# Palm Leaf Sun Hat: A Step by Step Weaving Guide > A wide-brim palm leaf sun hat with a crown shaped over a bowl. Breathable, light, and finished so the brim keeps its shape even after rain. Source: https://leafcraftpro.site/palm-leaf-sun-hat Published: 2026-01-22 · 9 min read · Intermediate · Home Decor A palm leaf sun hat is one of the most useful things you can weave. The open weave lets air through, so it stays comfortable in real heat rather than steaming your head. It weighs almost nothing and packs flat in a bag. This one has a 35 cm brim and a crown shaped over a mixing bowl. Getting the crown size right is the only tricky part, and it is easy once you know to measure your head rather than guess. Hat weaving differs from basket weaving in one important way: you work on a former from the very beginning. The bowl supports the crown while it is soft, so the dome sets round instead of collapsing. Choose a bowl about 2 cm wider than your head measurement so the finished hat sits comfortably rather than gripping. A hat that grips leaves a mark on your forehead within an hour; a hat that is slightly loose is always the better mistake. ## What You Will Need **What You Will Need** - 14 to 18 palm leaf strips, 1 cm wide and 90 cm long - Sharp scissors - A mixing bowl 2 cm wider than your head - A bowl of water and a cloth - A tape measure - A few pegs Strips for a hat should be narrower than for a basket, about 1 cm wide, because a fine weave looks better on a curve and is lighter to wear. Soak the strips for ten minutes and keep them damp as you work; a hat takes long enough that dry leaf will crack at the crown, which is the worst place for a split because it is the most visible. If you have a choice, pick leaves with a flexible spine rather than a brittle one. **Step-by-Step Instructions** 1. **Measure your head** — Measure around your head just above the ears. A typical adult measures 56 to 58 cm, which needs a crown about 18 cm across. Write the number down; you will check the crown against it more than once. 2. **Weave the crown top** — Weave a flat round disc 18 cm across, working outwards from four crossed strips. Keep the weave tight so the crown holds its shape without sagging. 3. **Shape the dome** — Place the disc over the bowl and weave downwards, following the curve of the bowl, for about 10 cm of depth. The bowl does the shaping for you if you keep the weave snug against it. 4. **Weave the side band** — Continue straight down for 3 cm past the bowl rim to form the band that sits on your head. This is the part that decides whether the hat is comfortable. 5. **Flare the brim** — For the brim, add a new strip every four uprights rather than every eight, so the weave widens quickly to a 35 cm brim. Work all the way round before judging the shape. 6. **Finish and stiffen** — Tuck every end into the underside, then mist the brim and press it flat under a heavy book overnight so it holds its shape. ![A woven palm leaf sun hat with a wide brim beside other woven home pieces](https://leafcraftpro.site/images/blog/useful-home-crafts-with-palm-leaves-1280.webp) *Working over a bowl from the first row is what keeps the crown round.* ## Sizing the Crown The crown should fit without gripping. If the hat leaves a red line on your forehead, the crown is too small; if it slides down when you nod, it is too big. Because leaf shrinks slightly as it dries, weave the crown about 5 mm wider than your measurement and it will settle to a comfortable fit. If you overshoot, dampen the band and weave two tighter rows around the inside to draw it in. ## Shaping and Finishing the Brim The brim is where a homemade hat either looks handmade in the good sense or the bad one. Widen it gradually and evenly: add a new strip every four uprights rather than every eight, and work all the way around before you judge the shape. Once it is 35 cm across, mist the brim lightly and press it flat under a heavy book overnight. This sets a gentle downward curve that keeps the sun off your face without looking stiff. If the brim curls up at the edges after drying, mist it again and press it with a warm iron over a cloth. - A 30 cm brim suits a close-fitting garden hat. - A 40 cm brim gives real shade but catches the wind. - Weave the brim in a slightly darker leaf for a two-tone band. - Add a thin jute cord around the crown as a chin strap for windy days. > A light coat of beeswax on the brim after drying makes the hat gently water-resistant. It will not survive a soaking, but it shrugs off a light shower. Reapply once a season if you wear it often. **Helpful Tips** - Weave the crown tightly and the brim loosely; a tight brim looks stiff and heavy. - Press the brim flat under a book for a full night so it holds its shape. - Keep the hat out of the sun while it dries; fast drying makes the brim curl. - Store it crown-down on a shelf so the brim does not flatten over time. - A hat with a chin cord is the one you will actually wear on a windy beach. **Hats, woven and cured.** Our palm leaf sun hats are made to this pattern and finished with a beeswax coat. [Shop sun hats](https://leafcraftpro.site/shop) ## Frequently asked questions ### How do I size a woven sun hat? Measure around your head above the ears. A 56 to 58 cm head needs a crown about 18 cm across, woven 5 mm wider to allow for shrinkage. ### How long does a palm leaf hat take to make? About four hours, plus a night of drying under a book to flatten the brim. ### Can a palm leaf hat get wet? A light shower is fine, especially with a beeswax coat. A full soaking will soften it, so dry it over a bowl to keep the crown round. ### What can I use to shape the crown? A mixing bowl about 2 cm wider than your head works well. Any smooth round former will do. --- © LeafCraftPRO — https://leafcraftpro.site/