3 Ways To Make Your Own Graduation Hats - WikiHow

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• Hatmaking (Millinery)

How to Make Your Own Graduation Hats Download Article Co-authored by Claire Donovan-Blackwood

Last Updated: February 24, 2025 Fact Checked

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• Decorating a Graduation Hat
|
• Creating a Graduation Hat
|
• Making a Tassel
|
• Video
|
• Q&A
|
• Tips
|
• Things You'll Need

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This article was co-authored by Claire Donovan-Blackwood. Claire Donovan-Blackwood is an Arts & Crafts Specialist and CEO of Heart Handmade UK, a site dedicated to helping people live a happy, creative life. With over 13 years of experience, Claire uses art as a form of therapy and focuses on mindfulness in the making of art. She makes crafting easy and accessible for those she works with. Claire received her B.A. in Photography & Visual Imagery from The University of Huddersfield. There are 13 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 230,214 times.

Making a graduation hat can be a fun thing to do if your kid is graduating from kindergarten or elementary school, for instance, or if you want to take graduation pictures before you have your actual hat. You can create a simple hat from poster board and foam core board or cardboard. To complete the look, add a tassel. Alternatively, take some time to decorate a pre-bought graduation hat so you'll stand out from the crowd.

Things You Should Know

• Quotes, song lyrics, illustrations, and puns are all popular options for graduation hat decorations.
• You can construct your own graduation cap out of poster board, construction paper, and hot glue.
• To make the cap, fold the construction paper in half lengthwise and roll it into a cylinder; add a square-shaped piece of poster board on top.
• You can make a tassel using gold yarn and embroidery floss.

Steps

Method 1 Method 1 of 3:

Decorating a Graduation Hat

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1. 1 Gather supplies and decide on a quote. Try adding a favorite quote or song lyric to your hat, particularly one that is relevant to your education. Puns are also a favorite of many grads. You can also design one based on your favorite book, animal, or even around how many cups of coffee you drank to get your diploma. If you need inspiration, look at what others have done on social media![1]
   • For instance, you could write "earned it!" if you're becoming an registered nurse or add an apple or ABC's if you're going to be a teacher.
   • You could also just paint on one of your favorite characters, flowers, or animals and the year you graduate.
   • Many hats focus on the adventure that awaits ahead.
2. 2 Sketch out your design on a scrap piece of paper. Cut out a piece of paper the same size as the top of your hat. Decide what you want to go where on the hat, including any characters, images, or lettering. Keep in mind, you want your design to be large enough to be seen from a distance.[2] Advertisement
3. 3 Color the background with paper or paint. For a simple color change, simply glue on a piece of scrapbook paper with hot glue. A single sheet may be enough to cover it. Otherwise, try acrylic paint. Choose a sponge or bristle brush that's 2 to 3 inches (5.1 to 7.6 cm) wide, and apply paint going in one direction across the top of the cap. Try blending 2 colors on the brush for a fun mottled effect on the hat.[3]
   • You can find a wide range of scrapbook paper in single sheets at your local craft store.
4. 4 Create your design with paint, stickers, or printed images. If you have the skill, consider painting the images you want on your hat in acrylic paint. Alternatively, use a variety of stickers, which you can find at your local craft store. Another option is to simply print off images from the internet and glue them on your hat.[4]
   • For more oomph, make your hat 3D. Glue on silk flowers, pompoms, feather, or rhinestones, for instance.
5. 5 Add your lettering freehand or with stencils. If you want to do the lettering freehand, sketch it lightly in first with a pencil. Then, go over it with paint, a paint marker, or a permanent marker. You can also use stencils or stamp letters to make the lettering more uniform.[5]
   • Alternatively, use stick-on letters.
   • If you have a vinyl cutting machine, you can cut out professional-looking letters to stick on your hat.
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Method 2 Method 2 of 3:

Creating a Graduation Hat

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1. 1 Mark a 24 to 26 in (61 to 66 cm) by 6 in (15 cm) rectangle on poster board. Lay out a piece of poster board on a table and use a ruler to measure along one side from the corner. Mark the length with a pencil and draw a light line with a ruler and pencil at that mark down the paper. From the same corner, measure 6 inches (15 cm) down the other side. Make a mark and draw a line with the ruler across the paper so it meets the first line you made, forming a rectangle.[6]
   • If you want to make sure the hat will be form-fitting, wrap a piece of string around your head and measure the length with a ruler. Then, add 2 inches (5.1 cm) for overlap. That will be the long side you measure on the poster board.
   • Children's hat sizes range from 20 inches (51 cm) for preschool kids to 22 inches (56 cm) for teens. Don't forget to add 2 inches (5.1 cm) or so for overlap.
   • You can also use construction paper.
2. 2 Cut out the rectangle you've just drawn. Set the excess aside. You should now have a rectangle that's 6 inches (15 cm) wide and 24 to 26 inches (61 to 66 cm) long.
   • Wrap the long side around your head (or the person you're making it for) to see if it fits with a little overlap. If it's too long, you can trim a bit off.
3. 3 Fold the long edge up over the ruler by 1 inch (2.5 cm) or so. Lay your ruler along the long edge of the paper, lined up with the side. Flip that edge of the paper up with the ruler so that the paper is overlapping it just enough to cover the ruler. Fold along that edge and then pull the ruler out.[7]
   • Basically, you need to fold the edge of the paper up 1 inch (2.5 cm) or so along the long side of the paper. You can measure this out and fold it that way if you prefer.
4. 4 Open the fold you made back up to cut slits in the paper every 2 inches (5.1 cm) or so. Hold your scissors so they're perpendicular to the fold you just made. About 2 inches (5.1 cm) from the end, cut from the edge of the paper toward the fold, stopping at the fold. Move another 2 inches (5.1 cm) down and make another slit. Keep going along the this edge until you reach the end.[8]
   • You should end up with flaps sticking up from the fold every 2 inches (5.1 cm) or so.
5. 5 Make a circle with the long side of the rectangle and glue the short ends together. Take both ends of the strip and bring them together. The flaps you cut in the previous step should be facing the inside of the circle, making a 90-degree angle along the fold; they will overlap a bit. Overlap the strip by 2 inches (5.1 cm) or so. Apply glue to the paper that goes underneath the edge of the other side and hold the pages together for a few seconds so the glue has a chance to take hold.[9]
   • You can run a glue stick along the edge or use basic white school glue. A hot glue gun would also work, but always be careful when applying hot glue! It can burn your fingers.
6. 6 Cut out a 12 by 12 in (30 by 30 cm) square of black foam core board. Measure out a square that's 12 inches (30 cm) on each side with your ruler and draw light lines with a pencil. Cut down the lines to make a square piece of foam core board.[10]
   • You can find foam core board at most craft stores and big box stores. Alternatively, cover a piece of cardboard with black paper.
   • If you're having trouble cutting the foam core with scissors, use a craft knife to cut along the lines. Always cut away form you and make sure there's something underneath the board so you don't scratch the surface you're cutting on.
7. 7 Glue the flaps to the center of the square. Run the ruler diagonally across the square each way to mark the center point. Flip the circular piece you made earlier so that the tops of the flaps are facing the bottom of the square. Center to get an idea of where it will go, then pull it off. Apply glue to the tops of the flaps and lay the circle down so the flaps glue it to the center of the square.[11]
   • You can use glue sticks or regular school glue.
8. 8 Locate the center of the square and add a round circle of foam board. Cut out a circle of foam board that's about 0.5 inches (1.3 cm) in diameter. Glue it to the top of the hat in the very center to make the hat's button.
   • If you want to add a tassel, wait to glue this piece on.
   • You can also use a small brad instead, inserting it through the top of the hat.[12]
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Method 3 Method 3 of 3:

Making a Tassel

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1. 1 Wrap yarn or embroidery floss around your fingers repeatedly. Spread your fingers apart until the length from the side of your pointer finger to the outer edge of your pinky finger is how long you want your tassel to be, such as 2 to 3 inches (5.1 to 7.6 cm). Wrap the yarn or string around once and hold the end in place. Wrap it again, going over the first strand to hold it in place. Keep going around and around your fingers until you get the thickness you want for your tassel. You may need to do this 20-40 times.[13]
   • You can add other colors by cutting off one color and wrapping a different color on the next go round.
   • You can also use a form instead, such as a piece of cardboard you cut to size.
2. 2 Tie a square knot in the middle. Pull the loops off your fingers, drawing them tight as you do. Pull out the other tail of the string, exposing about 2 to 3 inches (5.1 to 7.6 cm). Find the middle and wrap the outside tail around it 3-4 times. Tie it to the other tail using a square knot.[14]
   • To tie a square knot, wrap one end over and under the other end, then do the same with the other end, pulling them both tight.
3. 3 Snip through the loops on either end. You should now have loops of string tied together in the middle. Cut the ends loose by gathering the loops in your scissors and pulling them tight. Slice through the loops. Do the same on the other ends.[15]
   • This creates the fringe for your tassel.
4. 4 Cut off about 2 feet (0.61 m) of string to tie around the tassel. Tie this piece of string over the center of your tassel. Find the center of the long string and then make a square knot. Leave the long ends of the string loose for now, as you'll stick them into your hat in a moment.[16]
5. 5 Gather your tassel together with a 12 inches (30 cm) piece of string. Pull the ends of the loops together so it forms your tassel. Leaving about 2 inches (5.1 cm) of the tail out, wrap the string around the tassel about 0.5 inches (1.3 cm) from the top. Keep wrapping until you have 2 inches (5.1 cm) left. Tie it to the other tail with a square knot.[17]
   • Tuck the ends of the knot under the wrap.
6. 6 Trim the edges of the tassel to make them even. Smooth out the tassel with your fingers. The ends will be all different lengths. Use your fingers to hold the ends together and then cut across them to smooth out the edge.[18]
   • Run your fingers through the tassel to make sure you got all the longer pieces.
7. 7 Attach the tassel to the hat by making a hole through the top. Find the center of the hat on top and poke a hole through it with a needle or toothpick. Push the string through the hole, using a needle if you have trouble threading it through the hole. Adjust the tassel to the length you want by pulling on the string inside the hat. Then, make an overhand knot on the inside at that point.[19]
   • At this point, you can glue your foam core board button on top of the string and the hole to hold it in place. Hot glue will work best, but you can also use school glue.
   • To create an overhand knot, make a loop with both strings together as one string, then pull the end through the loop on the other side.
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Community Q&A

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• Question How long should a tassel hang from the cap? Community Answer Roughly 5-8 inches should be good for a regular cap. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 2 Helpful 20

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Things You'll Need

Creating a Paper and Cardboard Graduation Hat

• Ruler
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Poster board or construction paper
• Foam core board
• Glue or glue sticks

Making a Tassel

• String
• Scissors
• Glue
• Needle or toothpick
• Ruler

Decorating a Graduation Hat

• Scrapbook paper
• Paint
• Stickers or printed images
• Pompoms, flowers, feathers, or rhinestones, optional
• Sticker or vinyl lettering, optional

Video

Tips

• Make sure your school doesn't have rules against decorated graduation caps. You don't want to put in all that work and then need to switch to a plain hat. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 1

Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement

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References

1. ↑ https://www.diplomaframe.com/chc-blog/how-to-decorate-your-grad-cap/
2. ↑ https://www.diplomaframe.com/chc-blog/how-to-decorate-your-grad-cap/
3. ↑ https://www.hercampus.com/school/u-mass-amherst/how-decorate-your-graduation-cap-tips-tricks-ideas
4. ↑ https://www.diplomaframe.com/chc-blog/how-to-decorate-your-grad-cap/
5. ↑ https://www.diplomaframe.com/chc-blog/how-to-decorate-your-grad-cap/
6. ↑ https://dabbled.org/how-to-make-a-paper-graduation-cap/
7. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6fZnWeysSY&feature=youtu.be&t=44
8. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6fZnWeysSY&feature=youtu.be&t=65
9. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6fZnWeysSY&feature=youtu.be&t=86

More References (10)

10. ↑ https://dabbled.org/how-to-make-a-paper-graduation-cap/
11. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6fZnWeysSY&feature=youtu.be&t=188
12. ↑ https://dabbled.org/how-to-make-a-paper-graduation-cap/
13. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yt16p3XTqBA&feature=youtu.be&t=14
14. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6fZnWeysSY&feature=youtu.be&t=271
15. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yt16p3XTqBA&feature=youtu.be&t=41
16. ↑ https://dabbled.org/how-to-make-a-paper-graduation-cap/
17. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2pIqhQTdIM&feature=youtu.be&t=87
18. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2pIqhQTdIM&feature=youtu.be&t=138
19. ↑ https://dabbled.org/how-to-make-a-paper-graduation-cap/

About This Article

Co-authored by: Claire Donovan-Blackwood Arts & Crafts Specialist This article was co-authored by Claire Donovan-Blackwood. Claire Donovan-Blackwood is an Arts & Crafts Specialist and CEO of Heart Handmade UK, a site dedicated to helping people live a happy, creative life. With over 13 years of experience, Claire uses art as a form of therapy and focuses on mindfulness in the making of art. She makes crafting easy and accessible for those she works with. Claire received her B.A. in Photography & Visual Imagery from The University of Huddersfield. This article has been viewed 230,214 times. 24 votes - 90% Co-authors: 23 Updated: February 24, 2025 Views: 230,214 Categories: Hatmaking (Millinery) In other languages Spanish Russian

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Yes No Advertisement If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission.Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Claire Donovan-Blackwood Arts & Crafts Specialist Co-authors: 23 Updated: February 24, 2025 Views: 230,214 90% of readers found this article helpful. 24 votes - 90% Click a star to add your vote

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