How to Crochet a Bucket Hat {free pattern!}

Did you know that the 90’s style of wearing bucket hats is back?  There is also a newer trend called Coastal Grandmother that embraces these kind of hats with neutral colors. I think my style has always been Coastal Grandmother (loose, casual, neutral colors), even though I’m not a grandmother! I love these simple hats for their full coverage, classic look, and slick brim.  A crochet bucket hat adds even more texture and interest than a fabric one.  The bonus is that these hats are super easy to crochet, and don’t take long at all!

Today I have a simple crochet bucket hat pattern for you.  I added a unique touch with a few ‘hdc’ (half double crochet) rows as textured ‘stripes’ on the hat.  Make one hat or more (for friends!) and wear them year round. You’ll be able to finish up a hat over a weekend.

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Crochet Bucket Hat Pattern

How do you crochet a bucket hat for beginners?

The bucket hat is a straightforward hat to crochet, even for beginners.  Many patterns will have you use the single crochet stitch (sc) throughout the entire hat, which makes for a tight weave and simple stitching.  I added a few hdc rows in my pattern, but it is still quite simple.

The hat will be crocheted in the round, and you will not need to join stitches at the end of each round.  When working in the round, it is best to count stitches and use a stitch marker to mark the first stitch in each round. This is a good tip for both beginners and advanced crocheters. I am always losing count!

You will need the following supplies to make the crochet bucket hat:

Supplies

• Size H (5 mm) crochet hook
• approx. 145 yards of size 4 Medium Weight cotton yarn. I used PREMIER HOME COTTON IN COLOR CREAM.
• tapestry needle, scissors

Abbreviations

US crochet terms are used.

Ch – chain

ST – stitch

SC – single crochet

HDC – half double crochet

BLO – back loop only

FLO – front loop only

PM – place marker (place the stitch marker in the first stitch)

MM – move marker (move the stitch marker to the first stitch of every round)

RS – Right Side

Rep – repeat

The finished crochet bucket hat will measure approximately 6.5” diameter at the top, 3.5” width of the sides, and 1.5” wide brim.  The circumference around the sides will be about 23”.

PATTERN INFORMATION

• get the ad-free, printable pdf pattern for the BUCKET HAT in the ETSY SHOP!  It has tutorial photos included.

• find it in this CROCHET PATTERN BUNDLE filled with 8 accessory patterns!

Basic Bucket Hat Crochet Pattern

Gauge: Circle formed by rounds 1-6 = 3″ across. (Your initial circle at the top of the hat should measure 3” diameter after Round 6).

Notes: Follow the pattern below to work the hat in the round.  Each round will display as a spiral.

Some rounds will have you make an increase, where you work 2 sc into one stitch after intervals of stitches.  This will allow the circles to grow larger. I noted expected stitch counts at the end of each round.

One of my readers had a great question as to which stitch is the ‘next st’ when beginning a new round that instructs “2 sc in next st”, and which stitch holds the marker. The stitch marker should always be placed in the FIRST stitch in every round. When you begin a new round that states “2 SC in next stitch”, the next stitch that follows is the one with the stitch marker (the first stitch in the previous round). After you work those first 2 sc’s in that stitch, move the stitch marker to the first of the two sc’s. This becomes the first stitch in this new round.

Top of Hat:

Using the SIZE H CROCHET HOOK, make a magic circle (aka ring) with your COTTON YARN.

(Another option is to chain 4 sts and join to make a ring, then ch 1).

Round 1: Work 6 sc into the ring. PM in first st made and in each following round, MM to keep it always in the first st of every round. Do not join since the hat is worked in a spiral. (6 sts)

Round 2: 2 sc in each st around.  (12 sts)

Round 3: *2 sc in next st, sc in next st; rep from * around.  (18 sts)

Round 4: *2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 2 sts; rep from * around.  (24 sts)

Round 5: *2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 3 sts; rep from * around.  (30 sts)

Round 6: *2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 4 sts; rep from * around.  (36 sts)

This is a good place to stop and check your gauge.  Your circle should measure 3” diameter at this point.  If it doesn’t, switch to a different hook size to obtain gauge.

Round 7: *2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 5 sts; rep from * around.  (42 sts)

Round 8: *2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 6 sts; rep from * around.  (48 sts)

Round 9: *2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 7 sts; rep from * around.  (54 sts)

Round 10: *2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 8 sts; rep from * around.  (60 sts)

Round 11: Sc in each st around.  (60 sts)

Round 12: *2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 9 sts; rep from * around.  (66 sts)

Round 13: Sc in each st around.  (66 sts)

At this point the top of your hat should measure about 6.5” diameter.  If you would like a little wider hat, add one more round as follows to bring it to about 7” diameter:

Extra Round: Sc in each st around.  (66 sts)

Sides of Hat:

Here we begin adding a few hdc rounds to add ‘striped’ texture to the sides.  If you feel ambitious, you could try using a contrasting color cotton yarn for the hdc rounds. That would make the stripes pop!

Round 14: Sc in BLO of each st around.  (66 sts) (note – the BLO technique creates the ‘rim’ that you will see around the hat, distinguishing the top from the sides)

Round 15: *2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 10 sts; rep from * around.  (72 sts)

Round 16: Sc in each st around.  (72 sts)

Round 17: Ch1 (doesn’t count as st), hdc in each st around.  (72 sts) (note – PM in the first hdc, not the ch 1)

Rounds 18-20: Sc in each st around.  (72 sts)

Round 21: Ch1 (doesn’t count as st), hdc in each st around.  (72 sts)

Rounds 22-25: Rep rounds 18-21.  (72 sts)

This finishes the sides of your hat, which should measure about 3.25” width.

Brim of Hat:

The brim of the hat is worked completely in sc stitches. This will ensure a firm brim.

Round 26: *2 sc in FLO of next st, sc in FLO of each of next 11 sts; rep from * around.  (78 sts)

Round 27: *2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 12 sts; rep from * around.  (84 sts)

Rounds 28-32: Sc in each st around.  (84 sts)

The brim of your hat should measure about 1.5” wide.  Feel free to continue repeating Round 32 if you would like a wider brim.

Sl st with first st in round to join. 

Fasten off.

Weave in ends. You’re finished!

How long does it take to crochet a bucket hat?

You may be wondering how long it takes to crochet this bucket hat.  The entire hat took me about 4 hours total to make.  You can expect to crochet for 8-10 minutes per round for the sides and brim.  The rounds for the top of the hat will not take as long.

I was able to complete the whole hat within a couple of days. Looking forward to wearing it to the beach!

Wear your Coastal Grandmother bucket hat!

How would you wear this bucket hat? I think it looks lovely with the brim turned both up and down, and fits in perfectly with the trendy Coastal Grandmother style. I could totally hang out with Diane Keaton, don’t you think?:

Turning the brim down a bit gives you an air of mystery….

Send me pics if you make one. I love to see your finished work.

Looking for more hat or headband patterns? Check out my other CROCHET HATS & HEADBAND PATTERNS on the blog. If you knit as well, take a peek at my KNIT HATS & HEADBANDS PATTERNS.

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