How to Paint Felt Hats: Confidence, Creativity, and a LIttle Courage
- Tracey Bellion
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
Of all the projects I taught on the recent Crafting Cruise, painting felt hats stood out in a really powerful way.
Not because it was the most complicated.
Not because it required advanced skills.
But because of what I watched happen when paint met felt.... and women realized they were capable of more than they thought.
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Why Felt Hats?
A hat feels personal. You wear it. You show up in it. It becomes part of how you are seen.
So when I announced we were painting hats as a group....there was a mixed response from the class.
A few attendees were immediately excited....but I noticed most were hesitant....and sharing their fear of "messing it up".
This is when I realized this would be another opportunity to guide others to trust themselves...... and I'm always honored to do just that through art!
I hear it all the time:
"I'm not artistic"
"I'm going to sit this one out"
"I'm going to ruin it"
Well let me tell you this......they were ALL artistic.....no one sat out.....and no one ruined it!
The hats were forgiving, the paint was forgiving, and the people were resilient.
This became a class about expression....not perfection.
Some went bold.
Some stayed soft and subtle.
Some surprised themselves entirely after many second (and third) guesses.
Supplies Used: Painting Felt Hats
Chalk
Pencil
(blended sunset: Flamingo, Peony, Pure Ocean, The Gulf)
(waves: Pure Ocean, The Gulf)
(palm tree: Mermaid Tail, The Gulf, Fluff)
Water
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How to Paint Felt Hats (the simple approach):
I promised I'd share the how-to.....so here it is.... simple, approachable, and no fancy skills required.
Step 1: Choose a Simple Design
I chose a simple paint blend, a black and white shell, large simple waves and a palm tree to teach in the class. Everyone was extremely successful with this design.
Keep it easy by searching online for simple clip art drawings to inspire you.
Step 2: Lightly Map it Out
Use chalk to sketch your design for most colored hats. Should your hat be really light such as white or tan....use a pencil to map out your design.
Step 3 : Paint Slowly and Lightly
Use less paint than you think you need. Felt absorbs, so build color in layers. Let the brush glide across the felt by using a damp brush or pre-spritzing the hat with water. You don't want it soaking wet.....just damp enough to let the brush glide.
If you want to layer paints with NO blending you may want to allow dry time (or a heat gun) in between colors.
Step 4: Allow to Dry and Outline
Allow to dry before outlining any images or lettering. I prefer using a paint pen to add outlines around my artwork.
Step 5: Protection
Using a top coat or sealer is not necessary with chalk mineral paint. However I do like Easy Peasy Spray Wax which is similar to a scotch guard which will lock in your paint design and protect it from moisture such as rain.
You Don't Have to Be on a Cruise to Try This
If you've been looking for a project that feels a little brave but is completely doable....this is it!
Grab a hat.....grab some paint.....and give yourself permission to experiment!
You might surprise yourself.
And who knows....something small and creative might open a door you never even imagined!
More Inspiration: Wearable Art
I pulled a few blogs from past projects that came to mind when working on this piece! I hope you can use them to draw inspiration for your upcoming project. Here are the additional designs for your inspiration:
Painted UGG Boots - give tired boots new life
Custom Cowgirl Hat - a cute DIY project for the little cowgirl in your life
Men's Denim Jacket - Yes! It is possible to custom paint denim in a very masculine way
Hand Painted Canvas Shoes - easier than you might think!
Also, be sure to visit my round up blog with several collegiate wearable art projects.
Click on any photo below for more up-close photos and all the design details
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