Hello, yarn enthusiasts! Get ready to embrace the sunny days in style with this adorable and easy-to-make crochet bucket hat! Featuring a classic granny square stitch pattern in contrasting colors, this hat is not only fashionable but also provides lovely ventilation for warmer weather. It’s the perfect project to add a pop of handmade charm to your wardrobe.
This pattern is great for those who are comfortable with basic stitches and love the repetitive, relaxing nature of granny stitch. Let’s grab our hooks and yarn and make some hat magic!
Skill Level: Easy to Intermediate (familiarity with basic crochet stitches and granny clusters is helpful)
Materials You’ll Need:
- Yarn:
- Approximately 50-70 grams of sport, DK, or light worsted weight cotton yarn in Color A (e.g., White)
- Approximately 50-70 grams of sport, DK, or light worsted weight cotton yarn in Color B (e.g., Light Blue)
- Cotton yarn is recommended for breathability and shape retention in a hat.
- Crochet Hook: 3.5mm – 4.0mm (or hook size appropriate for your chosen yarn to achieve a nice drape but still hold shape).
- Stitch Marker: Helpful for marking the beginning of rounds.
- Yarn Needle: For weaving in ends.
- Scissors
Abbreviations Used:
- ch: chain
- sl st: slip stitch
- sc: single crochet
- dc: double crochet
- sp: space
- ch-sp: chain space
- cluster (granny cluster): 3 dc in the same stitch/space
- FO: fasten off
Gauge: Not critical for this project, but aiming for a fabric that holds its shape without being too stiff or too floppy. The top of the hat should lay relatively flat before you stop increasing.
Pattern Notes:
- This hat is worked from the top down.
- Color changes happen at the end of each round. You’ll join, then FO and join the new color in the specified stitch/space.
- The hat size provided is for an average adult head (approx. 21-22 inches circumference). Adjust the number of increase rounds in the top for different sizes.
- The “granny stitch” is formed by clusters of 3 DC, often separated by chain spaces.
Part 1: The Top of the Hat (Crown)
We start by creating a flat circle for the top of the hat using alternating colors.
With Color A (White):
Round 1: Start with a magic ring. Ch 2 (does not count as dc), make 12 dc in the ring. Join with a sl st to the top of the first dc. FO Color A. (12 dc)
With Color B (Light Blue):
Round 2: Join Color B in any space between two dc from the previous round. Ch 2, (cluster in same sp, ch 1) around (12 clusters). Join with a sl st to the top of the first dc of the round. FO Color B. (12 clusters, 12 ch-1 sps)
With Color A (White):
Round 3: Join Color A in any ch-1 sp. Ch 2, (cluster in same sp, ch 1, cluster in next ch-1 sp, ch 1) around, ensuring you work 2 clusters in the second ch-1 sp of each previous ‘section’ for an increase (e.g., * (cluster, ch 1, cluster, ch 1) in one ch-1 sp, (cluster, ch 1) in next ch-1 sp * or more simply, you’ll be increasing by adding an extra cluster in some spaces to keep the circle flat. A common method is: Ch 2, cluster in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, (cluster, ch 1, cluster) in next ch-1 sp (this effectively puts 2 clusters in every other ch-1 space for increases, separated by a ch 1) around. Join with a sl st. FO Color A. (18 clusters, 18 ch-1 sps)
The photo suggests increases are fairly consistent. Let’s simplify the increase pattern for Granny Stitch circles:
Revised Round 3: Join Color A in any ch-1 sp. Ch 2, (cluster in same sp, ch 1). Repeat (cluster, ch 1) two more times in the same space (creating 3 clusters in this ch-1 sp with ch 1 in between as an increase). Continue working (cluster, ch 1) in each ch-1 sp around, making sure to evenly distribute increases to keep the circle flat. A more standard way to increase a granny circle: Round 3: Join Color A in any ch-1 sp. Ch 2, cluster in same sp. Ch 1. (Cluster, Ch 1) in next ch-1 sp. (Cluster, Ch 1, Cluster, Ch 1) in the following ch-1 sp (this is an increase). Repeat around, alternating between one cluster and two clusters per ch-1 sp (separated by ch 1) to evenly increase. You should have 24 clusters. Join with sl st. FO Color A. (24 clusters)
With Color B (Light Blue):
Round 4: Join Color B in any ch-1 sp. Ch 2, *(cluster in next ch-1 sp, ch 1). Repeat from * around, making sure to work 2 clusters (separated by a ch 1) in every 3rd or 4th ch-1 space to keep the circle flat and increasing. Join with sl st. FO Color B. (e.g., 30 clusters)
With Color A (White):
Round 5: Join Color A in any ch-1 sp. Ch 2, *(cluster in next ch-1 sp, ch 1). Repeat from * around, continuing to make increases as needed to keep the circle flat. Join with sl st. FO Color A. (e.g., 36 clusters)
Continue increasing rounds in this manner (adding roughly 6 clusters per round, or more generally, ensuring the circle lies flat) until the circle measures about 6-7 inches (15-18 cm) in diameter. This will be the top of your hat. The photo suggests about 5-6 increase rounds for the crown.
Part 2: The Sides of the Hat (Body)
Once your crown is the desired diameter, we stop increasing to create the straight sides of the hat.
Continue alternating colors for each round.
Round (e.g., 6): Join new color in any ch-1 sp. Ch 2, cluster in same sp. Ch 1. *(Cluster in next ch-1 sp, ch 1). Repeat from * around. Do NOT make any increases in this round or subsequent body rounds. Join with sl st. FO.
Repeat this “no increase” round until the hat body reaches just above your ears, or your desired depth before the brim starts to flare. The hat in the photo looks like it has about 4-5 “no increase” rounds for the body, alternating between blue and white.
Part 3: The Brim
Now we’ll work on the brim, which will gently flare out.
Continue alternating colors.
Brim Round 1 (Increase Round): Join new color in any ch-1 sp. Ch 2, *(cluster in same sp, ch 1, cluster in next ch-1 sp, ch 1). Repeat from * around. You’ll be making 2 clusters in some spaces (effectively increasing the total number of clusters by about 20-30% in this round). This helps the brim flare. Join with sl st. FO.
Brim Round 2 (No Increase): Join new color in any ch-1 sp. Ch 2, *(cluster in next ch-1 sp, ch 1). Repeat from * around. Join with sl st. FO.
Brim Round 3 (Increase Round): Join new color in any ch-1 sp. Ch 2, *(cluster in same sp, ch 1, cluster in next ch-1 sp, ch 1). Repeat from * around, ensuring the brim continues to gently flare. Adjust increases as needed. Join with sl st. FO.
Continue alternating increase and no-increase rounds, or adjust your increase frequency, until your brim is the desired width. The hat in the photo has about 3-4 rounds for the brim, with a final solid border.
Part 4: Final Border (Solid Color)
This gives the brim a neat and sturdy edge. The photo shows this in the blue color.
With Color B (Light Blue):
Final Round 1: Join Color B in any stitch or ch-1 sp. Ch 1, sc in each dc and each ch-1 sp around. Join with a sl st to the first sc. (This will create a solid edge). Final Round 2: Ch 1, sc in each sc around. Join with a sl st to the first sc. FO, weave in all ends securely.
Video tutorial
Congratulations! You’ve just created your own stylish and comfy Granny Chic Bucket Hat! This hat is perfect for keeping the sun off your face while adding a touch of handmade charm to your outfit.
Don’t forget to share your finished hat with me on social media! Tag me and use the hashtag #GrannyBucketHat. I can’t wait to see your color combinations!
Happy Crocheting!
