Stephanie's Projects: Pinwheel Hats

While chasing down useful party items at the 99cent Store, I came across these very bright ball hats and thought to myself, "Self, wouldn't it be fun to have a few people wearing Tweedle-Dee hats?" So I have been brainstorming the best way to turn these headgear items into pinwheel heads.

I went through several drafts in my head. I thought of using a straw and wire, but wasn't really sure how to attach it. I thought of taking the top knob off the hat and attaching it to the top of a straw, but on closer examination I didn't think I could remove the knob. I thought of making a hole on either side, but I really wanted the spinner to spin rather than just be decorative.

In the end, it was just a matter of checking to see if I could in-fact do it. And I choose a non destructive route to try first. I am happy to report that this wheel can easily be removed to make these "normal" (as normal as a brightly obnoxious hat can be) hat.

I used:

Hot Glue
Felt
1/2 a pipe cleaner
cut up milk carton

Yes, the materials look a lot like what I made my Crown with.

First, I cut out my pinwheel shapes from the milk carton plastic. Then covered them in felt after I cut a hole in the center of it to make it easier to cut a hole in it later.

Then take your hat and twist the pipe cleaner around the circle knob tightly.

Stick on the yellow pinwheel piece and wind the rest of the pipe cleaner tightly into a wannabe knob.

I think they are really cute. If I was to make them again, I might just paint the pinwheel rather than felt it to save myself the felt and glue and make it a little lighter for the pipe cleaner. But it got the job done and only took me about 20 minutes to convert 3 hats.