How to Make a Paper Chef Hat for Kids

Co-authored by Amber Crain

Last Updated: September 16, 2021 Tested

Next time your child wants to help in the kitchen, make this super simple chef hat with them. All you really need is white cardstock, white crepe paper, tape, and a ruler! Once the hat is created, your child can wear it in the kitchen while assisting you. Your mini-chef will be so pleased!

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Making the Headband

1
Measure around the child's head. Loop a soft tape measure around your child's head at about the temples. Note the measurement mentally or on a scrap of paper.
- If you're a kid making your own hat, ask an adult or sibling to help you measure your head.
2
Add 2 cm (0.79 in) or 3 cm (1.2 in) to the measurement. Write down the new measurement. Forget the original measurement at this point -- you'll be working with this updated number to ensure a good fit.^{[1]
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3
Grab a piece of white cardstock and mark the length. You need the cardstock to be the length of your new measurement, so use a ruler to measure it. Mark the length lightly with a pencil on the cardstock.^{[2]
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- If you don't have cardstock, improvise with a white manila folder, a thin cereal box covered in white printer paper, or several sheets of white paper taped together for durability.
4
Mark the height on the cardstock. Once you've marked the length, measure it to be 10 cm (3.9 in) tall. Mark the height on the cardstock with a pencil. These measurements form a strip that will become the headband of the chef hat.
5
Cut out the strip and fold it in half. Use scissors to cut out the strip of cardstock you just measured. Discard the excess paper. Take your strip and fold it in half length-wise.^{[3]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Making the Top Part of the Hat

1
Cut a sheet of white crepe paper to be 30 cm (12 in) by 60 cm (24 in). If you don't have white crepe paper, use a white paper tablecloth. Use your ruler to measure a rectangle that measures 30 cm (12 in) to 60 cm (24 in). Carefully cut the rectangle out with scissors.^{[4]
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- You can purchase crepe paper at craft stores, party supply stores, and many big box stores.
2
Place one of the long edges of crepe paper on top of the cardstock. Align them both length-wise. Line up the crepe paper along the fold you made in the cardstock. Tape one corner down securely with transparent adhesive tape, such as Scotch Tape.^{[5]
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3
Make about 10 folds down the length of the crepe paper. Starting at the taped end, make small pleated folds in the crepe paper. You should end up with about 10 folds by the time you get to the end of the cardstock. Tape the folds down to the cardstock as you go. This will create the gathered look of chef hats.^{[6]
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4
Fold up the bottom edge of the cardstock. Fold the cardstock until the two ends meet each other, with the crepe paper sandwiched between them. You're simply refolding in the same place where you folded it earlier.^{[7]
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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Putting It All Together

1
Create a loop with the cardstock and tape the ends together. Bring the 2 ends of the cardstock together to create a circle. Overlap the ends by a few centimeters. Tape the ends to each other to join the circle. This circle is the headband, which fits around your child's head.^{[8]
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- You can tape the ends together on the inside or outside of the headband. The inside looks more seamless, but if you're using clear adhesive tape, the outside works fine, too!
2
Gather the ends of the crepe paper into a point. You now have a circle with white crepe paper sticking straight up out of it. Gather the ends of the crepe paper into a point. Wrap tape around the pointed end to secure the paper together.^{[9]
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3
Push the pointed end down into the hat. Then reach your hand up into the inside of the hat and pull the point down from the inside. This will make it puff out just like a real chef’s hat!^{[10]
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Community Q&A

Question

How much paper will we need?

T. Chinsen

Top Answerer

The average circumference of a child's head is 19" (adults 20-21"). You can measure the wrist and multiply it by three to get an exact fit for little heads. For the pleated section, plan on 3 times the circumference as each fold is the same as folding it backwards then forwards. It is easier to cut off excess than trying to add an extension.
Question

Can I use different tape?

HumanBeing

Top Answerer

Yes. Any transparent adhesive tape will work. You could even try staples or glue on strips of paper.