How to Make Church Hats for Ladies
If you’re like us you love finding new hats to wear to church. These are the perfect accessories for women of the congregation who want to look their best while remaining respectful of the sanctity of worship.
Although we have all the different types of church hats you could be interested in here at Designer Church Suits, we see more and more women wanting to learn how to make church hats for ladies. So, we’ve decided to put together this DIY church hats guide for you!
From gathering your church hat making supplies to walking you through how to make church hats step by step, we’ll cover everything you need to know to feel confident bringing your unique vision to life.
Just remember that our women’s church hats for sale come from the best designers in church fashion, with styles for every taste. Save yourself the time and hassle of crafting with our unbeatable selection instead!
The History of Church Hats
First things first, why do women wear hats in church? Is this not considered inappropriate church attire? It would be for men, but women have been donning hats in worship services for centuries. We can look to what the bible says about dressing for church for clues as to why.
1 Corinthians 11:5-6 speaks of women covering their heads as a sign of reverence during worship. This was taken to heart over the centuries and has evolved into a cherished cultural custom, especially within the African American church community.
If you grew up in the church you know it’s common to see ornate hats every Sunday. They’re often referred to as “crowns” in this context, and they’re the perfect way to celebrate individual style while remaining respectful of the setting.
Whether adorned with feathers, flowers, or ribbons, church hats serve as both a spiritual and cultural emblem. But, is making DIY church hats really a good idea, or should you leave it to the experts instead?
Let’s help you set your expectations before getting into how to make church hats for ladies.
Setting Your Expectations for DIY Church Hats
Don’t get us wrong, we love a good DIY project. There’s something to be said about crafting something from your own two hands. The fulfillment that comes with completion - and of course the money saved - makes this appealing.
However, it can be really difficult to get professional quality results on your own. It’ll take a while to bring your hat to life as well, and given the fact that you still have to buy a bunch of materials, why not just buy a hat outright instead? We’ll weigh the pros and cons below.
Understanding the Time Commitment
As you’ll discover below there’s quite a time commitment involved in making your own church hat. There are many steps, from designing and gathering materials to assembling and perfecting the final piece.
While it does depend on the complexity of your design, it can take several hours if not multiple days to see the project all the way through to completion. There is also a learning curve, meaning that you might not get everything right the first time around. Speaking of which…
Being Realistic About Your Skill Level
You need a certain level of artistic skill and technical know-how to make a beautiful, comfortable hat for church. Sure, you can start with a simple design to gain some experience before working toward more sophisticated styles. But there’s more that goes into this than meets the eye.
It involves shaping materials, sewing, and attaching embellishments. It’s a very intricate process with little room for error. Mistakes like uneven embellishments, unstable bases, or poorly attached details can detract from the look and durability of your hat.
We don’t want to discourage you, but we also don’t want you to spend hours working on your hat only to be disappointed by the final result. Take a moment to think carefully about both your abilities and your time commitment before starting.
After all, the most elegant church hats from your favorite designers are only a few clicks away…
Why You’re Almost Always Better Off Buying
If you’re passionate about DIY church hats, then by all means - continue reading to learn how to make church hats step by step. Otherwise, you’ll find it more practical and enjoyable to simply buy designer church hats from our online storefront instead.
Maybe you were drawn towards the DIY approach because you simply couldn’t find the style you were looking for, and you’ve decided to make it yourself. Chances are, we already have it here in our catalog for you!
The whole point of wearing a hat to church is to elevate your look and stand out. But the last thing you want is to stand out for all the wrong reasons because you missed the mark in crafting your own hat. Leave it to the experts instead. Invest in peace of mind at Designer Church Suits.
Gathering Your Church Hat Making Supplies
Now, for those still reading along who are undeterred by the realities of making church hats DIY, it’s time to get into how to make church hats for ladies. Set yourself up for success by sourcing the right church hat making supplies.
Choosing the Right Base
The foundation of any great church hat is its base, which is why you should take your time to research your options and pick one that aligns with your preferences.
Wide-brimmed hats provide an elegant and traditional look, while pillbox styles or fascinators are ideal for a more modern and understated aesthetic. Pre-made hat bases are available in materials such as straw, felt, or sinamay, each offering a unique texture and versatility.
Think carefully about the formality of your church in conjunction with your personal style.
Other Essential Tools and Materials
Beyond the base there are a few other church hat making supplies you need to pick up:
Adhesives: Hot glue guns and fabric glue for securing decorations.
Needles and Thread: Essential for sewing ribbons, fabric, or trims.
Decorative Elements: Feathers, flowers, rhinestones, bows, and lace for a personalized touch.
Cutting Tools: Fabric scissors and wire cutters for precise shaping and adjustments.
Shaping Aids: Hat molds or blocks to help form and stiffen your design.
You can find these at your local craft store or online. You might even find comprehensive hat-crafting toolkits that offer everything you need in one simple purchase. Whatever direction you take, just make sure you’re putting an emphasis on quality.
The Importance of Sourcing Quality Supplies
The quality of your materials and the base of your hat set the tone for the final product. If you cut corners here, it’ll show when the project is all said and done.
It’s not just about the initial appearance of your hat, either. You want to make sure it stands the test of time and looks as stunning a year from now as it does the day you finish the hat.
It'll save you a lot of time and frustration during the assembly process, too. Well-made materials are easier to shape, adhere better, and maintain their appearance for years to come.
Avoid cheap or flimsy materials and supplies in favor of specialized millinery or crafting materials. You get what you pay for. With that being said, let’s get into how to make church hats step by step.
How to Make Church Hats: Step-by-Step Guide
Once you have all your church hat making supplies on hand the real fun begins. Here’s how to bring your vision to life:
Step 1: Preparing the Base
The process begins with base preparation, but the actual steps here will depend on the base you’ve chosen. If you’re using a pre-made base, clean it with a soft cloth to remove dust or debris. This will help embellishments adhere better in the later steps.
Fabric or straw bases may need a light spray of starch or steam to help stiffen and shape the material. We have a guide on how to starch a church hat if you need more guidance.
Of course, make sure the hat fits comfortably on your head before proceeding. The last thing you want is to spend hours working on this only to discover you need a different base!
Step 2: Designing Your Hat
This is where the magic of bringing your hat to life begins. You might already have a style you’re trying to mirror, or perhaps you’re trying to create something one-of-a-kind. Either way, sketch your desired design on paper to visualize the final product.
Remember to think about the occasion and style, whether you prefer a classic wide-brimmed hat adorned with flowers or a modern pillbox hat with subtle embellishments.
Plan out where you’ll place decorative elements such as ribbons, feathers, and beads. The goal is to have a detailed blueprint you can use for the rest of the process, eliminating any guesswork or uncertainty.
Step 3: Adding Embellishments
Now you can start placing attachments according to your design plan. You’ll use either a hot glue gun or fabric glue for items like bows, rhinestones, or lace.
On the other hand, you’ll use needle and thread to sew on more detailed or intricate decorations, such as pearls or small flowers.
Throughout this step make sure you’re paying attention to symmetry and spacing. You want the decorations to complement rather than overwhelm the hat.
Step 4: Securing the Structure
At this point most of the work is done, you just need to reinforce the hat's structure so it holds its shape. The steps will depend on the style you’ve decided on.
Wide-brimmed hats should have millinery wire around the brim’s edge to keep the silhouette nice and crisp. In contrast, you can add a comb or elastic band underneath fascinators or pillbox styles to secure the hat on your head comfortably.
Step 5: Final Adjustments
Take a moment to thoroughly inspect your hat and make any final tweaks to improve its fit and appearance. Trim excess fabric or adjust embellishments to achieve a polished look.
Test the hat by wearing it for a short period to make sure it stays secure and feels comfortable. If everything checks out, congrats! You’ve made your own hat ready to be debuted at the next church service or special occasion.
But if at any point in the process you feel a bit in over your head, take a deep breath and relax. There’s an unbeatable selection of church hats under $100 here for you at Designer Church Suits!
Save Yourself the Time and Hassle of Making Church Hats With Our Selection at Designer Church Suits!
Why stress over the details when you can enjoy the beauty and elegance of expertly crafted hats? Designer Church Suits has more than 30 years of experience in helping churchgoing men and women look and feel their best with thoughtfully curated attire from leading designers, like:
You’ll gain access to so many different styles, from white church hats to black church hats, traditional wide-brimmed hats to modern fascinators, and everything in between. There’s a style for any occasion or preference.
Each is carefully crafted from premium materials with meticulous attention to detail, as you’d expect from a leading fashion brand. These are built to last, elevating your Sunday best to the highest level possible.
We also carry church suits for men and church suits for women, church dresses, and more. Our user-friendly website allows you to filter by color, size, and style, ensuring you find the perfect outfit for your next service or event.
With fast shipping, excellent customer service, and an extensive catalog featuring the latest trends, what more could you ask for? Take a look today and see what catches your eye before dealing with the hassle of DIY church hats.
Parting Thoughts on How to Make Church Hats for Ladies
There you have it, everything you need to know about how to make church hats for ladies. This can certainly be a creative and fulfilling experience, but you need to approach the process with realistic expectations about the required time, skill, and resources.
Our blog has more tips on how to wear a church hat, what length dress is appropriate for church, wearing black to church, Sunday church dress code, why people wear suits to church, wearing leggings to church, or should you wear a suit to church.
Otherwise, the only thing left to do is get to work sourcing your church hat making supplies - or avoiding the hassle altogether here at Designer Church Suits. Shop now to step into church with confidence and class!