https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/eah-hat-accessory • Posted by Kara B.
A simple, no-sew hat for your EAH (or MH) dolls! I've noticed that accessories are really hard to come by for these dolls. Their scale is a bit odd all around, and Mattel hasn't produced any sort of accessory line (or even a followup 'outfit' line like they do for Barbie!). So, I took it into my own hands to make one myself. I'm not great at tiny sewing, yet, so I did it the old fashioned way!
A simple, no-sew hat for your EAH (or MH) dolls! I've noticed that accessories are really hard to come by for these dolls. Their scale is a bit odd all around, and Mattel hasn't produced any sort of accessory line (or even a followup 'outfit' line like they do for Barbie!). So, I took it into my own hands to make one myself. I'm not great at tiny sewing, yet, so I did it the old fashioned way!
First, measure your doll's head. Be sure to measure a bit loosely, to include the thickness of the hair, but snugly enough that the hat won't fall off easily!
Next, apply the measurement for the circumference of the head to the cardstock. Go thin, because this is just the base of the hat. I'm going for a classic snapback cap.
Check the fit, and make any adjustments that you need to.
I used cardstock to make the front of the hat, and used tissue paper to check the size and fit of the bill before applying it to cardstock. To get a nice, symmetrical bill, fold the tissue paper in half before cutting the shape. Next, take a long strip of masking tape and fold it in half, sticky sides together, with a bit overhanging to stick to the inside of the band. (See the pic: they look like bunny ears right now!)
Fold the masking tape ears over the doll's head and tape down. Repeat over the entire head, being sure to bend and tape down any corners or visible seams.
Until it looks like this!
Here's a shot of the back, with the visible snapback. At this point, I've also begun to 'seal' the hat with modpodge and torn tissue paper, a sort of poor man's paper mache. This will keep the masking tape safe from peeling up.
Once the tissue paper is evenly layered and has dried, use the modpodge to begin laying down the flocking powder. I have plenty of flocking powder in various colors lying around from making shirts, but you can pick some up at JoAnn's, Hobby Lobby, or on Amazon for fairly inexpensive. You can also make your own by finely cutting satin ribbon! I found the flocking powder worked best when put on in small sections, and pinching the powder up and pressing into it firmly. Let it dry before tapping the loose powder off, then repeat over the entire hat.
After all of the powder is in place, grab some fabric (or print out a pattern) that you like, and use the same tissue paper pattern piece for making the bill to cut the design to shape. (I Googled some comic book style pattern, and scaled it down to wallet size so the scale was right for the doll!) Modpodge it on.
This step is optional. If you didn't cut the patterned fabric/paper to the exact size, you can take a second piece of cardstock and wrap tissue paper (or fabric, or simply paint it), and then glue that underneath the bill. It gives it a bit more stiffness/thickness! (Again, totally optional.)
Test the fit, pose a little, and you're done! Your doll now has her (or his) very own snapback ball cap!