Super Simple Kid’s Sun Hat: Free Crochet Pattern

Well, summer has finally come to Colorado! It’s time for walks to the park and days by the neighborhood pool…which means lots of sun protection is needed. If you’ve ever been to the Rocky Mountains, you know that the sun shines brightly here almost every day of the year and it can be rough on little eyes.

My grandson, Hudson, is particularly sensitive to light and we’ve had to be really careful about protecting his eyes, but at 6 months old, sunglasses are just not his thing. So, Grandma did what grandmas do and she (I) made him a hat.

I had searched the internet for the perfect little bucket hat that would shade his eyes but still allow him to see what was going on in the world. After not finding just what I was looking for, I grabbed my hook and raided my yarn stash to make him the perfect little sun hat. He loves it. He just looks adorable when he wears it to the pool or the park.

With stripes or without, the hat is perfect for your kiddo this summer. The pattern is written in four sizes – ages 3 months to 10 years so you can make one for each kid in the neighborhood!

Ready to Make Your Own?

Great! Find the pattern one of three ways:

1. Make your own Sun and Sand Bucket Hat in one of four sizes (3-6 mos, 6-12 mos, 1-3 years and 3-10 years) by using the pattern that follows, below,
2. Make the hat in size 1-3 years with the ad-free, downloadable FREE pattern in my subscribers-only pattern library when you subscribe here, or
3. or, for the most convenient option, get the ad-free, downloadable pattern in all three sizes for less than the price of a cup of coffee by clicking this link to Etsy or Ravelry.

Skill Level

Beginner

Terminology

US

Sizing

This pattern is designed for (click the size to jump to that specific pattern):

• Ages 3 – 6 months with head circumference 16 – 17″
• Ages 6 – 12 months with a head circumference of 17 – 18″
• Ages 1 – 3 years with a head circumference of 18.5 – 19″
• Ages 3 – 10 years with a head circumference of 19 – 20″

Materials

• (US size G) 4.25 mm crochet hook
• (size 4) 100% cotton yarn
  • Color A: 90 – 120 yards
  • Color B: 16 yards
  • Color C: 8 yards
• Sewing scissors
• Yarn needles

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Stitches Used

• SLST: slip stitch
• HDC: half-double
• DC: double crochet

Gauge

Working in rows of DC with a 4.25mm hook, 2 rows x 7 stitches = 2” square

Construction

This hat is worked in rounds from the top down.

Important Notes

• No matter your skill level, I always suggest that you read through the pattern from beginning to end before beginning your work just to be sure you don’t have any questions that might cause frustration in the midst of your project.
• The initial CH2 at the beginning of each row is included in the stitch counts. For a smoother seam, replace the CH2 at the begging of each row with a CH1, DC or a CH1, HDC. For no seam, work in the round using a stitch marker to mark the beginning of each row.

Sun and Sand Bucket Hat for Baby

For size 3 – 6 months

Using a “magic circle” (note: if you don’t want to use the magic circle, create a loop by chaining 3 and closing with a slip stitch)

Rnd 1: CH 2, DC 9. Join with SLST to top of beginning ch2. (10 sts) 

Rnd 2: CH2, DC in same stitch as beginning ch2, work 2 DC into each stitch, around. Join. (20 sts)

Rnd 3: CH2, DC in same stitch as beginning ch2, DC in the next st, *DC 2 in the next stitch, DC in the following stitch,* repeat from * to * 9 more times. Join. (30 sts)

Rnd 4: CH2, DC in the same stitch as beginning ch2, DC in each of the next 2 stitches, *DC 2 in the next stitch, DC in each of the next 2 stitches,* repeat from * to * 8 more times. Join. (40 sts)

Rnd 5: CH2, DC in the same stitch as beginning ch2, DC in each of the next 3 stitches, *DC 2 in the next stitch, DC in each of the next 3 stitches,* repeat from * to * 8 more times, DC in the last 4 sts. Join. (50 sts)

At this point, the circle will measure approx.. 4.5”

Rnd 6: CH2, DC in each stitch. Join. (50 sts)

Rnds 7: repeat round 6.

Rnd 8: (switch to contrasting color B) CH2, HDC in each stitch around. Join. (50 sts)

Rnd 9: (switched to contrasting color C) CH2, HDC in each stitch around. Join. (50 sts)

Rnd 10: repeat round 8.

Rnd 11: (join main color A) CH2, HDC in the same stitch as beginning ch2, HDC in each of the next 7 sts, *HDC 2 in the next stitch, HDC in each of the next 7 sts,* repeat from * to * 4 more times, HDC in each of the last 2 stitches. Join. (56 sts)

Rnd 12: CH2, HDC in the same stitch as beginning ch2, HDC in each of the next 3 sts, *HDC 2 in the next stitch, HDC in each of the next 3 sts,* repeat from * to * 12 more times. Join (70 sts)

Rnd 13: CH2, HDC in the same stitch as beginning ch2, HDC in each of the next 7 sts, *HDC 2 in the next stitch, HDC in each of the next 7 sts,* repeat from * to * 6 more times, HDC 2 in the next stitch, HDC in the last 5 stitches. Join. (79 sts)

Finish off, tuck ends.

For size 6 – 12 months

Using a “magic circle” (note: if you don’t want to use the magic circle, create a loop by chaining 3 and closing with a slip stitch)

Rnd 1: CH 2, DC 10. Join with SLST to top of beginning ch2. (11 sts)

Rnd 2: CH2, DC in same stitch as beginning ch2, work 2 DC into each stitch, around. Join. (22 sts)

Rnd 3: CH2, DC in same stitch as beginning ch2, DC in the next st, *DC 2 in the next stitch, DC in the following stitch,* repeat from * to * 9 more times. Join. (33 sts)

Rnd 4: CH2, DC in the same stitch as beginning ch2, DC in each of the next 2 stitches, *DC 2 in the next stitch, DC in each of the next 2 stitches,* repeat from * to * 9 more times. Join. (44 sts)

Rnd 5: CH2, DC in the same stitch as beginning ch2, DC in each of the next 4 stitches, *DC 2 in the next stitch, DC in each of the next 4 stitches,* repeat from * to * 6 more times, DC in the last 4 sts. Join. (52 sts)

At this point, the circle will measure approx.. 5.0”

Rnd 6: CH2, DC in each stitch. Join. (52 sts)

Rnds 7 – 8: repeat round 6.

Rnd 9: (switch to contrasting color B) CH2, HDC in each stitch around. Join. (52 sts)

Rnd 10: (switched to contrasting color C) CH2, HDC in each stitch around. Join. (52 sts)

Rnd 11: repeat round 9.

Rnd 12: (join main color A) CH2, HDC in the same stitch as beginning ch2, HDC in each of the next 7 sts, *HDC 2 in the next stitch, HDC in each of the next 7 sts,* repeat from * to * 4 more times, HDC in each of the last 4 stitches. Join. (59 sts)

Rnd 13: CH2, HDC in the same stitch as beginning ch2, HDC in each of the next 3 sts, *HDC 2 in the next stitch, HDC in each of the next 3 sts,* repeat from * to * 12 more times, HDC in the last 3 stitches. Join (73 sts)

Rnd 14: CH2, HDC in the same stitch as beginning ch2, HDC in each of the next 7 sts, *HDC 2 in the next stitch, HDC in each of the next 7 sts,* repeat from * to * 7 more times, HDC in the last stitch. Join. (82 sts)

Finish off, tuck ends.

For size 1 – 3 years

With 4.25 mm hook

Using a “magic circle” (note: if you don’t want to use the magic circle, create a loop by chaining 3 and closing with a slip stitch)

Rnd 1: CH 2, DC 11. Join with SLST to top of beginning ch2. (12 sts)

Rnd 2: CH2, DC in same stitch as beginning ch2, work 2 DC into each stitch, around. Join. (24 sts)

Rnd 3: CH2, DC in same stitch as beginning ch2, DC in the next st, *DC 2 in the next stitch, DC in the following stitch,* repeat from * to * 10 more times. Join. (36 sts)

Rnd 4: CH2, DC in the same stitch as beginning ch2, DC in each of the next 2 stitches, *DC 2 in the next stitch, DC in each of the next 2 stitches,* repeat from * to * 10 more times. Join. (48 sts)

Rnd 5: CH2, DC in the same stitch as beginning ch2, DC in each of the next 5 stitches, *DC 2 in the next stitch, DC in each of the next 5 stitches,* repeat from * to * 6 more times. Join. (56 sts)

At this point, the circle will measure approx.. 5.5”

Rnd 6: CH2, DC in each stitch. Join. (56 sts)

Rnds 7 – 9: repeat round 6.

Rnd 10: (switch to contrasting color B) CH2, HDC in each stitch around. Join. (56 sts)

Rnd 11: (switched to contrasting color C) CH2, HDC in each stitch around. Join. (56 sts)

Rnd 12: repeat round 10.

Rnd 13: (join main color A) CH2, HDC in each stitch around. Join. (56 sts)

Rnd 14: CH2, HDC in the same stitch as beginning ch2, HDC in each of the next 7 sts, *HDC 2 in the next stitch, HDC in each of the next 7 sts,* repeat from * to * 5 more times. Join. (63 sts)

Rnd 15: CH2, HDC in the same stitch as beginning ch2, HDC in each of the next 3 sts, *HDC 2 in the next stitch, HDC in each of the next 3 sts,* repeat from * to * 13 more times, HDC in the last 3 stitches. Join (78 sts)

Rnd 16: CH2, HDC in the same stitch as beginning ch2, HDC in each of the next 7 sts, *HDC 2 in the next stitch, HDC in each of the next 7 sts,* repeat from * to * 7 more times, HDC 2 in the next stitch, HDC in each of the next 5 sts. Join. (88 sts)

Finish off, tuck ends.

For size 3 – 10 years

With 4.25 mm hook

Using a “magic circle” (note: if you don’t want to use the magic circle, create a loop by chaining 3 and closing with a slip stitch)

Rnd 1: CH 2, DC 11. Join with SLST to top of beginning ch2. (12 sts)

Rnd 2: CH2, DC in same stitch as beginning ch2, work 2 DC into each stitch, around. Join. (24 sts)

Rnd 3: CH2, DC in same stitch as beginning ch2, DC in the next st, *DC 2 in the next stitch, DC in the following stitch,* repeat from * to * 10 more times. Join. (36 sts)

Rnd 4: CH2, DC in the same stitch as beginning ch2, DC in each of the next 2 stitches, *DC 2 in the next stitch, DC in each of the next 2 stitches,* repeat from * to * 10 more times. Join. (48 sts)

Rnd 5: CH2, DC in the same stitch as beginning ch2, DC in each of the next 4 stitches, *DC 2 in the next stitch, DC in each of the next 4 stitches,* repeat from * to * 7 more times, DC 2 in the next stitch, DC in each of the next 2 stitches. Join. (58 sts)

At this point, the circle will measure approx.. 5.75”

Rnd 6: CH2, DC in each stitch. Join. (58 sts)

Rnds 7 – 10: repeat round 6.

Rnd 11: (switch to contrasting color B) CH2, HDC in each stitch around. Join. (58 sts)

Rnd 12: (switch to contrasting color C) CH2, HDC in each stitch around. Join. (58 sts)

Rnd 13: repeat round 11.

Rnd 14: (join main color A) CH2, HDC in each stitch around. Join. (58 sts)

Rnd 15: CH2, HDC in the same stitch as beginning ch2, HDC in each of the next 7 sts, *HDC 2 in the next stitch, HDC in each of the next 7 sts,* repeat from * to * 5 more times, DC in each of the last two stitches Join. (65 sts)

Rnd 16: CH2, HDC in the same stitch as beginning ch2, HDC in each of the next 4 sts, *HDC 2 in the next stitch, HDC in each of the next 3 sts,* repeat from * to * 11 more times, HDC in the last stitch. Join (78 sts)

Rnd 17: CH2, HDC in the same stitch as beginning ch2, HDC in each of the next 5 sts, *HDC 2 in the next stitch, HDC in each of the next 5 sts,* repeat from * to * 11 more times. Join. (91 sts)

Finish off, tuck ends.