Five Adorable (& Easy) DIY Tea Party Hats

You'll be turning heads in these unique and super cute homemade hats.

Published August 2, 2023
Two young girls having a tea party in the backyard

It's not that often that we get to dress up in a fancy hat these days, and that's one of the many reasons we love a tea party. From adorable floral headpieces for kids to elegant fascinators for grown-ups, this is your chance to break out those crafting skills and make your own DIY tea party hat. You'll get tons of compliments - we guarantee it!

Super Simple Flower Fascinator

woman in purple dress and flower fascinator

A fascinator is a small but bold style of hat that has a ton of personality, and it's really easy to make one out of large flowers. You can pick up artificial blooms in any color at your local craft store.

You Will Need

  • Large fabric flowers
  • Hot glue
  • Hair clip or comb
  • Floral wire
  • Floral tape

Instructions

  1. Cut several large blooms about two inches below the base of the flower.
  2. Use floral wire to attach the flowers to each other to create a fairly flat shape that will look nice as a hat. Trim the stems so they are even with each other.
  3. Wrap the stems in floral tape. Bend them so you can attach them to the clip or comb.
  4. Use hot glue to attach the flowers. Allow it to cool before wearing.
Quick Tip

For a fun variation, add a netting veil in the same color as the flowers. All you have to do is cut a piece of netting and gather it just beneath the blooms. Hand sew it on or hot glue if you're in a hurry.

Butterflies and Blooms DIY Tea Party Hat

Father and daughter having tea party

Nothing says tea party like a hat made of flowers and butterflies. It's easy to find artificial butterflies at your local craft store. This is an adorable hat for kids and adults alike.

You Will Need

  • Several fabric flowers and butterflies
  • 1 piece of craft felt
  • Narrow elastic
  • Hot glue

Instructions

  1. Start by cutting the stems off the flowers so you only have the blooms.
  2. Cut a piece of craft felt in the size you want your hat to be. We recommend an oval about five inches by three inches.
  3. Hot glue the blossoms to the felt, covering the entire felt oval.
  4. Use the hot glue to attach butterflies to the flowers, giving the impression they just landed there.
  5. Sew the elastic to both ends of the felt oval so you have a loop to hold your tea party hat on your head.
Quick Tip

You can get super creative with your color scheme, but we love a tonal look where you use felt, flowers, and butterflies in the same color or range of colors.

Pretty in Pink Floral Straw Hat

woman wearing an elegant victorian style hat

A straw hat is pretty much perfect for a tea party, especially if it's pink! Check your local thrift store for a pink straw hat or use light coats of spray paint on a regular straw hat to make in pink and perfect.

You Will Need

  • Pink straw hat
  • Wide piece of ribbon to go around the crown of the hat
  • Artificial flowers
  • Netting
  • Hot glue
  • Needle & thread

Instructions

  1. Wrap the ribbon around the crown of the hat. If you want the ends to trail, leave them long. Otherwise, cut the ribbon so it barely overlaps itself. Sew the ribbon to itself in the spot it overlaps.
  2. Cut the blooms off artificial flowers and hot glue them to the ribbon band. Space them closely together. You don't have to cover the entire band; the number of flowers is totally up to you.
  3. Cut a piece of netting in an oval, about 36 inches by 12 inches. Gather it at one end and sew that to the band of the hat. Then gather it in the middle and sew that a little further down the band. Finally, attach the other end of the netting oval to the band.
  4. Slip the band on the hat and take a few stitches to hold it in place.

Funky Feathers Tea Party Hat

Woman in a modernist period costume with straw hat

Feathers make everything fancy, and they're actually a super easy way to make a DIY tea party hat that is sure to turn some heads. This is a bold look, perfect for anyone who wants to stand out.

You Will Need

  • Straw hat
  • Feather boa
  • Artificial flowers
  • Lots of hot glue

Instructions

  1. Cut the stems off the flowers so they'll lie flat on the hat.
  2. Hot glue the feather boa to the brim of the hat, working toward the crown. Start by gluing one end and then add some glue periodically as you wrap it around. When you're done, the entire brim should be covered in feathers.
  3. Hot glue the blooms to the hat near the crown, spacing them asymmetrically for extra flair.
Quick Tip

We love this on a white straw hat with white feathers, but it would work in any color you like. Pick flowers that match the color of the feathers.

Vintage Teacup Fascinator

Woman with flowers and cup of tea

If you have an old, chipped antique teacup, you can give it new life as the perfect DIY tea party hat.

You Will Need

  • Two-part epoxy
  • Vintage or antique tea cup and saucer
  • Small artificial flowers
  • Half-inch wide elastic
  • Hot glue

Instructions

  1. Mix up the two-part epoxy. It's easiest to mix it on a paper plate and use a cotton swab to apply it. Work in a well-ventilated spot.
  2. Epoxy the teacup to the saucer.
  3. Double check the length of the elastic to make sure it will be the right size, and epoxy the elastic to the bottom of the saucer. Allow all the epoxy to dry according to the package instructions.
  4. Use hot glue to add flowers to the fascinator, putting a bunch in the saucer, inside the cup if you like, and along the elastic band.

So Many Ways to Be the Best Dressed

No matter what style of DIY tea party hat or fascinator you want to make, there are lots of fun ways to craft your way onto the best dressed list at your next event. If you're hosting a tea party, you can even make DIY hats part of your event.

Five Adorable (& Easy) DIY Tea Party Hats