Preschool Graduation Caps Made from Cardstock

Little four year olds wait with their preschool teachers in a hallway. The music starts, the children are paired off and lined up. They march into the room past beaming parents, grandparents and friends. Cameras are whirring. They look so adorable in their little dresses, dress shirts and pants. They proudly march forward with tassels swinging from their big boy and girl graduation caps.

Preschool graduation caps can be made to look like the caps the grown graduates wear. They can be made in primary colors or nice white card stock which will compliment any child's outfit and hair color for those precious photos. The tassels can be a solid color or pastel variegated yarn.

Materials needed for one preschool size graduation cap: Card stock or lightweight cardboard, one 11 inch by 11 inch square and one strip measuring 5 inches by the measurement of the child's head plus 2 inches. For example, a child with a 21 inch head measurement equals a 5 inch by 23 inch strip. You can use heavy construction paper but the card stock will hold up much better with this age group. Suggestion: purchase poster board stock if doing an entire class. Pastel variegated, solid pink or blue yarn. A paper clip. Spool of white elasticized thread.
This is a plain, crisp looking preschool graduation cap. If decoration is desired the square could have the school emblem in the center and the children could be allowed to color it. The alphabet could be stamped or stenciled on the headband. ABC, 123 could be stencil on the square. This would have to be done before the caps are assembled. A simple charm could be attached to the tassel if desired.

Tools needed: Scissors, pencil, measuring tape, standard size paper hole punch, tacky white craft glue, and stapler.

Instructions: 1. Measure child's head circumference just above the top of the ears. Cut the length of the head band two inches longer than this measurement. If making more than one cap make sure to put the child's name on the wrong side of the paper.
2. Place 11 inch by 11 inch square wrong side up on work surface. Pencil in the child's name in the center.
3. Slowly and carefully poke a small hole in center of the square with scissor points only large enough to pull yarn through after cap is complete. To keep from ripping the square place a kitchen towel underneath it. Do not hold it against your hand. Set aside.
4. Head band. Take scissors and cut 2 inch slits 1 and 1/2 inch apart down the top of the strip. This creates tabs.
5. Form a circle with the strip right side out, overlap 2 inches and staple ends together at the top and bottom. Slightly fold top slitted tabs down.
6. Place square wrong side up on work surface. Place headband on to center of the square with tabs wrong side down. see photo Glue tabs down well to affix securely. Set aside to dry thoroughly.

Tassel for preschool graduation cap 1. Cut one 26 inch, one 18 inch and ten 15 inch lengths of yarn.
2. Place 26 inch length horizontally across work surface. Lay the pile of 15 inch pieces vertically over the 26 inch length center so that 7 and 1/2 inches are on either side.
3. Bring ends of the 26 inch length up and overlap tying a firm knot to hold the center of the pile of 15 inch pieces together. This is the 'body' of your tassel.
4. Take the 18 inch length of yarn and lay it on the work surface. Place the body of the tassel on top of it 1/2 inch from the knot in the 26 inch length. Tie a knot in the 18 inch yarn length to give the round shape at the tassel top. Tightly wrap the now doubled length of yarn of the 18 inch length around and around for 1 and 1/2 inches. Pull the end through itself slip knot to firmly tie it off. Trim bottom of tassel body yarn to even it neatly. see photo If desired a charm can be added to the tightly wrapped area of tassel.
5. Hold cap and pull the ends of the 26 inch length through the center hole on the outside of the graduation cap. Take ends of 26 inch length of yarn and thread paper clip on to them. Tie a small hard double knot to secure tassel unit to cap. The paper clip will keep the yarn from pulling through.

To finish Take circle paper punch and punch a hole approximately 1/8 inch from bottom of rim of headband on both sides of the cap. Use 16 to 18 inch length of elastic thread. Thread through one hole, knot firmly. Thread through second hole and knot firmly for a chin strap.

Poster board, card stock or heavy construction paper can be found at discount, craft or dollar stores. Elastic thread and yarn is found in sewing area of many stores. You should be able to make a preschool graduation cap for under four dollars each.