We ended up using a hot glue gun. It worked much better. Just be sure to let the glue get really hot before you use it or it will dry before you stick the gears on. We have a cat and a dog who just loved getting in the way. Be sure to keep everything out of reach of children and any curious pets.
The hat looks great and Kiersty can now move on to her next project. This week we got an early Christmas present. A brand new Singer Sewing machine. That means I can embarrass myself as I post on how to sew. Or how not to sew, since I don't know how. Keep your eyes open for next week's post, and have a great week.