The Fun of Balloon Hats
Dr. Who Tardis balloon hat
Ready...? Set...? Balloon!!!
Balloon hats are made by twisting long, skinny balloons into joined sections so that they hold their shape and fit onto the head. After that, almost anything goes!
I recently did a project that left me with a lot of twister balloons, and I decided the best way to use them up was to learn to make balloon hats... so here goes! After all, making animal shapes are fun, but what do you do with them... really? I mean, you have to carry them around or find somewhere to put them but with a balloon hat, you can carry them around in a hands-free form, they are less prone to get popped while on your head and they really are a lot of fun as far as headgear goes!
THE INFLATABLE BALLOON CROWN HAT KIT - this is THE balloon hat book to own
If you could consider there to be a "Bible" of balloon hat-making, this is that book! Authors Addi Somekh and Charlie Eckert are the two guys behind the Balloon Hat project, traveling the world to bring balloon hats to all corners of the globe.
The beginnings of a balloon milliner
I got started making balloon hats after I created a Big Giant Squid head as a mask-making commission. I had lots of twister balloons leftover after making the tentacles. In fact, I had every color of long skinny balloon you might want except orange. I decided I had to do something fun with them.
So that's how I got started on making different types of balloon hats. If I can mange to come up with something cohesive, I promise to put up pictures here. My housemate has a fear of the sounds of balloons popping, so I only make balloon hats when she's out of the house.
Balloon hats are really fun to make, they travel well (you don't make the hat until you get to where you are going) and they are fun for anyone as you can easily make them in whatever size you need!
It turns out that blowing up twisting balloons takes more lung power than you would imagine. Most people prefer a balloon pump.
Instructions for Different Balloon Hats - make balloon hats right now!
If you've got some twisting balloons on hand and are ready to start, the below links will get you hat-making in minutes!
- How To Make Balloon Hats
If life gives you balloons, make balloon hats! Quick and easy instructions for how to make your own balloon hats using twister balloons. - Balloon Hat - How To Make a Hat
There's only one rule to remember when making balloon hats: The bigger and crazier, the better. Add to the base as many balloons as you'd like. Keep it somewhat symmetrical for balance and wearability. - How to Make a Balloon Hat.
Balloon hats are a fun activity for the young and old. Learning how to make them can brighten up anyone's day. If you're feeling a little bored, make a balloon hat. - Square Knot Balloon Hat
I received this design from Charles Dolbel, a professional entertainer in Aukland, New Zealand. He calls this design simply an Adjustable Hat, but I like to call it the Square Knot hat. It's quick and easy, and it won't catch loose hairs in the twist - How to make a Balloon Bubble Hat.
Learn how to make a bubble hat out of balloons with Magical Balloon-dude Dale - Make a Balloon Top Hat
A few years ago I posted instructions for a hat similar to this on the BalloonHQ email list. This improved version uses more balloons, but it's easier, faster, and looks better. While not practical for line work, it's an attractive piece for a specia
Get Twisiting... - stuff to make balloon hats
This is a standard size of balloon used for twisting, and ordering a whole bunch makes it easier to practice.
"Nobody can be uncheered with a balloon."
- Winnie the Pooh
Tips and Tricks for Twisting
helpful hints and suggestions
Getting started with balloon twisting is both easy and hard. Here are some suggestions of things I found helpful through my own trial-and-error ballon games.
- Trim down your fingernails. Long fingernails or ragged edges make it easier to accidentally pop your balloons. Plus long nails can make it harder to tie knots.
- If the sound of popping balloons freaks you out.... Wear earplugs! Seriously, this is easy to do and can really increase your comfort level until you get more skilled at all the twisting.
- Watch out for your pets! Not only can popping noises make them scared, some animals will try to play with, or eat, the balloon shrapnel.
- Right before you start twisting, wash your hands. Getting all the oils off your skin will give you a bit more grip, which can be really useful to the beginning twister.
Gettin' Fancier with your Balloon Hats - more complex balloon hats and videos
Here are links to sites that feature follow-along balloon hat videos. You can go absolutely balloon hat crazy with these!
- How to Make Balloon Hats | ExpertVillage Videos
How to Make Balloon Hats. In these free videos learn how to make balloon hats, including using intermediate techniques to make a bike helmet, baseball cap, cowboy hat, jester's cap, crown and more. - Unknown
Jelly Kelly shows us how to make a balloon hat- it looks fantastic! - Balloon Twisting Instructions: Balloon Dolphin Hat
Here is a pretty simple, very larger balloon dolphin hat I figured out. It is easy to make and comes alive with a couple eyeball balloons. - Twisted - A Balloonamentary
This documentary follows eight professional ballon twisters at the annual Twist and Shout balloon convention.
Radical Balloon Hat Twisting Dvd
Amazing balloon hat from superstar balloon artist Denis Regling. Learn to be a balloon professional with this DVD!
Let Them Wear Hats! - some silly and instructional balloon hat videos
So, what's on your head... oops... I mean, what's on your mind in regards to balloon hats?? - share your twisted balloon hat thoughts!
Very cute and inventive balloon hats! I've always been awed by the people who can make such geat things with twisty balloons.
- Author
It's been interesting to see how easy they can be and how many are just embellishments on a simple framework. And of course, now that I've challenged myself to make a Squidoo balloon hat, I have to learn to "think in balloon."
I made a beautiful balloon boquet of red flowers on green stems for Valentine's Day this year. Hats are fun. It is amazing how much fun someone can get from a $.06 balloon!
Cute stuff! Balloon animals and hats have always amazed me. Love the pics.
Very nice work.
I have been doing balloon twisting for about 20 years now and have always been an "anti-hat" person. The hats tend to take too many balloons, too much time, and don't always generate an appropriate tip.
My hat (non balloon)is off to those who do balloon hats.
I currently have about 300 different characters that I do. I plan to post instructions for some of my favorites soon.
very artistic and creative balloon hats.
What a fun idea for a lens--enjoyed the videos too :)
This is an awesome lens!!
How cute! Love the hats. 5*
Amanda Lorenzo is stunned speechless by the wonderfulness of your balloon hats! What a marvtastic joy! May you flourish in every way. Lensrolling and 5 stars.
very different.. sure to try :)
I want a balloon tophat like in the image at the top of the page. Very fun lens!
Cool lens, would be so perfect at a kids birthday party!
Its nice to read your informative knowledge. Thanks
Way cool!! I've always wanted to learn how to twist balloons. I love the winnie the pooh quote, too. :) Good job on this lens.
I like your intro picture! I just learned this summer how to twist a dog and a swan so perhaps this is gonna be my next step... or perhaps something a little bit easier will satisfy my little boy too.
Love that intro photo! And I wonder who got Martha to wear that hat (and if they lived).
Wonderful! Balloons are just so happy. Especially when you can wear them!
blessed by a squid angel :) <3
Well, they are not too good for winter, but very good for fun!
Love the lens!
Very creative and looks like lots of fun!
What crazy, colourful, uninhibited fun. Blessings for brightening my day.
Wonderful. Like this style.
I always wanted to learn to do this. Awesome
Aren't these amazing? I'm not sure who the other artist is but the one at the top goes by the name "Beny the Balloon Guy," He came to our daughters birthday party a few weeks ago and his hats, animals and everything else were spectacular! here's his website: www.seattleballoonguy.com
love this lens, so cool!!! Well done :)
I think these are so cool and lots of fun for kids. Or adults:)
So much fun! Thanks for sharing - blessed by a SquidAngel!
I love balloons. I wish you would put some more instructions of how to make these hats.
Very pretty creations. Balloons make such beautiful art.
Great inspirations. Kids really love them :)
I've seen animals twisted out of balloons, but never hats. They look actually interesting....
I love these Balloon Hats
In our area, there's a balloon guy that comes to parties and makes all sorts of things out of balloons. He's got a nice little business going.
Your lens made me laugh. Especially Martha Stewart being goofy!
What fun
It's fascinating how something as simple as a balloon can bring us so much joy.
Wow I always wanted to make these but I'm nervous of a balloon going bang! lol Never got over that from my younger years... blessed.
On my one and only trip to Vegas with another beyond-middle-age-friend, one of the highlights of a particular evening was wearing balloon hats made and purchased from a street vendor. Feeling and looking like kids was just plain fun. One is never to old or young to enjoy a good old-fashioned balloon hat. Great lens. :)
I've always enjoyed seeing someone make things out of balloons. Very informative page.
This is an inexpensive way to have a lot of fun, especially at a children's party.
Balloons are the best, and the fact that they can serve so many purposes (a pet, a sword, a hat, etc.) makes them even better. Thanks for showing off the latest in balloon fashion!
Fun lens!
This is really a fun lens with a lot of information.
Hee, hee :) definitely a unique lens :)
Such fun. Especially if you have some kids to impress!
Loved all the balloon hats!
Cool ideas!
I once saw balloon hats being made at a festival. Have seen *animals* made with balloons too. Delightful!
A friend of mine and I used to have an events and party company and we used to do balloon animals and hats.. etc... so much FUN!!!!! Squid Angel Blessings!!!!
Great lens! Growing up, my balloon hats were never that cool! Would it be weird if I walked around in a balloon hat even if there wasn't some kind of a party?
wow .. this is greate
Love this lens. I always wondered how they made things from balloons?
- Author
@Spirality: I have walked around with a balloon hat on for no special reason... And it's super fun! I highly recommend you try it sometime.
Enjoyed the read and the picture tour. It felt good to experience a change of mood for even a few moments. Thanks for the experience.
What a fun lens - love the photos of all of the balloon hats!
This is really a fun lens! Love it! Makes me feel like a kid again. Thanks for writing it.
I love these... but I have a weird "thing" about popping balloons. No matter how prepared I am that a balloon might pop, it still startles me. :)
this is the first time I've seen something like this I've seen blue hats for years but never thought anything about it other good information here keep up the good work I enjoy it.
What a cute idea for a lens, looks like a ton of fun. I have to share this with my grandkids in the morning. Thanks for sharing, I Love It!
Balloon hats! Well if someone else blows them up I'm down with the idea. Blessed.
This lens makes me smile:) Great fun. Who doesn't enjoy watching a person making things out of balloons. Thanks! Great job.
Very cool! The guy on Martha makes it looks so easy.
Nice heads, very funny page.
This is great! I like the Winnie the Pooh quote, that guy is such a nostalgic character from my childhood. Balloon make for great hats- so colourful!
Fun hat ideas. Good job on lens.
Great idea for a lens. Lots of good stuff here!
Very cute lens great job!
Fun Lens. I've tried balloon "whatevers" before and found that I am not a natural at the art.
great lens , fun for party or birthday functions.
I love watching the man at farmers' markets make the most incredible hats for children.
Sooo cute!
Thanks for sharing & smile! : ))
Those balloon hats are cool. I've always wanted to be able to make them and balloon animals too!
These balloons looking so nice
What a fun lens!
Funny hats! So amusing! Thanks for sharing us all these great ideas! I'll use them on my next kid's party.
Cute! I tried this once, but never got very far. Maybe I'll give it another try! :)
Enjoyed this lens. Love those balloon hats. Who'd a thunk?
Very original and fun lens! Reading it brought me memories and made me smile!
I love balloons although I never considered a balloon hat until now!
This is a champion article on the fun of imaginative balloon hats.
Never would have thought you could find so much info on balloon hats - good fun! Maybe I should wear one in the kitchen for inspiration...
Can't say I have every considered a balloon hat lol. They look,a little "peculiar" and could pose a real danger to children. But fun nevertheless to look at :)
I love hats, but I never heard of balloon hats. Great lens!
This is the first time that I have read (or heard) about balloon hats. Pretty neat.
- Author
@jemacb: They are awesome to wear at parties.
Crazy! As in fun-crazy! I've seen the occasional balloon critter but had no idea ballon hats existed to such creative depths! Wow...great read!
90