How To Make A Toadstool Hat

The latest covid era travel cancellation is a huge disappointment to my mom. I was supposed to take her on a Bahamas cruise in October, but the health and financial risk isn't worth keeping those travel plans. As an alternative and something for both of us to look forward to, we talked about a secluded girls weekend instead, possibly attending the Texas Renaissance Festival together. So this week I made mom a Toadstool mushroom costume inspired by Disney's Fantasia, but more bohemian to fit her funky personality. The hat is a fun mix of foam, felt, linen, cotton balls, crystal beads, and quartz chips. Here's how I made it…

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The clothing was inspired by Aspen Witch, who kept popping up on my Pinterest feed, and rightly so, because it's the perfect look for renaissance faire. I pieced together clothing purchased entirely from Amazon. I don't leave the house much (or at all) these days so the part of the costume that I didn't make needed to come to me. Additionally, everything but the shirt are one size fits most. Although this is intended for my mom, the costume will live here in my house in case my neice or a friend wants to borrow the costume, so it should fit just about anyone.

Off-the-rack items

Peasant shirt in ivory: Women's Off Shoulder Pirate Boho Renaissance Blouse Shirt Top L Ivory

Wrap skirt in white: Billy's Thai Shop Cotton Wrap Skirt Hippie Wrap Skirt Boho Skirts for Women, White S

Harem pants in olive: CandyHusky Men Women Elastic Baggy Hippie Boho Gypsy Aladdin Yoga Harem Pants (Dark Olive Green)

Macrame high-low cardigan in cream: Women's Crochet Long Vest Boho Sleeveless Kimono Cardigan Swimwear Cover up (Ice Cream)

Canvas cross-body tote in macha: Covelin Women's Retro Large Size Canvas Shoulder Bag Hobo Crossbody Handbag Casual Tote

The mushroom foundation needed to be comfortable(ish) and sturdy. I purchased a cheap sombrero from Amazon and hot glued craft foam into a dome to fit the circumference of the brim (58.5″). I wanted a flat(ish) top so I started with a 16.5″ circle and cut out 12 curvy pie slices that were all roughly 1.375″ at the top, 12″ tall, and 4.875″ at the bottom. My math and cutting skills being flawed as they are, I had to add a couple strips to make up the difference. To get that mushroomy curve, the pie slices were wider at the bottom and kind of resemble wine bottles.

Mushroom foundation items

Sombrero: Rubie's Embroidered Straw Sombrero, Brown Assorted, One Size

6mm craft foam sheets (I used 7 sheets): Darice Foamies Extra Thick Foam Sheet Black 6mm Thick 9 x 12 inches (10-Pack) 1199-21

The only part of the costume that I did sew was the linen "gills" along the underside of the brim. I cut one 53″x36″ sheet of lightweight linen into 4 strips measuring 9″x53″, and sewed the strips together into one long 9″x~210″ strip. I gathered both long sides using the gathering foot on my machine on the tightest setting possible. The resulting gathered strip measured ~8.5x~60″ that almost perfectly matched the brim of the sombrero. After ironing the gathers down, I stitched the two ends together, and onto the brim of the hat, then hot glued the other side of the gills to the crown. I then cut a 36″ circle out of red felt and glued it to the dome (while stretching the hell out of it to reduce bunching.

Fabric used

Lightweight white linen: Robert Kaufman Kaufman Essex Linen Blend White Fabric By The Yard

Red felt (washed and dried): Red Felt Fabric – by The Yard

The really fun part that took an entire caffeine fueled day to complete was adding the little white spots. I used a combination of floofed out cotton balls, white felt cut into wonky shapes and roughed up on a fine cheese grater that we use for fresh parmesan, crystal beads, and clear quartz rock chip beads. I added the spots first, then sewed the beads on wherever I liked. To me, they look like tiny dew drops.

White spot supplies

White felt (I used maybe 1/4 yard): 100% Acrylic FELT-1001, 72″ WD X 1 YD – White

Cotton balls: Amazon Brand – Solimo Cotton Rounds, 100 Count (Pack of 1)

Crystal beads: AIEX 900+ Pieces Crystal Beads Kit, Rondelle Faceted Glass Beads Clear Crystal Beads Assorted Supplies for Jewelry Making Findings with Plastic Storage Box (2-10mm, Clear)

Quartz chip beads: UnCommon Artistry Genuine Gemstone Chips Strand 32″ Strand (Clear Quartz Crystal)

Before attaching the gill sombrero to mushroom dome (I hot glued the hell out of it where white meets red), I added a shoe string so the hat can be tied on and worn behind the head when it gets too heavy or hot. I also added a strip of fabric as a sweatband. Total weight of the hat is just under 2 pounds, so it's heavy but not cumbersome.

Today at lunch, I took it to our local park for a test drive. The outfit was very comfortable, even in the Texas heat. The hat was neither comfortable or uncomfortable, but it's pretty stinking adorable so it'll be worth it. What do you think?