This free mesh bucket hat crochet pattern makes a breezy, openwork summer hat in a rich chocolate brown. A solid circular crown keeps the top neat and sun-friendly, an airy mesh side wall lets the breeze move through, and a gently flared brim gives it that classic bucket-hat shape. Two surface-crochet ridges add a clean, raised line at the crown and brim.
It is an intermediate make worked in firm, joined rounds with worsted-weight cotton, so the fabric holds its shape and blocks beautifully. The complete written pattern is below — materials, gauge, stitch counts for every round, step-by-step instructions, assembly, and stitch diagrams. If you love quick seasonal hat makes, you will also enjoy our free Santa hat crochet pattern, the full Hats collection, and all of our free crochet patterns.
1. Skill Level
Intermediate. New to crochet? Start with our step-by-step beginner guide and the 6 basic crochet stitches first.
This pattern uses a solid circular crown, straight mesh side wall, solid lower side band, flared brim shaping, surface crochet ridge detail, and firm joined-round construction.
2. Finished Size
Single adult size.
| Area | Finished Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head circumference | 21.5–22.5 in / 54.5–57 cm |
| Crown diameter | 7 in / 18 cm |
| Crown depth before mesh side | 1.25 in / 3 cm |
| Mesh side height | 3.25 in / 8.25 cm |
| Brim width | 2.25 in / 5.75 cm |
| Finished hat height | 6.75 in / 17 cm |
| Final brim circumference | 31.5–32 in / 80–81 cm |
Gauge
| Gauge Area | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Solid dc rounds | 17.5 dc = 4 in / 10 cm |
| Solid dc rounds | 9 rounds = 4 in / 10 cm |
| Mesh side | 6 mesh rounds = 2.75 in / 7 cm |
| Brim hdc | 18 hdc = 4 in / 10 cm |
Check your gauge with the free Gauge & Hook Size tools and see how to hold a crochet hook for comfortable, even tension.
3. Materials
| Material | Amount |
|---|---|
| Worsted weight cotton or cotton-blend yarn, chocolate brown | 140–180 g |
| Crochet hook for main hat | 4.5 mm |
| Crochet hook for edging and surface ridges | 4 mm |
| Stitch marker | 1 |
| Yarn needle | 1 |
| Blocking bowl or hat form | 1 |
| Blocking pins | Required |
| Optional spray starch or fabric stiffener | Small amount |
Use firm cotton or cotton-blend yarn. Soft acrylic will make the brim less structured. Not sure which yarn to pick? Read our best yarn for crochet projects guide, and use the free Yarn & Gauge calculator to estimate how much yarn you need.
4. Stitch Abbreviations
US crochet terms. Confirm your pattern uses US terms with our US / UK Detector, look up any shorthand in the Abbreviations tool, or read How to Read Crochet Patterns.
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| MR | magic ring |
| ch | chain |
| sl st | slip stitch |
| sc | single crochet |
| hdc | half double crochet |
| dc | double crochet |
| inc | increase, 2 stitches in same stitch |
| BLO | back loop only |
| st / sts | stitch / stitches |
| sp | space |
| rnd | round |
| RS | right side |
| FO | fasten off |
| rep | repeat |
| sk | skip |
Stitch Definitions
- Magic Ring: Make an adjustable loop, work the stated stitches into the loop, then pull the tail tight to close.
- Single Crochet: Insert hook into indicated stitch, yarn over, pull up loop, yarn over, pull through both loops.
- Half Double Crochet: Yarn over, insert hook into indicated stitch, yarn over, pull up loop, yarn over, pull through all 3 loops.
- Double Crochet: Yarn over, insert hook into indicated stitch, yarn over, pull up loop, yarn over and pull through 2 loops, yarn over and pull through final 2 loops.
- Increase: Work 2 stitches into the same stitch.
- Back Loop Only: Work the stitch into the back loop only of the indicated stitch.
- Reverse Single Crochet: Working from left to right, insert hook into previous stitch, yarn over, pull up loop, yarn over, pull through both loops.
- Surface Crochet Ridge: Hold yarn behind the finished hat. Insert hook from front to back and back to front along the marked round, pull up a loop, sl st loosely around the surface line. Do not tighten.
Round Notes
- Work all rounds with RS facing.
- Do not turn after rounds.
- Solid dc rounds use ch 2 at the beginning. This ch 2 does not count as a stitch.
- Mesh rounds use ch 3 at the beginning. This ch 3 counts as the first dc.
5. Parts List
| Part | Quantity | Color |
|---|---|---|
| Solid crown | 1 | Brown |
| Straight mesh side wall | 1 | Brown |
| Solid lower side band | 1 | Brown |
| Flared brim | 1 | Brown |
| Crown ridge | 1 | Brown |
| Brim ridge | 1 | Brown |
| Final brim edge | 1 | Brown |
6. Construction Overview
- Crochet the solid circular crown from the center outward.
- Work one straight stabilizing round at the crown edge.
- Work the open mesh side wall downward.
- Convert the mesh side back into a solid stitch count.
- Work the solid lower side band.
- Increase evenly to form the flared brim.
- Finish the brim with sc and reverse sc edging.
- Add surface crochet ridges at the crown/side transition and side/brim transition.
- Block over a bowl or hat form to set the bucket shape.
7. Part-by-Part Instructions
Solid Crown
Use brown yarn and 4.5 mm hook.
Rnd 1: MR, ch 2, work 12 dc into ring. Sl st to first dc. (Count: 12 dc.)
Rnd 2: Ch 2, work 2 dc in each st around. Sl st to first dc. (Count: 24 dc.)
Rnd 3: Ch 2, *dc in next st, 2 dc in next st; rep from * 12 times. Sl st to first dc. (Count: 36 dc.)
Rnd 4: Ch 2, *dc in next 2 sts, 2 dc in next st; rep from * 12 times. Sl st to first dc. (Count: 48 dc.)
Rnd 5: Ch 2, *dc in next 3 sts, 2 dc in next st; rep from * 12 times. Sl st to first dc. (Count: 60 dc.)
Rnd 6: Ch 2, *dc in next 4 sts, 2 dc in next st; rep from * 12 times. Sl st to first dc. (Count: 72 dc.)
Rnd 7: Ch 2, *dc in next 5 sts, 2 dc in next st; rep from * 12 times. Sl st to first dc. (Count: 84 dc.)
Rnd 8: Ch 2, *dc in next 6 sts, 2 dc in next st; rep from * 12 times. Sl st to first dc. (Count: 96 dc.)
Rnd 9: Ch 2, dc in each st around. Sl st to first dc. (Count: 96 dc.)
Finished crown diameter after Rnd 9: 7 in / 18 cm.
Crown Stabilizing Round
Rnd 10: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Sl st to first sc. (Count: 96 sc.)
This round forms the firm edge between the solid crown and the open mesh side.
Open Mesh Side Wall
The side mesh is worked over 24 repeats. Each repeat uses: 2 dc, ch 2, sk 2 base stitches or sk one ch-2 space.
Rnd 11: Ch 3, dc in next st, ch 2, sk next 2 sts, *dc in next 2 sts, ch 2, sk next 2 sts; rep from * 23 times. Sl st to top of beginning ch-3. (Count: 48 dc + 24 ch-2 spaces.)
Rnd 12: Ch 3, dc in next dc, ch 2, sk next ch-2 sp, *dc in next 2 dc, ch 2, sk next ch-2 sp; rep from * 23 times. Sl st to top of beginning ch-3. (Count: 48 dc + 24 ch-2 spaces.)
Rnds 13–17: Repeat Rnd 12. (Count each round: 48 dc + 24 ch-2 spaces.)
Finished mesh side wall height: 3.25 in / 8.25 cm.
Lower Side Band
Rnd 18: Ch 1, *sc in next 2 dc, work 2 sc into next ch-2 sp; rep from * 24 times. Sl st to first sc. (Count: 96 sc.)
Rnd 19: Ch 1, hdc in each st around. Sl st to first hdc. (Count: 96 hdc.)
This creates the solid band directly above the brim.
Flared Brim
Use brown yarn and 4.5 mm hook.
Rnd 20: Ch 1, *hdc in next 5 sts, 2 hdc in next st; rep from * 16 times. Sl st to first hdc. (Count: 112 hdc.)
Rnd 21: Ch 1, hdc in each st around. Sl st to first hdc. (Count: 112 hdc.)
Rnd 22: Ch 1, *hdc in next 6 sts, 2 hdc in next st; rep from * 16 times. Sl st to first hdc. (Count: 128 hdc.)
Rnd 23: Ch 1, hdc in each st around. Sl st to first hdc. (Count: 128 hdc.)
Rnd 24: Ch 1, *hdc in next 7 sts, 2 hdc in next st; rep from * 16 times. Sl st to first hdc. (Count: 144 hdc.)
Rnd 25: Ch 1, hdc in each st around. Sl st to first hdc. (Count: 144 hdc.)
Rnd 26: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Sl st to first sc. (Count: 144 sc.)
Change to 4 mm hook.
Rnd 27 (Final Edge): Ch 1, reverse sc in each st around. Sl st to first reverse sc. (Count: 144 reverse sc.)
FO and weave in end. Finished brim width: 2.25 in / 5.75 cm.
Surface Crochet Ridges
Use brown yarn and 4 mm hook.
Crown Ridge — work around the line between Rnd 10 and Rnd 11. Join yarn at the back of the hat.
Surface Ridge Round 1: Work 96 loose surface sl sts around the crown/mesh transition line. Sl st to first surface sl st. (Count: 96 surface sl sts.) FO and weave end inside.
Brim Ridge — work around the line between Rnd 19 and Rnd 20. Join yarn at the back of the hat.
Surface Ridge Round 2: Work 96 loose surface sl sts around the lower side band/brim transition line. Sl st to first surface sl st. (Count: 96 surface sl sts.) FO and weave end inside.
8. Stitch Counts
Paste any round into the free Pattern Decoder to double-check your stitch counts as you go.
Crown
| Round | Count |
|---|---|
| 1 | 12 dc |
| 2 | 24 dc |
| 3 | 36 dc |
| 4 | 48 dc |
| 5 | 60 dc |
| 6 | 72 dc |
| 7 | 84 dc |
| 8 | 96 dc |
| 9 | 96 dc |
| 10 | 96 sc |
Mesh Side
| Round | Count |
|---|---|
| 11 | 48 dc + 24 ch-2 spaces |
| 12 | 48 dc + 24 ch-2 spaces |
| 13 | 48 dc + 24 ch-2 spaces |
| 14 | 48 dc + 24 ch-2 spaces |
| 15 | 48 dc + 24 ch-2 spaces |
| 16 | 48 dc + 24 ch-2 spaces |
| 17 | 48 dc + 24 ch-2 spaces |
Lower Band and Brim
| Round | Count |
|---|---|
| 18 | 96 sc |
| 19 | 96 hdc |
| 20 | 112 hdc |
| 21 | 112 hdc |
| 22 | 128 hdc |
| 23 | 128 hdc |
| 24 | 144 hdc |
| 25 | 144 hdc |
| 26 | 144 sc |
| 27 | 144 reverse sc |
Surface Ridges
| Ridge | Count |
|---|---|
| Crown/mesh ridge | 96 surface sl sts |
| Side/brim ridge | 96 surface sl sts |
9. Placement Order
Bottom construction layer:
- Solid crown
- Crown stabilizing round
- Mesh side wall
- Lower side band
- Flared brim
Top decorative layer:
- Crown surface ridge
- Brim surface ridge
- Final reverse sc brim edge
No leaves, stems, appliqué, doily base, or diagonal layout are used.
Shape Placement
- Crown sits flat and circular at the top.
- Mesh side wall drops straight downward from the crown.
- Lower side band sits directly below the mesh.
- Brim begins immediately after the lower side band.
- Brim flares outward evenly from 96 sts to 144 sts.
- Crown ridge sits at the top edge of the mesh.
- Brim ridge sits at the bottom edge of the mesh section.
- Final brim edge must remain smooth and circular.
10. Assembly & Blocking
- Weave in all yarn ends on the inside of the hat.
- Place hat over a bowl or hat form measuring 21.5–22.5 in / 54.5–57 cm around.
- Pin crown flat to 7 in / 18 cm diameter.
- Pull mesh side wall straight downward without stretching the holes.
- Shape brim outward evenly.
- Pin brim edge to a smooth circle measuring 31.5–32 in / 80–81 cm circumference.
- Steam lightly or wet block according to yarn label.
- Let dry completely before removing from form.
- Add optional fabric stiffener to brim only if a firmer edge is required.
- Do not stiffen the mesh side wall.
11. Final Checklist
- Crown begins with 12 dc.
- Crown reaches 96 dc by Rnd 8.
- Crown diameter is 7 in / 18 cm after blocking.
- Rnd 10 has 96 sc.
- Mesh side has 7 open rounds.
- Each mesh round has 48 dc and 24 ch-2 spaces.
- Rnd 18 converts mesh back to 96 sc.
- Lower side band has 96 hdc.
- Brim increases from 96 to 144 sts.
- Rnd 20 has 112 hdc.
- Rnd 22 has 128 hdc.
- Rnd 24 has 144 hdc.
- Final brim edge has 144 reverse sc.
- Crown ridge has 96 surface sl sts.
- Brim ridge has 96 surface sl sts.
- Brim lies flat with slight outward flare.
- Mesh side hangs straight.
- Finished head circumference is 21.5–22.5 in / 54.5–57 cm.
- Finished hat height is 6.75 in / 17 cm.
- Finished brim width is 2.25 in / 5.75 cm.
More Free Crochet Patterns
Keep your hooks busy with more of our free makes: the Granny Square Tote Bag, the Two-Tone Market Tote, the Boho Sling Bag, the Water Bottle Cozy with Strap, and the Granny Square Top & Skirt Set. Browse everything in Free Patterns, pick up new skills in Tutorials, or try our Crochet Calculator & Tools on your next project. Happy crocheting!