Welcome to the ultimate guide to crochet sun hats! Whether you’re spending summer lounging on a beach or hiking in the mountains, these free sun hat crochet patterns will keep you shaded and stylish.
Find the perfect project with our favorite floppy sun hats, beach hats, and easy bucket hats. You’ll also learn how to avoid making a hat that’s too big or too small, yarn advice, and answers to your questions about crocheting summer hats.
This collection of free summer hat patterns contains affiliate links.
Easy Crochet Sun Hat Patterns
How would it feel to make a stylish, functional sun hat with your own two hands? From creating the perfect fit to choosing your favorite color palette, crocheting a beach hat offers many satisfying opportunities for customization.
Crochet sun hats are also durable, sturdy (yet soft), and easy to pack for a summer vacation. Even as a beginner, a simple hat will allow you to practice basic crochet skills before moving on to more ambitious projects.
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Why You’ll Love Crocheting Sun Hats
Crochet Hat Supplies
Whether you’re making a crochet bucket hat or a wide-brimmed sun hat, here are the basic materials you’ll need:
- Crochet hook in size specified
- Yarn – often a cotton, raffia, or paper fiber – in the amount and weight specified
- Scissors to cut your yarn
- Yarn needle to weave in ends and join elements together
- Stitch markers to keep track of your place while working
Depending on your pattern, you may need extra additions like ribbon, wire, or embroidery thread.
How to Make a Crochet Sun Hat
Crochet sun hats may look complicated, but most are composed of three simple parts. Typically summer hats are worked in the round, starting with the top and progressing to the brim.
Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of each pattern element.
Step 1. Hat Top
The top of a hat is usually worked in the round to create a circle. You’ll need to know how to increase to make a hat top.
Step 2. Hat Bucket
The bucket is the part of a hat that sits around your head. You typically crochet it in the round with little increasing or decreasing.
You can make the bucket as tall or short as you need to fit your head.
Step 3. Hat Brim
Hat brims are usually crocheted in the round and can be as wide or narrow as you like. Even the narrowest brim needs a lot of increasing.
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Top Tips for Making Sun Hats
These tips will help you create the perfect summer hat.
- Gauge is everything! Check your gauge carefully to ensure your hat will fit you and don’t be afraid to change your hook size to meet the pattern designer’s gauge.
- Using a smaller-than-usual crochet hook for the yarn will keep your stitches tight and your fabric structured enough to stay out of your face.
- Use a stitch marker to avoid losing your place when working in the round.
More Patterns for Warm Weather
Crochet is not only for making cozy winter hats! There are so many free crochet patterns to enjoy when the days get longer. Here are a few ideas.
Free Crochet Sun Hat Patterns
Ready to make the sun hat of your dreams? Take your pick from this organized collection of crochet summer hat patterns. Read on to find a free pattern that suits you, whatever your style.
Fast and Easy Sun Hats
If you need a cap quickly, these free crochet hat patterns have you covered. Learn how to make a simple summer hat so you can be beach-ready by the weekend.
Fedora Crochet Sun Hat
Wide Brim Kids Sun Hat
Bucket Hat Pattern and Tutorial
Wool Rancher Hat
Retro Bucket Hat
Sun Hat Video Tutorial
Spiral Crochet Summer Hat
Simple Bucket Hat
Desert Sun Hat
Beachy Sun Hat
Our Latest Crochet Inspiration:
Here are a few more free crochet patterns and tutorials that are hot off the presses.
Floppy Hats for Summer
A wide brim sun hat never goes out of style–just ask Jackie O! Plus, they offer excellent protection from the hot sun. Make an Instagram-ready floppy sun hat using these free patterns.
Petal Patterned Floppy Sun Hat
Wide-Brimmed Beach Hat
Seaside Sun Hat Pattern
Latticed Summer Hat
Adjustable Raffia Sun Hat
Floral Summer Hat
Straw Hat With Rosette
Related: How to Crochet a Flower
Lace Brim Summer Hat
Easy Beach Hats
These simple hats are quick and easy to make, and they still look great as an accessory for a sunny day. Choose your favorite color and create a practical hat in a single afternoon.
Colorful Summer Hat Pattern
Packable Bucket Hat for Beginners
Elegant Beach Hat
Versatile Summer Sun Hat
Lightweight Bucket Hat Pattern
Obsessed with finding the best free crochet patterns?
Check out these collections of handpicked patterns to find your next project.
You must use the category name, not a URL, in the category field.Best Yarn for a Summer Crochet Hat
The best fibers for a crochet summer hat are structured without trapping heat. Raffia and cotton are two of my go-to’s. Raffia yarn is lightweight and holds its shape well, while cotton yarn is breathable, durable, and easy to wash – perfect for summer adventures.
Here are some of my favorite yarns to use for sun hat projects:
| Yarn | Material | Yarn Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Lion Brand Rewind | Polyester | Bulky |
| 24/7 Cotton | Cotton | Worsted or DK |
| Pima Cotton | Cotton | Worsted |
| Wool & The Gang Ra-Ra Raffia | Paper / Viscose | Light Worsted |
FAQs
Still have questions about how to crochet a sun hat? We’ve got answers.
There are two easy ways to make your crochet sun hat sturdier.
You can use galvanized wire rope or millinery wire to stiffen the brim of your sun hat. Crochet the final round of your brim over a length of wire. This will help the brim hold its shape, even after folding.
Or you can spray your hat with starch, then press it with a hot iron. Be careful when using this method on a white or cream hat, as starch turns yellow over time. This approach only works on durable fibers such as cotton. Man-made yarns like polyester will melt under the heat.
More Free Hat Patterns
We’ve got enough free crochet hat patterns to keep your head covered year-round!
Learn a New Skill
When you’re ready to master a new skill, check out our detailed guides that include everything you need to know to level up your crochet game.
- How to Corner to Corner (C2C) Crochet for Beginners – with video tutorials to get you started
- How to Crochet Your Own Sweaters – banish your fear of making garments with this beginner-friendly guide
- How to Crochet Amigurumi for Beginners – the ultimate guide to making your own toys and plushies
- How to Tunisian Crochet – learn with this video and a standard hook
That was so fun! Now what?
Invitation to our Facebook group
Come discuss crocheting sun hats and lots of other projects and techniques in our Make & Do Crew Facebook group. Here thousands of helpful crocheters answer each other’s questions and share their stitches. Join us!
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