A **pragmatic witchcraft hat** is an unconventional accessory worn by witches who approach their craft with a practical and logical perspective. While witchcraft is often associated with mysticism and spiritual beliefs, those who adopt a pragmatic approach focus on using their skills and knowledge to solve everyday problems. Unlike traditional witch hats that are typically tall and pointed, a pragmatic witchcraft hat may come in a variety of styles and shapes to suit the wearer's personal preferences. However, it still symbolizes their connection to the craft and their ability to harness its power. The pragmatic witchcraft hat serves as a reminder that witchcraft is not solely about casting spells, but also about finding practical solutions to everyday challenges. These witches often emphasize the importance of research, study, and experimentation in their practice.
The Free Pattern is from Lynn McMasters, who makes amazing Hats and Hat Pattern! Go check her Website out.
If i remember it correctly, the Pattern is in Letter-Format, so i had to print it as a Poster in Actual Size with markings on the corners of the paper. The caricaturization, combination and evolution of the past is what defines our current ideas of Halloween, from witches and vampires to butterflies and hamburgers.
These witches often emphasize the importance of research, study, and experimentation in their practice. They may rely on herbal remedies, divination tools, or other methods to aid in problem-solving. One of the key aspects of a pragmatic approach to witchcraft is incorporating scientific principles and evidence-based practices into their craft.
A Study in: Witch Hats (+ Headform)
Let´s start with the Headform. I found the link to the Free Pattern through a video of a great Costuber, Miss Philomena.
The Free Pattern is from Lynn McMasters, who makes amazing Hats and Hat Pattern! Go check her Website out.
I started with measuring my head and printing out the pattern, which i didn´t need to enlarge. (All the scales and sizes are given). If i remember it correctly, the Pattern is in Letter-Format, so i had to print it as a Poster in “Actual Size” with markings on the corners of the paper. Every Printer is different so you probably have to try out. There a Control-Boxes in inch and cm, so it shouldn´t be a big problem to get the right size.
The pattern consists out of three pattern pieces. The Head Side, the Head Center (which you have to glue together) and the Headbase (which you have to trace from the Head Side).
I used some boiled wool for the Headform, but you could also use some canvas or other strongly weaved material, i think.
Nice Quality, i don´t know where i got it from, but it is a leftover.
For the Headbase i used cardboard. I cut out four pieces and glued two pairs together with a hot-gun. (This was the first time i used a hot-gun, and i really liked it…oh those things i now can make…)
To make the base a bit heavier, i glued some nuts between the two pairs. So i ended up with a cardboard/nut sandwich.
I used a thick cardboard, which you can´t easily bend. Different Nuts in the same sizes. I think i used up about 20 of them. I also glued some into the middle of the circle.
I cut out the other pieces from the Wool, cut the markings and pinned the Head Center to the Head Side (twice). After sewing it, i clipped in the seam allowance every one or two cm and ironed it flat open. Then i closed the center seam, clipped in the seam allowance and ironed it flat open as well.
After turning the Headform inside out, i saw that i made a mistake. The Head Center does have a front and a back, which i forgot to mark. I measured the circumference of the Headform and it still was ok…so it was fine with me (and i was too lazy to correct everything).
I tried to fill the Headform with cabbage (cut up fabric leftovers), which took me quite a while to cut up, but the head got so heavy it wouldn´t stand on its own, even with the heavy Hat Base. I sacrificed the innards of an old pillow, mixed up with a bit of cabbage and it did work out in the end.
The Cabbage – i think i will make me some Tailor Hams, where i can use it. The leftovers of the pillow.
After filling the Headform, i put in the Head Base and secured it with a strong Thread (i don´t know if the thread sizes/diameter are international, but in german i used a size 16, which is quite a sturdy thread.)
Thread it through from one side to another, till the Head Base is secured enough.
The last step was to cut out the Head Base piece from wool (don´t forget to add some additional seam allowance) and sew it onto the Headform.
I added about 2 cm.
And the Headform is finished. A quick and easy project, which is really useful if you plan on making more hats in the future.
And the first project, where i needed my new Headform, was my Witch Hat. I always wanted a Witch Hat, preferable in Black…but i hadn´t any stable/strong material in my stash. So i decided that the hat should be a Forest Witch Hat in Green. Later on i added some Mushrooms, because what is a Forest without mushrooms?
First i drafted the Pattern for the Hat Base. For this you need your head circumference + seam allowance and some extra wiggle room. The thicker your materials are, the more you should add. It is always better to add a bit more than you need, because in the end you can sew in a thicker head band/tape in the inside of the crown.
My head has a circumference about 54 cm, so i rounded it up to 56 cm (i should have added a bit more, because in the end i used some different material than i planned. The Hat is tight, but it works.)
The Radius of 56 is 8,91 cm (Formula: U=2·π·r – which you have to convert to r=U:(2π) and than fill in and calculate.)
The Diameter is 17.826 cm (Formula: d=2·r) and the width of the Hat Brim is 15 cm.
I cut it out from another piece of boiled wool i had left, marked and basted the seam allowance and the “middle markings”.
I needed to baste the markings, because they vanished quite fast. And i knew that i wouldn´t finish the Hat in one day.
After that, i tried out some interfacings i had at home. Because my first plan/hope was, that the interfacing was rigid enough, so i didn´t need to put in wire and so on. But alas, neither of the two options i had was rigid enough. The Brim was still really floppy.
I ironed some of the heavier cotton interfacing to the brim, and decided to cut out another Hat Brim piece. This time i used a thin gabardine in olive green, which i also stiffened with the same interfacing.
I needed some tunnels for the wire (which was the same i used for my other Hat-Project). I marked where they should be sewn on and used a twill tape, because it was easier to sew it around the curves (now i think it would have been smarter to use bias tape, but i hadn´t anything fitting at home back then).
I kinda just eyeballed it…so it is a bit wonky. Here are the three circles sewn on (really badly i know, but first: after ironing it was much better and secondly: it is inside the hat…nobody will see it ever again.)
You can see at the picture above, that the first tunnel is already filled with wire, which was the easiest. The second wire took me forever to get through. Only when i nearly got mad, i had the idea to put some adhesive tape around the edges of the wire….this was such a game changer. The third wire went in really smooth. I ironed some small pieces of interfacing onto the tunnel ends, because i feared they would come apart with the wire.
It does look weird at the moment, but it worked out. Some small fitting. Better than i thought.
After this i basted the Outer Brim Layer to the Inner Brim Layer.
Basting is my friend, and it should be yours too! The basting stayed in, till the Hat was completely finished.
Now it was time for the mushroom applications. I never made applications, i always just bought them. I probably will change that in the future, because it is really easy to make them yourself.
I searched for an comic-style drawing of toadstool Mushrooms (or what are they called in english?) , printed them out in the size i wanted and traced them onto a new paper twice, because i wanted some different styles.
As a pair.. and single mushrooms. The part of the mushroom that will be from red fabric got cut away.
I used up some leftover red and white cotton fabric, layed the pattern pieces of the mushroom onto the fabric and traced them onto it. Then i ironed some interfacing onto the back of the fabrics and cut the pieces out. I marked the details with a pencil.
First i tried to sew and embroider the mushrooms onto the hat…but that did hurt my fingers and would take me an eternity. I just glued them on with some Textile Glue, redraw the details with a black fiber pen and some white Textile dye/colour.
Here you can see the two options of the lining and the wool tape for the brim edge.
I wanted the lining to look like gills of a mushroom. So i measured the outer circumference of the hat brim and multiplied it with 1,5. This gave me enough length to gather for the inner circle of the hat. I cut some strips with a Width of 17 cm, serged the shorter edges and sewed them together, that in the end i had one strip with 220 x 17 cm.
The strip got sewn into a circle and gathered to the width of the inner circumference of the hat.
First i basted the lining to the inner circle, then individually layed the gathers/pleats out. Ironing from the middle outwards does help a lot. After that i basted the lining down with wide stitches.
I sewed the wool tape to the outer egde of the brim (all by hand) and started to draft the pattern for the crown.
The area where the crown meets the brim is not perfect, i shouldn´t have drawn it so rounded. But it kinda works, and for the next time i know where i can improve. I wanted the crown to be curved, so i added some darts. It did surprise me, that it work out great!
I cut the crown out of the fabric and ironed interfacing to it (leaving the darts out). Then sewed the darts and the back seam. Turning the crown inside out was a bit of a fight, you definitely need something long and sharp to push the tip outward.
This was the last picture of the assembling process…i thought i took more, but i don´t know where they went. (Probably into the abyss where all my missing sewing notions are).
I managed to sew the crown to the brim by machine…well at least the half of the circle, the rest i finished by hand. Then i cut away a bit of the seam allowance, clipped in the rest of it and sewed the wool tape, which i used for the edge of the brim, over it. So everything is nice and tidy.
At last i decided, that there were not enough mushrooms on the hat. So i added many more.
This project turned out way better than i thought. I really like my Witch hat and i learned so much new stuff while sewing it. Hat making is still quite new to me! You really never stop to learn, and it doesn´t matter how much you already know…there will be always something new or something old from another perspective.
Thank you for reading and thank you for your patience…the last weeks have been a bit rough for me.
They may experiment with different ingredients, techniques, and rituals to see what works best for them. With a focus on practicality and logic, these witches understand the importance of adapting and evolving their methods as needed. Additionally, the pragmatic witchcraft hat represents a merging of the mundane and magical worlds. These witches recognize that magic is not separate from everyday life, but intertwined with it. By embracing this perspective, they are able to apply their craft in a practical manner that can benefit themselves and those around them. In conclusion, a pragmatic witchcraft hat is a symbol of witches who approach their craft with a practical and logical mindset. It represents their commitment to finding real-world solutions and incorporating scientific principles into their practice. By merging the magical and mundane, these witches are able to harness their power in a way that is accessible and applicable to everyday life..
Reviews for "Channeling practicality in your witchcraft practice with the pragmatic witchcraft hat."
1. John - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with the Pragmatic Witchcraft Hat. It claims to have all these magical powers and abilities, but I found it to be nothing more than a regular, cheap hat. The materials used were flimsy and the stitching was already coming apart when I received it. Don't waste your money on this hat if you're looking for genuine magical experiences.
2. Jessica - 1 star - The Pragmatic Witchcraft Hat was a complete letdown for me. The product description made it sound like a powerful tool for manifesting desires, but I didn't notice any difference in my life or any changes happening. It just felt like any ordinary hat, and the added symbols and decorations didn't enhance its mystical appeal. I felt like I wasted my money on something that didn't deliver on its promises.
3. Michael - 2 stars - I was excited to try out the Pragmatic Witchcraft Hat, but unfortunately, it turned out to be a disappointment. The hat itself was uncomfortable and didn't fit well, even though I carefully measured my head before ordering. Additionally, the colors of the hat were not as vibrant as shown in the pictures, making it look dull and unappealing. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this product to others looking for a genuine magical experience.
4. Sarah - 1 star - I had high hopes for the Pragmatic Witchcraft Hat, but it fell short in many ways. The hat arrived with a strange odor that persisted even after airing it out for several days. The quality of the materials used was also subpar, and I noticed loose threads and unraveling seams immediately. It's a shame because the design of the hat looked promising, but the execution was very poor. I feel like I wasted my money on a product that doesn't live up to its claims.