Bucket Hat Crochet Pattern – Free with pictures

With this bucket hat crochet pattern you can make a stylish hat. They are also known as fisherman hats or sun hats, an iconic trend from the 90’s that never really went away. And now they are trending everywhere. In fact, everywhere you look online you find celebrities wearing them. In this article you will find an easy bucket hat crochet pattern. They can be your “go to” accessory to complement your warmer weather outfits.

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Is it easy to crochet a bucket hat?

It is very easy to crochet a bucket hat. Make it using a very simple technique, with only single crochet stitches on the round. You will have it ready in just a few hours. Not to mention, making your own hat is the best bet to have it customized to your own taste.

With this tutorial, you have instructions to make a size Teen/Small Adult hat. It’s only three steps and pretty easy for those with basic knowledge on crochet. Read through the notes before you start, that way you will know how to achieve the best result.

An inexpensive PDF including this and 7 other sizes is available for sale, from Premie to Adult Large. It can be purchased on my Ravelry or Etsy shops.

What is the best yarn to crochet a bucket hat?

Cotton or cotton blend yarn is the best to make bucket hats. The reason is because those hats are usually made for warmer weather and cotton is a very absorbent fiber. Also, cotton doesn’t get as hot as others, like acrylic, for example. It’s fine if you use acrylic too, as there is very good quality acrylic yarn out there, but I thought I would give you a hint on my preference.

I used this worsted weight (4) 100% cotton yarn, called I Love This Cotton. If you live in the US, it can be purchased at Hobby Lobby. It’s available in 3.5 oz (99 g) skeins and has a great selection of colors. 

For the size in this tutorial, Teen/Adult Small, you will need 3.61 oz (102 g) / 186 yds (170 m), that’s less than one and a half skein.

What do you use to crochet a bucket hat?

• A 5.00 mm (US H) crochet hook or other size needed to achieve gauge
• A pair of yarn scissors 
• A stitch marker
• A tapestry needle to weave in the ends

Would you like to make it later? Pin it here:

Important Notes about this bucket hat crochet pattern

• This Pattern is written using standard US terminology.
• Level of difficulty: Advanced beginner
• The hat is made from top down, worked in continuous rounds, meaning you don’t have to join the rounds with a slip stitch. 
• Use the “single crochet yarn under” technique to achieve the “x” looking stitches. See instructions below.
• A stitch marker may be needed to mark the first stitch of every round, moving it up as you go, that way you won’t lose count.
• Instructions in the pattern are for size Teen/Small Adult.
• This hat was designed to be a close fitting. If you would like it to have some ease, consider using a larger hook.
• If you are using a different yarn brand or fiber, like acrylic for example, there may be variation in size. Make sure you meet gauge. 
• You will achieve better results with a tighter tension and if you keep it consistent throughout the end. If you crochet loose, you may have to use a smaller hook. 
• Measurements and yarn amounts are based on using informed yarn and gauge. Yarn amounts may vary if you use different yarn.
• When you finish the body of the hat, before starting the brim, the hat length should reach about the top of the ear. If it needs to be longer, you can add more rows.

Abbreviations

inc                              increase (2 sc in next stitch)

FO                               fasten off

mc                              magic circle

Rnd                             round

st(s)                            stitch(es)

sc                                single crochet 

( )                                repeat instructions within parentheses as many times as directed

[ ]                                stitch count in a round

Gauge

6 rounds = 3” with 5.00 mm (US H) hook before blocking/washing.

Gauge swatch pattern:

Rnd1: 8 sc in a mc [8]

Rnd2: (inc) 8 times [16]

Rnd3: (inc, sc in next st) 8 times [24]

Rnd4: (inc, sc in next 2 sts) 8 times [32]

Rnd5: (inc, sc in next 3 sts) 8 times [40]

Rnd6: (inc, sc in next 4 sts) 8 times [48]

Finished size

Hat size is approximately 21.5″ (55 cm), fits head sizes 21-22″ (53-56 cm), if gauge is met.

Tips and tricks for this bucket hat crochet pattern

1. How to yarn under to make an “x” shaped sc stitch

I used the “yarn under” technique for this hat, which is the x-shaped single crochet stitch. To do that, insert the hook in next stitch, place the hook facing down on top of the yarn (see picture below), grab the yarn and pull up a loop. Complete the stitch as normal.

Basically, the difference between doing this x-shaped single crochet stitch and the conventional “v” single crochet stitch is that you will “yarn under” and not “yarn over”. That being said, you will place the yarn under the hook, before pulling through, like shown in the picture below. 

The other thing that’s different is the way it looks. With the “yarn over” technique the stitches will look like a “v” and not like an “x”, as shown on the hat pictured on this pattern. 

Choosing one over the other to make hats will probably give you a difference in size though. In my experience making this hat, I found that with the conventional single crochet stitch, your swatch will be bigger than the other way around. A smaller hook may fix that, but please make sure you meet gauge.

2. Color change method for this bucket hat crochet pattern

Color changing is not a requirement for this pattern. However, as you can see, this hat looks nice if you use multiple colors. For the sample pictured in this pattern, which is a Teen/Adult Small size, I changed colors every four rounds. 

Before you start, I would like to mention that this method leaves a visible ladder looking seam every time you change colors (see picture below). The seam, in my opinion, looks better than a seam from joining rounds with a slip stitch. 

But if you are not happy with it, there is other color changing methods out there that makes it a little less visible. Go to Google and search for “how to do invisible color change crochet” and you will find tons of tutorials. 

Here is how I did it:

1. After you do the last stitch of the round with the current color, cut the yarn and pull the end through so it doesn’t unravel. 

2. Insert the hook in that last stitch like you would continue to crochet normally, grab the new yarn with the hook and pull up a loop. Continue the new round as normal. 

Leave both tails at the back of work, tie both of them together to secure it. You may come back later and weave in the ends. Crochet as many rounds as needed with the new yarn. Repeat the process when you are changing colors again.

Instructions to make this crochet bucket hat pattern

Estimated Cost: 5 USD

Supply:

• Yarn recommendation
• Worsted weight (4) 100% cotton yarn (see notes about yarn above)

Tools:

• 5.00 mm (US H) crochet hook

Materials: A pair of scissors, Stitch marker, Tapestry needle to weave in the ends

Your hat is done. Yay!

Pint the bucket hat crochet pattern here for later.

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