hat is probably more wearable on a daily basis though!
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
Very true, unless one lives in a town full of Star Wars fans!
11 years ago on Introduction
you look absolutely nuts in that hat
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
Um...thank you? :-)
11 years ago on Introduction
This is AWESOME! I'm totally going to make myself one. Thanks for sharing!
12 years ago on Introduction
that is so sad, and yet somehow i would wear it.
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
I know, I'm such a loser! But...I'm a loser with a warm head! :-D To be honest though, so far, this is an indoor hat. :-)
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
i would wear it outside with pride! :D
12 years ago on Introduction
nice! yay to making up your own patterns, that's how the best stuff is created:)
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
It is fun to make up patterns but I would love to see the day Vogue or Simplicity release Lekku patterns! :-D
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
I'd probably buy more of their patterns if they did!
12 years ago on Introduction
Oh.. I am so making these when I can get myself to IKEA. Blue fleece. Lekku eared hat. I'm so there. <3 Thanks for the tutoriaaal!
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
Glad to hear it! I think its buy one blanket get one free in Asda at the moment too. Have fun!