Axólotl Hat

Hello everyone, I hope everything is going well. Today I'm presenting a hat based on the famous Mexican amphibian called the Axólotl . This hat will be made entirely of foam and glue.

The Axólotl , also known as the ajolote, is an amphibian endemic to Mexico, famous for its regenerative capacity and unique appearance, including the external gills that give it a feathery appearance around its head. It is a type of salamander that, unlike others, remains in a larval (neotenic) state throughout its life, without undergoing metamorphosis to the adult terrestrial stage.

20 mm Pink Foam sheet

Knife

Glue

Pattern

Knife

Balls

Black Baloons

Magenta Craft Foam

Optional: Black Mesh Fabric

The Axólotl is a species of caudate amphibian in the ambystomatid family, related to the tiger salamander. It was originally described by George Kearsley Shaw and Frederick Polydore Nodder under the synonym Gyrinus mexicanus.

Main Characteristics of te :

Neoteny:

The axolotl retains its larval characteristics, such as its external gills, even into adulthood.

Regeneration:

It is known for its extraordinary ability to regenerate body parts, such as limbs, organs, and even parts of its brain.

Habitat:

Native to the lakes and canals of Xochimilco, Mexico City, it is currently endangered in the wild.

Cultural Significance:

It has been an important symbol in Mexica culture and appears in mythology as a representation of the god Xolotl.

Research:

Its regenerative capacity has made it an object of scientific study, especially in the fields of developmental biology and regenerative medicine.

Conservation Status:

In Mexico, it is protected by environmental laws and is critically endangered in its natural habitat.

Fun Facts:

*The name "axolotl" comes from the Nahuatl words "atl" (water) and "xolotl" (monster), meaning "water monster."

*There are several varieties of axolotls, including albino and golden ones, in addition to the more common black or mottled brown ones.

*Although they have lungs, adult axolotls rely primarily on their external gills to breathe.

Conservation efforts are underway to protect their habitat and prevent their extinction.

To create the axolotl hat, I'll use 2 cm thick pink foam.

I recommend a thickness of at least 1 cm.

The hat will be made using a template, which I've attached in this step. You can see it in the images (letter size for printing).

It is made up of 10 pointed pieces, which will form the base of the hat.

And the gills, which are 6, 3 on each side and arranged numerically.

cut out these templates and transfer them onto the foam.

Use a marker to perform this action

In the central part we will leave a space and place the template next to it again until completing 5 blocks of the template

The central part will be calculated from the template's joining line, upwards where there is an intersection.

After marking the template 5 times, turn it upside down to reflect it and make the resulting piece symmetrical.

Do the same with the gills but in this case add 5mm to the edge, these 5mm will serve to prevent the piece from shrinking when you seal the edges.

Cutting time, with the cutter cut out all the pieces of foam

Make sure it is a sharp knife so you will get a better result.

Make the cuts internally for a better assembly result.

Note the edge marked with the marker and make the internal cut as shown in the images.

Separate the remaining pieces but don't throw them away, you can use them for another project later.

To stick the foam, contact cement is best, since it is a porous material and adheres very strongly to the material. Keep in mind to apply it in ventilated areas.

Using a popsicle stick, apply the glue all around the edge, avoiding spreading it.

soak the foam well and make sure you have applied an even coat on both sides.

let it dry for at least 8 minutes before joining.

Glue all the pieces together, applying glue one by one, and then joining them together in the same way, take your time to avoid staining the pink foam.

After joining the entire front part, apply glue to the edge of the back part, but only up to the central part, so you will have a free area to insert your head into the hat.

For the gills, apply glue over the entire edge except for the base that joins the hat.

Now join the edges from the inside to the outside as shown, make a central fold and join it internally

For the eyes, use a ball the size of the template and cut it in half. It can be an ordinary ball or even an acrylic sphere if you prefer. In my case, I used a polystyrene ball.

These resulting parts will be covered with the balloon material.

Now insert the resulting piece from the symmetrical cut of the ball into the balloon. Cut the balloon to size. Ideally, it should be super tight.

Place your eyes in the position you prefer or guide yourself by the images

and based on its position, trace the outline of the mouth with a marker or chalk.

use a cutter to remove the demarcated part.

now glue the external gills.

Distribute three on each side of the hat, and according to the template and its numbering, organize them from top to bottom in their numerical order.

At this point you should have the hat, now we will continue with some extra details

Now cut strips of craft foam that resemble eyelashes, these will be distributed along the gills to give that feathery effect.

Before gluing, distribute the strips to avoid making mistakes.

Start by placing the magenta foam strips from the tip to the base of the gills.

Repeat this process as many times as necessary until the desired area is covered.

Add as many strips as you think are necessary until you get a result you like.

You can add, if you prefer, a layer of opaque black mesh fabric in the area where the mouth of the hat was cut, to hide the face. In my case, I prefer to have my face visible.

Thanks for checking out my project.