Upcycling project: plastic bags into a mens hat

Yes, Fedora hat it is. And I made it all from ordinary plastic bags and packagings!!

Few months ago, I met a lady who made shoulderbag out of plastic bags by crocheting, and that was a real eye opener. My creativity was shocked to the core that I couldn't believe my eyes that plastic bags could possibly be a material to make such thing! And I wrote on my brain memo that I would definitely gonna make one too.

So I started from last week.
I thought of bag but already made 2 bags by upcycling. You could see them in my previous posts. Then thought of a hat.

To tell you the truth, I didn't know these hats got a name. So I have learned from this project that the hat of Indiana Jones is not a cow boy hat, it's a Fedora hat. And trilby and Panama. Newsboy hat I know, I made few with fabrics before, but 1 unique hat stood out. Hat with a pinch, Fedora.

And the hat, I made it by crochet.

First I found a nice free crochet pattern online.

This is the crown.

This is the brim. Both from the same page.source

Next, collected plastic bags around my house.

1 big toilet paper packaging and few plastic bags that matches the color.

1 thought. Even we refused to use or receive plastic bags, I noticed that products are packaged in plastics by the manufacturer. It's inevitable, to have them. And that made me think of the issues on plastics are wholistic matter.

Anyway, the materials were cut into a strip.

The instruction says 3mm.
So I got the needle in that size. You could measure it with ruler if you are not sure.
The strips also cut thin, for tough material in 5mm, thin material more wider so it won't tear.

I discovered there are several efficient ways to cut them. Because this was in big size and after I opened it up, it became 1 big sheet. I did zig zag to cut into 1 long strip.

Other small bags I didn't open but cut in spiral to make long long strip.

So while I cut, I rolled them so it wouldn't tangle .

Then I started crochet .

This is the crown.

So just continue and follow the pattern....
It could go as a basket too!

And done!! Took care of those strips sticking out by cutting or hiding.

This is the weight of our sin, 100 grams.
Honestly , I thought it will be more, but not bad I should say.

After that, I stiched a strip of cotton fabric becasue it was a bit itchy and size too big.
If your hat too big, you could stich on towel or other fluffy material to adjust.
Too small hat is more difficult to adjust, you had to cut them to enlargen it.

__The photos and work in this post is done by me, @naomipangolin. First time to share online.