Pilgrim's Hat

Pilgrim men wore a variety of hats not only to protect themselves from the weather but also for pure adornment. It would not be unusual to see a hat with a brightly colored band or feather tucked inside (belt buckles were an addition of the late 17th century). Once an adult has supervised the cutting, a young child can assemble this hat, which requires no sewing, by himself.

MATERIALS

2 pieces black felt, a 7-by-25-inch rectangle and 13-inch-wide circle
Chalk
Glue stick or low-temperature glue gun
2 1/2-by-25-inch colored felt strip
Feather

To make the hat, wrap the rectangular piece of felt around your child's head and mark with chalk where the edges touch. Remove the felt and use a glue stick to attach the ends of the felt at the place you've just marked. Place the hat top in the center of the 13-inch felt circle and trace around the circumference, leaving about a 3-inch hat brim. Set aside the hat top. Using chalk, divide the circle into eight pie slices or spokes. Cut along the spokes (but do not cut around the outside of the circle) so that you have eight pointed flaps. Slip the felt circle over the hat top, leaving the pointed flaps sticking up. Then fold back each flap and glue them onto the hat top (the top of the hat will be open). Glue on the colored felt band so that it covers the folded-over flaps and add a feather (found at most craft stores).

DRESS UP FOR THE FEAST Conjure up an image of a Pilgrim and you'll probably imagine a serious, bearded fellow dressed in black. But actually it was just as common for Pilgrims to wear purples and reds (blue was the most popular color for children) and to slip a colorful feather into their hats. The Wampanoag wore deerskin and lots of homemade jewelry.