The Little Sunshine Bucket Hat is a sweet granny stitch hat worked from the crown down — wide brim, textured sides, and just the right amount of summer charm. It works up fast, fits beautifully, and makes a standout baby shower gift.
The granny stitch gives it a lovely open texture that keeps little heads cool in warm weather, while the single crochet brim flares out just enough to provide real shade. Two baby sizes are included in this pattern.
Materials
- Yarn: DK or Worsted weight cotton, held double — approximately 75-90 yds for 0-6 months, 90-115 yds for 6-18 months. A soft cotton or cotton-acrylic blend works best. We love Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton or any similar machine-washable DK cotton held double.
- Hooks: 6.0 mm (US J/10) for the hat body, 5.5 mm (US I/9) for the brim
- Yarn needle for weaving in ends
- Scissors
- Stitch marker (optional but helpful)
Finished Measurements
| Size | Head Circumference | Hat Height (crown to brim) |
|---|---|---|
| 0-6 months | 14-15 inches (36-38 cm) | 5 inches (13 cm) |
| 6-18 months | 16-17 inches (41-43 cm) | 5.5 inches (14 cm) |
Gauge
Hat body (6.0 mm hook, yarn held double): 2 clusters + 1 ch-1 space = 1.5 inches in granny stitch
Brim (5.5 mm hook, yarn held double): 7 sc = 2 inches in single crochet
Gauge matters for fit — especially for baby hats. We recommend starting the crown and checking your gauge after round 3. If your clusters are too wide, go down half a hook size. If they’re too tight, go up half a size.
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch — chain
- sl st — slip stitch
- sc — single crochet
- dc — double crochet
- sp(s) — space(s)
- sk — skip
- beg — beginning
- MR — magic ring
- rep — repeat
- ( ) — work all steps inside parentheses in the same stitch or space
Special Stitches
Beg Cluster: Ch 3, work 2 dc in the same space (counts as 3 dc / 1 cluster).
Cluster: Work 3 dc in the same space.
Notes
- The pattern is written for 0-6 months, with 6-18 months in parentheses.
- If only one number appears, it applies to both sizes.
- Hold 2 strands of yarn together throughout.
- All rounds are joined with a slip stitch unless stated otherwise.
- The hat is worked from the crown down.
Pattern
Crown — Both Sizes
Round 1: With 6.0 mm hook and yarn held double, make a magic ring. Work beg cluster, ch 1, [cluster, ch 1] 4 times into the ring. Pull ring tight. Sl st across to ch-1 sp to join. (5 clusters)
Round 2 (Increase): (Beg cluster, ch 1, cluster, ch 1) in first ch-1 sp. [(Cluster, ch 1, cluster, ch 1) in next ch-1 sp] 4 times. Sl st across to ch-1 sp to join. (10 clusters)
Round 3: (Beg cluster, ch 1) in first ch-1 sp. [(Cluster, ch 1) in next ch-1 sp] around. Sl st across to ch-1 sp to join. (10 clusters)
0-6 Months Only
Round 4 (Increase): (Beg cluster, ch 1) in first ch-1 sp, (cluster, ch 1) in next ch-1 sp, (cluster, ch 1, cluster, ch 1) in next ch-1 sp. *[(Cluster, ch 1) in next 2 ch-1 sps, (cluster, ch 1, cluster, ch 1) in next ch-1 sp]; rep from * once more, (cluster, ch 1) in last ch-1 sp. Sl st across to ch-1 sp to join. (13 clusters)
Rounds 5-7: (Beg cluster, ch 1) in first ch-1 sp, (cluster, ch 1) in each ch-1 sp around. Sl st across to ch-1 sp to join. (13 clusters)
On the last round, sl st into the starting ch-3 to close. Proceed to Brim.
6-18 Months Only
Round 4 (Increase): (Beg cluster, ch 1) in first ch-1 sp. *[(Cluster, ch 1, cluster, ch 1) in next ch-1 sp, (cluster, ch 1) in next ch-1 sp]; rep from * 3 more times, (cluster, ch 1) in last ch-1 sp. Sl st across to ch-1 sp to join. (14 clusters)
Rounds 5-8: (Beg cluster, ch 1) in first ch-1 sp, (cluster, ch 1) in each ch-1 sp around. Sl st across to ch-1 sp to join. (14 clusters)
On the last round, sl st into the starting ch-3 to close. Proceed to Brim.
Brim — Both Sizes (switch to 5.5 mm hook)
Round 1: Ch 1 (does not count as a stitch). Work 1 sc in each dc and each ch-1 sp evenly around the bottom edge of the hat. Join with sl st to first sc. (52 (56) sts)
Round 2: Ch 1, 1 sc in each st around. Join with sl st to first sc. (52 (56) sts)
Round 3 (Increase): Ch 1. [1 sc in next st, 2 sc in next st] around. Join with sl st to first sc. (78 (84) sts)
Rounds 4-6 (4-7): Ch 1, 1 sc in each st around. Join with sl st to first sc. (78 (84) sts)
On the final round, do not join. Fasten off leaving a 6-inch tail. Weave in all ends neatly on the inside.
Finishing
Weave in all ends on the inside of the hat. Block lightly if needed — lay flat on a towel, shape the brim, and leave to dry. The brim will hold its shape better after a light blocking.
For the baby size, you can add simple ties on each side of the hat by joining a long strand of yarn at the brim edge and working a crochet chain or twisted cord approximately 10-12 inches long on each side.
Care Instructions
Machine wash gentle / cold. Lay flat to dry. Do not tumble dry. Always check the yarn label for specific care instructions based on the yarn you used.
Safety Note
Always supervise babies wearing hats, and ensure the hat fits snugly without being tight. Remove hat during sleep. Ties should be short enough to prevent any entanglement risk.