Mossy Mushroom Hat

The beauty in a mushroom hat is that you can personalize it to how you want and you can make it out of many different materials. I've made many mushroom hats and when I got this old witch hat in a random Halloween haul, I knew I wanted to revamp it with paint. This is definitely a great mushroom hat for beginners and those who are nervous about making large mushroom hats with fabric and sewing and starting from scratch. Having an already prepped canvas (witch hat) really helps those who are new to making mushroom hats and those who dread all the measuring and cardboard.

~A cheap Halloween witch hat with a fluffy rim (if yours doesn't have a fluffy rim try and glue stuffing or a material that can simulate a mossy edge).

~paint brush

~multiple shades of green paint for depth, as well as shades of yellow and browns for the chicken of woods mushrooms

~green puffy paint (optional for morning dew effect)

~glue (hot glue or contact cement, spray 3m glue works aswell)

~paper clay

~white or light green pencil crayon for marking

~painters tape

~optional green yarn to add some hanging moss vines off the rim.

reference photos: green mushroom Photo credit: Miguel A. Ribes Ripoll. Chicken of the woods Photo credit :Andrew Curtis

If your hat has a stubborn or shiny pattern like mine you may need to do a thick coat of black before beginning your multiple coats of green. In a little tray pour multiple shades of greens and apply liberally alternating in different areas to create depth and varying mossy textures.

While your layers are drying I recommend forming your mushrooms with paper clay. Paper clay is quite light weight and will have an easier time staying put on your hat. I recommend starting varies sizes of paper clay formed into balls before forming into little half mushrooms that can curve easy around the hat. to add the little under stripes and dimples use the end of your paint brush or clay tools. Before drying carefully press it to the side of the hat to make sure the back of the mushroom sits nicely and then set them to dry over night. Once the mushrooms are dry you can begin painting. Paint the back a dark to medium brown, the top of the cap lighter shades of yellow and the underpart with yellow and warm browns. Then add little highlights and lowlights as desired.

Tape off the underside moss the best you can and then paint two layers of green. (I started with a light brown because I forgot that the green mushroom has a greenish shadow with yellow gills) Once the layer are dry take your pencil crayon and draw where the gills should be painted. For your gills you'll want a wide light mustard layer and then a thinner cream layer along the middle of each gill for an illusion of actual gills that you would normally make with pleated fabric on a fabric mushroom hats. Once your gills are too your liking remove the tape and paint your furry edge with shade of green to make your mossy edge.

After most of the time consuming parts are done, simply take a pencil crayon and mark where you wish to place your tiny mushrooms and attach with hot glue or contact cement following the proper instructions on the bottle or sticker. Lastly add any last minute optional details such as little dew drops with green puffy fabric paint or pieces of yarn that have been distress to look like mossy hanging vines with a little thread or glue. If you plan on wearing it out and about at a renfaire, running in a field or with a wig you might wish to attach a ribbon to keep your hat from flying off your head, but it all depends on how big your hat or head is.

Now go and enjoy your mushroom hat. They are wonderful for cons, photography and more. Hopefully this sparks your curiosity into making mushroom hats and you try making your own. I've made multiple mushroom hats and every time I try out a new method for the process. This is definitely one of the easiest mushroom hats to create, however it is a little bit more time consuming than the poufy fabric mushroom hats, do to the paint drying time. Now I have a new hat to add to my collection. Have a magical day.