Granny Square Bucket Hat Free Crochet Pattern
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Modern granny squares meet a classic bucket hat making the hottest headwear this season. You’ll love wearing this crochet granny square bucket hat as much as you’ll love making it and with this free crochet pattern, you can grab your yarn and hooks and get started now.
Bucket hats are a great warm weather accessory that are timelessly trendy. They’re perfect for keeping the sun off your face and neck. But they don’t just have to be used in warmer months, you can also wear them in cooler weather to keep you warm or to keep snow and light rain off of your head.
Making your own crochet hats is a great way to add gorgeous handmade accessories to your wardrobe. This granny square bucket hat crochet pattern is a bit beyond a simple bucket hat as it utilizes a granny square motif to really make a unique hat.
Best Yarn for Bucket Hats
If you want a comfortable, lightweight hat perfect for wearing on summer days, you’ll want to make your hat out of 100% cotton yarn or a cotton blend. Since cotton yarn is soft and breathable, it is the perfect fiber to reach for when you want to add a crocheted accessory to your summer wardrobe. Cotton yarn is also durable and can help a hat keep its shape.
For this crochet hat pattern, I used I Love This Cotton from Hobby Lobby because I enjoy working with it. It is soft and is available in a variety of colors and it even has some print/patterned options. You can certainly choose a different worsted-weight cotton yarn if you have a brand you prefer.
Acrylic yarn likely will not keep its shape and it isn’t as breathable as cotton yarn, so I avoid using it for a bucket hat.
Below I put some yarn substitution ideas if you want to try a different yarn.
Yarn Substitution Ideas
Pima Cotton – Lion Brand Yarn
Dishie – Knit Picks
Paintbox Cotton Aran – LoveCrafts
Premier Home Cotton – Premier Yarns
Color Combinations
Coming up with a fun color scheme for this hat is one of the parts! While I have to admit, the solid color version is my favorite overall, I still want to keep making more hats because it’s so fun to pick more colors.
If you need inspiration, check your wardrobe which is likely full of your favorite colors to wear. I recommend using your favorite neutral as your main color and choosing two coordinating colors that work well together.
Some yarn websites, like Premier Yarns, have a compare colors feature so you can select some options and see what they will look like together.
The Granny Squares and Hexagons
Both the granny square motif and the hexagon (crown of the hat) motif are taken from other patterns here on Stitching Together. The granny squares are based on the Grandview Free Crochet Granny Square and the hexagon is based on the Parker Crochet Headwarmer.
Even though these are granny squares with puff stitches, and they feel like they’d be thick, the hat is still lightweight and breathable. Both the hexagon and the squares work up quickly and you only have to make six squares so you’ll be done with that part before you know it!
Skill Level – Difficulty
Overall this is an easy crochet project if you are confident beyond basic crochet stitches. Joining granny squares and crocheting the brim of the hat are not difficult to do, but the squares and hexagons themselves are a little more complicated and I have both of them rated at an intermediate skill level.
They are likely easier than intermediate, but I am always afraid I will rate a project too easy and then have frustrated crocheters stuck on a pattern that’s actually too difficult for them.
If you are set on making this hat, but aren’t sure if your skill level is ready for it, grab some scrap yarn and a corresponding hook and give one of the granny squares a try first and then try at least 4 rounds of the hexagon. If you can get through those with no problem, then this will be a great project for you.
Free Crochet Bucket Hat Pattern Details
Prefer to print your patterns? You can purchase the ad-free PDF of this pattern here.
Skill Level – Intermediate
Supplies
US size G/6, 4.0 mm crochet hook
I Love This Cotton Yarn (Category 4, worsted weight cotton yarn (3.5oz, 180 yds)
Each hat used approximately 216 yds (4.2 oz) total.
- Color A: 134 yds (2.6 oz) Antique Cream or White
- Color B: 36 yds (0.7 oz) Dark Denim
- Color C: 46 yds (0.9 oz) Bruschetta or Warm Blush
Large Eye Yarn Needle
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Everything you need for this project can be ordered right online
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Stitch Abbreviations
CA: Color A
CB: Color B
CC: Color C
yo: yarn over
ch: chain
hdc(s): half double crochet
sl st: slip stitch
puff: puff stitch
dc(s): double crochet(s)
st(s): stitch(es)
sp: space
sc: single crochet
inc: increase – work 2 scs into the same st
Gauge
Check the gauge after completing round 4 of the crown (hexagon). The hexagon should measure approximately 3.5” from one side to the opposite side. If your crown is too large, try going down a hook size and if it is too small, go up a hook size.
Measurements – Finished Size
The granny square bucket hat is sized for a medium adult with a head circumference between 22-23″. To learn more about head circumferences and sizes, be sure to read the Easy Ear Warmer Pattern and Size Chart.
The hat circumference is approximately 21″. The crown measures approximately 6.5″ from one side of the hexagon to the other side or just under 7.25″ from one corner to another. The middle section is approximately 3.5″ long and the brim is approximately 2.25″ long.
General Notes
inc (increase) is used when you work 2 single crochet stitches in the same stitch.
Parentheses ( ) are used to indicate there are multiple stitches worked into the same stitch or space.
Brackets [ ] are used to indicate the instructions within the brackets will be repeated the specified number of times. For a solid color hat, disregard all color change instructions
If you’d like some photo guidance for the granny squares or hexagons, visit the posts for the Grandview Granny Squares and the Parker Headwarmer.
Crown – Top of the Hat
Crown Notes
Puff Stitch: [yo, pull up a loop] 3 times (7 loops on the hooks), yo, pull through all 7 loops on the hook.
The chain 3 that starts rounds 3-6 counts as the first dc of the round.
To change colors, complete the round then pull the new color through the loop on your hook. Tighten down the loop of the previous color and start the round with the new color. Final Measurement: Approximately 6.5” from one side to the opposite side.
Crown Pattern
Start with a Magic Circle with CA
Round 1: ch 1, 6 hdc in magic circle, tighten to close, join with a sl st in the 1st hdc. (6 hdcs)
Round 2: ch 1, (puff, ch 3, puff, ch 1) in each hdc, join with the sl st in the 1st puff. (12 puffs)
Round 3: Join CB, ch 3, [(puff, ch 3, puff, ch 1) in ch-3 sp, dc in space between the next 2 puffs] 5 times, (puff, ch 3, puff, ch 1) in ch-3 sp, join with a sl st in the ch 3 that started the round. (1 dc on each side and 2 puffs in each corner)
Round 4: Join CC, ch 3, dc in the next st, [(puff, ch 3, puff, ch 1) in ch-3 sp, dc in the next 3 sts] 5 times, (puff, ch 3, puff, ch 1) in ch-3 sp, dc, join with a sl st in the ch 3 that started the round. (3 dcs on each side and 2 puffs in each corner)
Round 5: Join CA, ch 3, dc in the 2 next sts, [(puff, ch 3, puff, ch 1) in ch-3 sp, dc in the next 5 sts] 5 times, (puff, ch 3, puff, ch 1) in ch-3 sp, dc in the next 2 sts, join with a sl st in the ch 3 that started the round. (5 dcs on each side and 2 puffs in each corner)
Round 6: Join CB, ch 3, dc in the 3 next sts, [(puff, ch 3, puff, ch 1) in ch-3 sp, dc in the next 7 sts] 5 times, (puff, ch 3, puff, ch 1) in ch-3 sp, dc in the next 3 sts, join with a sl st in the ch 3 that started the round. (7 dcs on each side and 2 puffs in each corner)
Round 7: Join CC, ch 3, dc in the 4 next sts, [(puff, ch 3, puff, ch 1) in ch-3 sp, dc in the next 9 sts] 5 times, (puff, ch 3, puff, ch 1) in ch-3 sp, dc in the next 4 sts, join with a sl st in the ch 3 that started the round. (9 dcs on each side and 2 puffs in each corner)
You’ll now add 2 rounds of single crochets around your hexagon. In Round 8, when you work the single crochet stitches into each stitch, you will be working in the top of each puff stitch as well as in each double crochet.
Round 8: Join CA, ch 1, sc in the next 7 sts, [5 sc in ch-3 sp, sc in the next 12 sts] 5 times, 5 sc in ch-3 sp, sc in the next 5 sts, join with a sl st to the 1st sc of the round. (102 scs)
Round 9: sc in ea st around (102)
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Granny Squares
Granny Square Notes
The first 4 puff stitches of the pattern have an extra yarn over compared to the rest of the puff stitches.
1st puff stitches: [yo, pull up a loop] 4 times (9 loops on the hooks), yo, pull through all 9 loops on the hook. (Only used for Round 1.)
puff stitch: [yo, pull up a loop] 3 times (7 loops on the hooks), yo, pull through all 7 loops on the hook. (Used for all puff stitches after Round 1.)
In round 3, stitches are either worked in the ch-3 space between 2 puff stitches or in the ch-1 space between 2 double crochets.
Granny Square Pattern (make 6)
Start with a magic circle
Round 1: [Puff (see notes), ch 3] 4 times, tighten to close, join with a sl st in the 1st puff.
Round 2: Join CB [(Puff, ch 3, puff, ch 1) in ch-3 sp, (dc, ch 1, dc) in puff] 4 times, join with a sl st in the 1st puff.
Round 3: Join CC (Puff, ch 3, puff, ch 1, dc, ch 1, dc) in ch-3 sp, (dc, ch 1, dc) in ch-1 sp, [(dc, ch 1, dc, puff, ch 3, puff, ch 1, dc, ch 1, dc) in ch-3 sp, (dc, ch 1, dc) in ch-1 sp] 3 times, (dc, ch 1, dc) in 1st ch-3 sp (the same ch-3 sp you started the round in), join with a sl st in the 1st puff.
You’ll now be adding 2 rounds of single crochets around your square. You will not be working any of the single crochets in round 4 into the puff stitches. You’ll only be working into the chain spaces and double crochet stitches.
Round 4: Join CA, ch 1, [skip puff, 3 sc in ch-3 sp, skip puff, sc in the next 10 sts.] 4 times, join with a sl st to the first sc. (52 scs)
Round 5: ch 1, sc, [3 sc in next st, sc in the next 12 sts] 3 times, 3 sc in next st, sc in the next 11 sts join with a slip stitch to the first sc. (60 scs)
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Joining the Squares
Holding the squares with the right sides facing out, whip stitch (using CA) the sides of the granny squares together to make a row of 6 squares. Hold the ends of the granny square row together and whip stitch so you have a circle of granny squares.
You are now going to add a single crochet border around the top of your granny squares. This step makes joining the top and the squares much easier.
Join CA anywhere along the top of your squares, ch 1, sc in each st including in each seam where you joined your squares, join with a sl st to the first sc. (102 scs) Leave a long tail that you can use to join the top hexagon and the squares.
Joining the Top and Squares
Line up the top of your hat (the hexagon) so that the corners line up with the seams of the squares, and whip stitch around with CA. Fasten off and weave in ends.
Brim
Brim Notes
For the brim, you will be working in continuous rounds and will not join with a slip stitch at the end of each round. After round 1 you will not chain 1 to start each round.
It is helpful to move a stitch marker to the first sc of each round so you don’t lose your place.
You will be adding increases every 2 or 3 rounds.
Brim Pattern
Join CA anywhere along the bottom of your squares,
Round 1: ch 1, sc in each st including in each seam where you joined your squares (102)
Round 2: sc in ea st (102)
Round 3: [sc in the next 16 sts, inc] 6 times (108)
Round 4: sc in ea st (108)
Round 5: [inc, sc in the next 17 sts] 6 times (114)
Rounds 6: sc in ea st (114)
Rounds 7: sc in ea st (114)
Round 8: [sc in the next 18 sts, inc] 6 times (120)
Round 9: sc in ea st (120)
Round 10: sc in ea st (120)
Round 11: sc in the next 9 sts, [inc, sc in the next 19 sts] 5 times, inc, sc in the next 10 sts (126)
Round 12: sc in ea st (126) Finish with a few slip stitches then fasten off and weave in ends.
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