How to Make a Kentucky Derby Hat at Home | Easy DIY Derby Fascinator

If you would have asked me last week if I was going to be making a Kentucky Derby hat, I would have said that it wasn’t even on my radar. And then we were given a challenge at work and my brain just started working on the idea. And pretty soon I had a summer beach hat in my shopping cart, and the idea was coming together.

First, before I go farther into how I made this, please know this hat would be for indoor use. Since it’s made from paper the designs would fall apart if it were rained on or splashed with water.

Kentucky Derby hats are unique and do not have to be identical to each other. This is one of those projects that you can really add your own personal details to and just have fun!

Affiliate links may be present in the following blog post and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Next up was to start gathering the rest of the supplies.

I’ve had this large flower hanging around in my studio since I was working with the 3-D Flower Flamingo Design by Tanya Batrak in June of 2024. This file was one of the Crafting Creativity collaborations that I do each month with a new designer. Find more details on the projects created with that file HERE.

And I had some pink tulle from an adult fairy tutu I made about 16 years ago. Yes, that’s right, I keep supplies around a long time just in case. Except I purged the little flamingo flowers a couple weeks ago when I was cleaning. It never fails that when I let something go, I will want to use it the next week. I grabbed some ribbon and had the start to my supplies.

I didn’t want to buy any additional supplies even though I did look at some feathers, but I ended up cutting a feather design and then painting it with a metallic paint by DecoArts.

I took the black ribbon off of the hat and then added a green ribbon and hot glued it in place to secure it on the hat.

Next, I cut some lengths of the pink tulle and bunched it together and secured it with zip ties. Then glued it in place on top of the green ribbon.

Once the glue was dry on the tulle, I added more hot glue and secured the large flower. Then let that cool completely so it was set.

Then I just started adding the feathers, securing them with hot glue and letting it set up before moving it around.

I thought about adding more. I cut some strips of papers in 2 shades of pink and white and then curled them, but when I started adding them to the hat, it didn’t feel right. So, for now, this project is finished.

Now, I will admit that I’m not a “hat” person typically. However, I put this on and looked in the mirror and I love the hat. I think it’s because it’s over-the-top and there really isn’t a wrong way. Kentucky Derby hats are big & bold.

Maybe someday I’ll make it to the real Kentucky Derby, but for now, this hat will be on display at work for the 152nd Kentucky Derby Day.

It was fun to make, used up some of my previous projects sitting around, and went together very quickly. And I saved the black ribbon exactly how it was so if I can also turn it back into a summer hat to use pool side too when Derby Day is over.

Supplies for DIY Derby Hat:

• Hat
• Glue Gun
• Glue Sticks
• Ribbon
• Tulle
• Cardstock
• Paper Curling and Shaping Tool
• Silhouette Cameo 5
• Silhouette Type B Autoblade
• Silhouette Cutting Mat
• 3-D Flower Flamingo by Tanya Batrak – Design #468933
• Feather by Paper Made Smiles – Design #1270676
• DecorArt Metallic Paint
• Zip ties
• Mannequin Head for display or storage

Save this for future reference by pinning the image below.

Enjoy !

THANK YOU for your support! How can you help? Click HERE & buy a coffee.
Every little bit helps with the cost of running the site.

**This post may contain affiliate links. What that means is that I may receive compensation if you purchase through the links I have provided. The price you pay for the product or service is not higher, but I may get compensated for sharing.