Witch's hat
Print instructions & templates
Cast some spells or brew a potion in your pointy witch's hat.
You will need:
two sheets of black cardboard
metallic or coloured cardboard
stapler
scissors
sticky-tape
glue
black fabric
Zoe frowned and tried to concentrate. If she could just pass this exam, she would graduate from the Twitchy Witch Academy of Spells and Potions. Finally she would be a real, live witch!
I can't wait to turn someone into a frog, she thought. But enough of pleasant daydreams, she needed to check the final question: Name these symbols of power on a witch's hat, and explain their meaning.
Many shapes and symbols have special meanings for different cultures, but what makes these ones special for a witch?
A pentacle represents the four elements - Wind, Water, Earth and Fire as well as Mother Earth.
Bats symbolise good fortune in the East. They can also represent demons and spirits.
The Moon is a symbol of the goddess with three faces - Youth, Motherhood and Old Age.
A circle represents the four seasons, wholeness and infinity.
The Sun is a life-giving force representing courage, light and knowledge.
Cats are the traditional familiar or witch's companion. They protect dream worlds and help create magic.
From the Powerhouse Museum's collection:
This fabulous hat, entitled 'The Black Flamingo', is perfect for a very stylish modern witch. It was designed by Philip Treacy, commissioned by the Museum for the 1992 Australian Fashion of the Year awards.
Take a closer look.
Step by step:
1. Roll one cardboard sheet into a cone shape. Secure with a small piece of sticky-tape and put the cone onto your head.
2. Adjust the cone to fit your head. Tape the top and bottom.
3. Cut off the excess cardboard so that the cone is even.
4. Cut out and assemble the brim, following the instructions on the template. Then slide the brim over the cone. Trim inside to fit and secure with sticky-tape.
5. Cut out decorative templates (or design your own) and attach them to the hat using strong paper glue or sticky-tape.
6. Finish off your witch's hat by tying a scarf or length of fabric around the brim.
