A Dolls' Easter Bonnet Parade

When I was a kid, I never had an Easter Bonnet Parade, although my mother, who was an infant teacher usually organized one at her school.

But when I used to babysit a friend of mine’s daughter, we used to play with tiny dolls — I used to buy them at the craft shop for a few dollars and we’d make little clothes for them — particularly hats. She absolutely loved hats, so of course I had to work out how to make them.

It’s pretty easy, especially if you have tiny dolls, as I did. But the process would be the same with bigger dolls, I think. All you need is some felt, or other fabric. And something to act as a mould — the same size or slightly larger than your doll’s head.  

I cut  rough circles, dipped the felt in hot water and then fastened it on an appropriately sized shape — usually the lid of a bottle. Little bottles from hotels were especially useful for the tiny dolls. I tied it on with a rubber band, pulled it tight (which stretched it into shape) and let it dry. Often overnight. I also used scraps of tapestry fabric, which looked, when dry, a bit like a straw hat. See the pic below for all the potential hats being shaped. The beige ones are tapestry fabric, the rest are felt.

When it was dry, I’d cut the brim to the shape and size I wanted and decorate it with various scraps — ribbon, bits of lace, tiny feathers, whatever.

And when Easter came around my little friend would pull out all the dolls and hats and clothes, and make an Easter bonnet parade. Sadly I didn’t take any photos — at least I did, but I no longer have them. But here are a few pics of the dolls, and the hats. The purple bonnet below is crocheted. The other one is made with tapestry fabric, and you can see a few more sitting around them..

The matches and box are there to give you an idea of the size of the dolls — and hats. And here is a selection of hats I made. The red one is tapestry fabric I spray painted, topped with red tulle and pre-made roses. The beige ones are also tapestry fabric. The rest are felt.

Which of these little hats do you like the best?
Have you ever been in an Easter Bonnet parade?