Captivating Chenille Hats for Fashion Dolls

An Easy DIY Project  

You won't be able to stop making these colorful and playful hats for your favorite fashion doll diva.  They are easy to make and perfect for any season and any occasion.

Walking Suit Silkstone Barbie

Vintage reproduction Barbie

Here's what you will need:

• Chenille pipe cleaners, 12" length.  
• Craft scissors.
• Pen.
• Assorted trims.
• Glue to attach trims.  Sobo or Fabri-Tac work well.
• Doll "hat" pins.
• Felt for lining,  optional.

Begin by taking one 12" pipe cleaner and wrap one end around a pen approximately 4 times as shown above.  Slide the loops off the pen.  At the opposite end bend the pipe cleaner 1/4" and slowly wind into a spiral shape.  This will form the base of your hat.  Continue winding the spiral until it meets the lower loop.  

The arrow in the photo above shows the positioning of the lower loop at the back of the hat.  Gently bend the remainder of the loops up towards the top of the hat.

Viola....your hat is ready to trim.

Black & White Bathing Suit Silkstone Barbie

Here is a simply chic variation.

"Haute Luxuries" Veronique Perrin.  Dress from Bogues Vogues.

This ultra easy, chic hat uses one 12" pipe cleaner.  Form the circular base stopping approximately 2- 1/4" from the end. Loop as shown above.  Turn it over and trim as desired.

Shown in 1:6 Scale

These stylish hats can easily be adapted to the 1:4 scale size dolls such as Gene Marshall and friends.

J'Adore Gene Marshall

You will need two 12" pipe cleaners.  Form a circular base from one of the pipe cleaners.  For the crown section of your hat, use another pipe cleaner to make the loops.  You can play with the size and shaping to get the effect you want.  The crown section can be attached to the base with a small amount of glue.  Let the glue dry thoroughly.  You can also use a pipe cleaner.  Depending on your design, it can be threaded through the base, twisted, or pinched to secure.

Cocoa Crisp Gene Marshall

A rich forest green base accented with brighter apple green loops gives this smart topper panache.

White Orchid Gene Marshall

A charmer demonstrating the different looks you can achieve with a little imagination.  I hope you enjoy making these delightfully whimsical hats.

Credits:

Barbie is from Mattel.
Veronique Perrin and Cocoa Crisp Gene Marshall are from Integrity.
J'Adore and White Orchid Gene Marshall are from JamieShow.
All hats and styling are from The Couture Touch.

Whimsical Hats for Valentine's Day

Gene Marshall 

Miss Marshall's delightful hat was inspired by these delectable concoctions....Enjoy!

1939 Chesterfield ad courtesy vintageadbrowser

February 1940 Life cover

Love this! Reminds me of a little usherette pillbox hat.

Photo courtesy corbisimages

Retro crochet hat pattern, circa 1940's

Joan Crawford, circa 1920's
Photo courtesy Vintage Gal

Happy Valentine's Day Sweeties!

Heavenly Hats for Winter 1940-41

Two guaranteed to put stars in your eyes....an off-the-face silhouette in beaver (top) and a manipulated ruffled brim in velour. Both from Luxor Hat Co., New York.

A marvelous tilt topper with dramatic side feather from Alfreda, New York.

A charming little tilt from Vogue Hats by Garfunkel, New York.

Source:  The Millinery Monitor, October 1940.

Hats for the Zodiac

The prediction is important sales figures for these marvelous Moonglow felts from Salfair, Inc., New York. They were available in Black, Brown, Wine, Gold, Vernon Green, Soldier Blue, Plum, and Red. Here are four styles that were featured in the October 1940 issue of the Millinery Monitor, a trade publication devoted solely to ideas for the sale of millinery.

Style # 267 - Virgo

Style # 264 - Libra

Style # 260 - Sagittarius

Style # 257 - Capricorn

Lecie Originals

Fall, 1943

Fall, 1946

Fall, 1942

Fall, 1946

Lecie Originals was a division of Rosenthal Ackerman Millinery Company, St. Louis/New York.