How to Make My DIY Christmas Tree Hat

Christmas crafts might be my favorite, because camp and whimsy are center stage. My DIY Christmas tree hat might be my favorite craft of the year.

I’ll happily make a step-by-step tutorial for next year, but I ran out of time before my travels. Still, I’ll give you the low-down on how to make one of your own!

Gather your supplies

For this project, I used the following:

• Premium felt, shaped into a cone base (You can get this online, but I bought it in store to get a much smaller piece)
• Tulle on a spool
• Sewing Machine or hand stitch with needle and thread (to make ruffles and sew to the base)
• Red tulle by the yard or ribbon to tie
• mini ornaments (I used glitter foam balls)
• adhesive pearls
• hot glue gun

Make the base

Create a cone shape out of felt. Alternately, if you are forgoing sewing and using just a hot glue gun, you can use a party hat as your base. I just eyeballed this to see how big I wanted it. Tip: Cut it out with paper, first — and then use that as your pattern! Remember that it is going to be covered in ruffles, ornaments, or flowers to create a Christmas tree hat, so keep in mind the extra bulk that will add.

Make Ruffles

I used tulle on a spool for the ruffles, since it’s already cut pretty small but has lots of length. I folded it over once, basted on the folded side, and made ruffles the old fashioned way by just pulling one of the threads and gathering it by hand. Don’t want to go through the effort? Buy pre-made ruffled trim for your Christmas tree hat!

Attach Ruffles to the base

I stitched my ruffles line by line before sewing the actual cone together, while Courtney hot-glued hers onto a pre-made cone (party hat). Either way is fine! I just like the finish of stitches vs glue.

Attach Tulle sashes

Use tulle or ribbon to make the bow sash that keeps your hat in place. Attach it to the insides of the hat — one on each side. I hand-stitched mine.

Decorate

This is the most fun part! Decorate your tree as you wish. Add a star topper by gluing stars on both sides of a toothpick and inserting it at the tip of the cone. Your Christmas tree hat is done!