The Key West Citizen

Let 'Em Greet 1955 In Gay Paper Hats

HAPPY NEW YEAR!—Paper party hats add to the spirit of the occasion and are easy to stitch up at home.

New Year's Eve belongs to the small fry, too, and midnight is a wonderful, grownup moment for the lollypop set. But the magic of being allowed to stay up until midnight isn't complete without gay hats to make it a real party.

Here's a chance for your sewing machine to do unusual holiday duty. Sewing center experts have discovered that your sewing machine will stitch crepe paper as easily as cloth. It's a matter of a few minutes to stitch up some perky party hats, using gay gift-wrap ribbons left over from the Christmas presents as rimming. No pattern is required—simply follow these easy directions:

For a boy's hat, cut a strip of crepe paper 15 by 22 inches. Fold up 2½ inches on one long edge and decorate with two strips of gift-wrap tape or ribbon a half-inch in from the edge.

Trim opposite edge with another strip of tape, and then cut into coarse fringe 5 inches deep. Stitch back seam on your sewing machine, gather beneath fringe and tape together tightly.

For a girl's hat, cut another strip of crepe paper 15 by 22 inches. Fold up 2½ inches on one long edge, and decorate with strips of tape or ribbon in crisscross pattern. Cut opposite side into four pointed petals 5 inches deep. Stitch back seam. Gather beneath petals and tape tightly. Bend petals out and trim with more strips of tape or ribbon.

Then let the small fry stay up to welcome in the New Year in real party style. You'll find it's worth the trouble when you see the stars in their eyes.—Newsfeatures.