Directions
- To begin, draw circles one inch apart starting from the center. These circles will serve as guides for where you’ll glue...
- Start gluing your feathers on the outermost circle. Alternate your feathers upward and downward on each circle. This...
- Continue this process until you reach the center of your Juju hat. Use the remaining short strands of feathers to fill...
How do you space a Juju hat?
For your 16″ Juju hat, start about 1.5″ down from the outer edge of the placemat. Space your layers of feathers out about 1″ from each other or less depending on the type of feathers you use. You can turn up your third layer of feathers for more dimension on this one as well.
What is a Juju hat?
Juju hats, or Tyn hats, were worn by royal dancers during Bamileke tribal ceremonies. They symbolized prosperity and were created from natural or dyed chicken and wild bird feathers. These feathers were stitched onto a base that could be pulled open with a strap and folded neatly with the feathers inside when not in use.
Can You DIY a Juju feather wall hanging together?
Let’s DIY a juju feather wall hanging together, you’ll be amazed how easy it is. I did my very own DIY African juju hat knockoff! Oh I am so excited about this one!
How big a hat do I need for a lush effect?
For a lush effect you will need at least 6 meters (circa 6 yards), for one hat, but the more the better. The large white one is about half a meter in diameter (about 1.5 feet).
What is a juju hat made of?
raffiaIt is with these masks that Tyn or Juju hats are most commonly seen, though occasionally they are also worn alone. The hats are constructed from raffia which is woven to create the support structure. Afterward, feathers taken from a chicken, guinea bird or other wild avian are dyed and attached to the base.
What is the meaning of a juju hat?
symbols of prosperityOriginating from Cameroon, Juju hats are creative displays of feathers. The Bamileke people began creating Juju hats as symbols of prosperity. The hats were commonly worn by royal dancers during tribal ceremonies.
What are juju hats used for?
Juju hats, or Tyn hats, were worn by royal dancers during Bamileke tribal ceremonies. They symbolized prosperity and were created from natural or dyed chicken and wild bird feathers.
Are Juju hats good luck?
Juju hats are a symbol of prosperity. Created from feathers, Juju hats also symbolize the purity of life and beauty of birds.
How many yards of feathers do I need for a Juju hat?
For a lush effect you will need at least 6 meters (circa 6 yards), for one hat, but the more the better. The large white one is about half a meter in diameter (about 1.5 feet). The feathers are about 20 cm (10 inch) long.
How do you hang a Juju hat on the wall?
At the back base of the juju, there is a tab you can use to press the center of the hat inwards. Gently press the tab all the way in until it pops into place. Some juju hats are woven more tightly than others - this pop may or may not be noticeable.
How do you clean a Juju hat?
JUJU HAT CARE AND CLEANING Because feathers are a natural material, moths can become attracted to them. To protect your juju, we recommend placing a small amount of cedar or lavender near the back. Additionally you can spray it periodically with a moth spray, available online or at your local hardware store.
What is a juju decor?
Our Juju hats are made from natural, undyed feathers by the Bamileke people of Cameroon. Traditionally, Juju hats, or Tyn hats, were worn by royal dancers during tribal ceremonies and symbolized prosperity. They create beautiful interior wall decor with neutral colors and textures and high-quality craftsmanship.
Directions
To begin, draw circles one inch apart starting from the center. These circles will serve as guides for where you’ll glue your feathers.
Juju Hat Tips
One thing to keep in mind before starting this project is that it can be costly. I was very ambitious in trying to cover my entire wall but normally I’ve noticed in home decor that there are no more than three Juju hats on a wall.
What is an African Juju Hat?
The Juju Hat is originally from Cameroon, where it’s called the Bamileke or Tyn hat.
Juju Hat DIY Tutorial
First, you’ll want to pin the feather trim around the outer edge of the place mat. I put them about every 1.5″ or so. It doesn’t have to be exact. Once you’ve pinned the first section, you want to overlap the beginning of the circle about an 1″ of trim and cut the rest of the trim off.
Want More?
If you enjoyed this tutorial, you’ll love making this heart shaped wreath in 4 easy steps!
Your Turn
So tell me, do you like the Juju hat look? Do you think it looks good above our bed?
DIY African Juju hat: the supplies
The most difficult thing about this whole project was finding the feathers. I wanted feathers in earthly natural color tones, and I wanted them strung, as in already sewn onto a ribbon.
DIY African juju hat: the step by step guide
So here are the steps. You will need feathers that are strung. The rooster coque feathers are by far the most beautiful and easiest to use. But as you can see I have also used ‘regular’ straight feathers that are much easier to find and cheaper too.
How to make a 16" Juju hat?
For your 16″ Juju hat, start about 1.5″ down from the outer edge of the placemat. Space your layers of feathers out about 1″ from each other or less depending on the type of feathers you use. You can turn up your third layer of feathers for more dimension on this one as well.
What do juju hats symbolize?
They symbolized prosperity and were created from natural or dyed chicken and wild bird feathers.
What are the darkest feathers for Juju hats?
They have a ton of movement and texture and would work great for medium sized Juju hats. The darkest feathers are chinchilla saddles feathers from Zucker Feather Products and are much shorter. They were a lot brighter online and photograph darker than in real life.
Can you sew feathers down to the mat?
Shortcut: If you’ve got a sewing machine, you can easily stitch your feathers down to your mat, but be sure you’re careful as you move your feathers onto your machine. You can do this for the first few layers, but it gets harder to stitch the layers closer to the center.
What is a juju hat?
Juju hats, or Tyn hats as they are traditionally known, are ceremonial crowns of great cultural significance to the Bamileke people of Cameroon. These intricately created pieces are worn during meetings of the King and royal council.
Where do Juju hats come from?
The feathers used to make our juju hats are natural chicken feathers - a byproduct of the meat industry. Our feathers come from small local farms who are committed to the well-being of the birds. Feathers are cleaned and sanitized locally before being sewn into juju hats.
Where are Zeal Living Juju hats made?
Our juju hats come directly from the source - the Bamileke artisans themselves. The Bamileke culture in Cameroon is the only African culture to have juju hats as part of their history - therefore only juju hats made in Cameroon are authentic. You can be confident that your Zeal Living juju hat is an original work of art made by a respected and well-paid Bamileke artisan in Cameroon.
