Here is a girl's hat box that is quite different from the general run of boxes. The front is made so that you can see inside the box without lifting the cover, and furthermore, when you wish to remove the hat from the box, this is easily accomplished by raising the lid just a trifle and then the front hinges down. You can readily see the advantages of such a hat box, for often you will want to stack one box on top of an-other and when you attempt to remove a hat from any box except the top one, you either find the other boxes that are on top of a certain one tumbling down, or you have broken the cover by lifting so high with the other boxes weighing down on your special box.

This project can be made equally well by using either thin plywood or heavy cardboard. The box is to be covered on the outside with cretonne so that you do not need to be so particular about the material you use to construct same.

A good size to make a hat box for the average hat is 12"xl2", and 8" in height.

Method Of Procedure

Step No. 1: If this box is to be made of cardboard, you can lay out the entire job, except the cover, on one sheet, cut and fold. If it is to be made of wood, you will have to cut out four pieces all the same width, but two of them a little shorter in length to allow for the overlap at the corners. You must also cut out a piece for the bottom.

Step No. 2: Glue and nail the two sides and back together; on the front run strips just wide to act as a stop for the front flap. Now glue and nail the bottom in place.

Step No. 3: The front flap is cut out in the center to receive a piece of common glass or a sheet of celluloid.

Step No. 4: Make a top cover with an overlap of about 1" around all sides. This cover should be made to fit very freely on the box part.

Step No. 5. The entire outside of the box is to be covered with cretonne or other suitable material of your own choice. Glue the corners together and overlap the material on the inside and top edge, and glue in place. The front flap is hinged to the box part along the bottom edge. A little of the cretonne will serve as a hinge joint. The top cover is also covered in like manner. Instead of gluing the corners of the cretonne, a better job is obtained by stitching them carefully. This, however, is a detail for you to work out.