Creating a Coconut Hat (Open-Top)

Written Steps:

Harvest Green Fronds from the tree. Usually, the middle leaves are best suited for weaving as its not too old or young. With one coconut frond you can make two hats.

The Rim

Some people like to soak their fronds in water for 24 hours before weaving with the leaves. This ensures no breaks or tears.

With your frond start by splitting it in half with a good knife or machete. I used a sharp pocket knife.

Then, with your knife begin to shave away at the spine. This makes it more flexible and easier to bend.

After you've thinned the spine bend it into a circle.

Cut a notch into the connecting pieces and secure it tightly with twine, string, or the left over fibers of coconut from being shaven away.

Before you finally secure the band together, make sure to check that it fits your head. You will want to leave about 2 fingers of room in between your forehead and the band because as you weave it will become tighter.

If it is too big just pluck a few leaves off and trim it to make the length shorter.

Now we are going to start working on the rim of the hat.

Start with your coconut leaves facing downward so that the yellow shows on top.

You will notice that the leaves of your frond tend to curve in a clockwise position. This is the direction in which you will weave towards.

Taking one of the leaflets you are going to weave it 4 times; over one, under one, over one, and under one. Don't weave too tight. Keep it slack and leave an opening where your first leaf was so that when we loop back around with the last leaf we can weave it through, joining them together.

Taking a clothespin I use it to hold back the first leaf we were working with to the band of the hat.

Next take your very next left leaf, after the first leaf you were working with, and do the same motions as you did prior; weave it 4 times; over one, under one, over one, and under one.

Clip the leaf back and start with the next leaves.

Continue to do this until you get to the 3rd to the last leaf.

When you get to this leaflet continue to weave 4 time; over over one, under one, over one, and then weave under the very first leaf you worked with. This will start to connect the rim. This is why you leave some space when you first start weaving with your first leaf.

Follow the pattern and do the same thing with the next leaves.

It is important to note that sometimes people will change this pattern. Rather than going over first they may go under. Some may weave 4 times like I showed and others will only weave 3-5 times. It all depends on the person and how big your band is.

This is what I mean by changing the pattern:

In this video I start under and I weave it 3 times instead of 4.

The Crown

Starting with a leaf bend it at a 45° angle towards the right and weave it: under one, over one, and under one. (Make sure to leave space so that you can weave the last few leaves back in to connect and close the hat)

Tuck the leaf into the rim of the hat to hold it down.

With the next leaf to the right do the exact same motions: under, over, and under one. Then tuck into the rim once again.

When you get to the very last leaves, Like what we did with the rim, do the same steps but interweave the leaves with the first few leaves you started with. This will connect the crown together; forming a hat.

Forming, Storing, and Maintaining.

Forming

Some people like their hats fresh and green while other like them brown. When I make my hats, and I decide to dry them, I like to place them over paint cans. This helps the band of the hat to maintain a circular shape. I also apply clothespins on the crown of the hat just to reinforce its shape and so that when it is dried it has a nice uniform look.

Not everyone likes to do this though as it doesn't look natural.

Once you get the hang of making hats and the pattern you can start making baskets or fans and bowls using the same technique. Just play around and have fun.

Storing

You may start to notice that your hat is speckling or drying darker, uneven, or a lighter color. This is all okay. However if you are going for a specific look there are a few ways you may want to store your hat in.

If you want a nice light tan color you may want to store your hat in a clean dry area. preferably under the sun so that it bleaches the hat.

To achieve a darker color store it in a cooler dry area inside of your house somewhere. keep it away from the sun.

When speckling or uneven coloring occurs this could be because your hat has retained water in certain parts and areas of your hat. Putting it under the sun, sprayed with a little bit of salt water, will draw out the excess waters and helps to achieve a more even color.

Maintaining

These hats can last up to anywhere from 10 to 15 years, sometimes, even 20 with good care. Keeping your hats in dry areas helps. If your hat gets wet or dirty make sure to pat it down, clean it up, and dry it as soon as possible.

Some people also like to put oils on their hats as perfume but this may affect the color of the hat and break down its fibers a lot quicker.