Origami · folding only

Paper Hat

Easy (level 2 of 5)
10 min
10 steps
Ages 5–9 (a guide, not a rule)

No scissors
No glue
No adult help needed

Start Making Print

This is the folded hat children have made from newspaper for many years. A sheet about 12 x 18 in (30 x 46 cm) makes a hat that fits most children, and a printer sheet makes one for a teddy bear. A few folds and it is ready to wear. Fold one from a printer sheet and you can turn it into a paper boat.

Before you start

You need

A sheet of newspaper (or large construction paper), 305 x 457 mm (12 x 18 in). Any rectangle about one and a half times as tall as it is wide works. Tabloid (11 x 17 in) or A3 paper also fits most children. A Letter or A4 sheet makes a small hat for a toy.

Decorating (optional): Draw stars, stripes or a badge on the front before you open the hat.

No a sheet of newspaper (or large construction paper)? One large page of newspaper works well. Hold it with the long edges at the sides. Use a Letter or A4 sheet to make a toy-size hat, or to start the Paper Boat.

How to place the paper before the first step — **Your paper:** Lay the paper down tall, with the short edges at the top and bottom and the white side facing up.

Valley fold: blue dashes. Fold toward you, like a valley.
Crease: a thin gray line where you folded before.
Turn over: flip the whole model to its other side.

Step by step

Each step shows what to do (left) and how it should look after (right).

Do this

Result

Step 1 of 10 Valley fold Fold the top edge down to the bottom edge. Press the fold flat.
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Result

Step 2 of 10 Fold and unfold Fold the paper in half from side to side, then open it again. Now there is a crease down the middle. (The folded paper is shown bigger from here on. It has not turned.)
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Result

Step 3 of 10 Valley fold Fold the top left corner down so its top edge lies along the middle crease.
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Result

Step 4 of 10 Valley fold Fold the top right corner down the same way. The two corners meet in the middle.
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Result

Step 5 of 10 Valley fold Fold the bottom edge of the top layer up to the bottom of the corners.
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Result

Step 6 of 10 Valley fold Fold the strip up again over the corners. This makes the brim.
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Result

Step 7 of 10 Turn over Turn the paper over from left to right.
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Result

Step 8 of 10 Valley fold Fold the bottom edge up to the bottom of the corners.
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Result

Step 9 of 10 Valley fold Fold the strip up again to make the second brim.
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Result

Step 10 of 10 Open Slide your hands inside the bottom and gently pull the sides apart to open the hat. Put it on!