Date: Fri, 5 Jul 1996 10:01:39 -0400
From: Garry Gardner <104267.444@CompuServe.COM>
Subject: July 4th hats
To: Balloons <balloon@www.fooledya.com>

I came up with a couple ideas for July 4th hats yesterday.
Sorry I couldn't have posted them in a more timely manner.

First, an Uncle Sam hat - requires 2 red, 2 white and one
(dark) blue.  Inflate the reds and whites leaving a 3 inch
nozzle and 3 inch tail. Find the exact middle of all four 
and twist together in an 8-pointed "star". Make a birdcage
base, alternating the red and white segments. Each "spoke"
should be about 4 inches and the "rim" bubbles about 3 inches.
This is the top of the hat. For the sides, make a 6-8 inch 
bubble in each segment and connect to the adjacent segment 
with a 3 inch bubble (Like birdcage bars). Take the tail of 
each red segment and double it back on the last 3 inch bubble
and tie it off.  Fully inflate the Blue balloon and fasten the 
two ends together. This will be the hat brim. Extend the white 
tails like spokes to attach the brim at 4 points around the 
circumference. Make a 1 inch pinch twist in each white segment
where it attaches to the rim, then break and tie off any 
remainder. I wore this hat while busking before the fireworks
display and got a good response.  When someone wanted a hat like
mine I offered the alternative . . .

Fireworks Hat: Requires 2 balloons, any color. Fully inflate one 
balloon and make a loop to fit the recipient's head, leaving a 
long "feather" sticking up.  Inflate the other balloon leaving 
about a 2-inch tail. fold in half, then in half again, and twist
the whole bunch in the middle. Attach the bunch to the top of
the "feather", and the kids have fireworks they can wear home
(and even explode with a bang if they want!).

Twisting Independantly,
Professor Wonder