Sunsational Crochet Sun Hat

Keep cool and look fabulous all summer long with this gorgeous spiral-textured sun hat, complete with a beautifully structured brim.

There is nothing quite like the feeling of stepping out into the warm summer sunshine with a handmade accessory that turns heads.

But let's be honest.

Many crochet sun hats end up looking floppy, losing their shape after just one trip to the beach. Or worse, they feel incredibly stiff and painful to work up in standard cotton yarn.

I have been there.

That is why I designed this unique spiral-patterned hat to solve those exact frustrations.

By using a softer premium cotton and an optional clever wire insert in the brim, you get a gorgeous, breathable hat that holds its shape beautifully.

Even better, this pattern is written for four different sizes, making it incredibly easy to whip up matching sets for your next family outing.

If you love crafting sun-ready accessories, you might also want to pair this with my Rue Summer Headband for those days when you want your hair up.

Why You'll Love This Pattern

• Stunning Spiral Texture: The continuous spiral design flows seamlessly from the very top of the crown right down to the edge of the brim.
• No More Floppy Brims: The optional millinery wire keeps your brim perfectly shaped and sun-blocking without looking sloppy.
• Gentle on Your Hands: Using a slightly thinner worsted cotton means you won't suffer from the hand fatigue often caused by stiff cotton yarns.

Materials You'll Need

• Yarn: Bernat Handicrafter Cotton Delux (Worsted Weight, Size 4 cotton yarn; shown in Olive and Seaspray).
• Hook: Any crochet hook size that allows you to match the gauge.
• Notions: 1.5 yards of 19-gauge millinery wire, a matching joiner, a pair of pliers (if using wire), and a yarn needle for weaving in your ends.
• Yardage: 230 yards for Baby and Toddler sizes; 280 yards for Child and Adult sizes.

Gauge & Sizing

• Gauge: After completing Round 9, your circular crown should measure exactly 5.5 inches in diameter.
• Sizes included: Baby (6-12 Months), Toddler, Child, and Adult.
• Finished measurements:
  • Baby (6-12 Months): 16.5-inch circumference, 6 inches tall.
  • Toddler: 18-inch circumference, 6.5 inches tall.
  • Child: 19.5-inch circumference, 7 inches tall.
  • Adult: 21.5-inch circumference, 7.5 inches tall.

Abbreviations & Stitch Instructions

• sc (single crochet): Insert hook, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through both loops on hook.
• sl st (slip stitch): Insert hook, yarn over, pull through stitch and loop on hook.
• ch (chain): Yarn over, pull through loop.
• sc2tog (single crochet two together): Insert hook in first stitch, pull up a loop, insert hook in next stitch, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through all three loops on hook.

Pattern Notes

• Skill Level: Intermediate.
• This pattern is written in US crochet terms.
• The item is worked in continuous rounds without turning.
• Keep your stitches snug, especially when working the brim, to help the hat maintain its structure.
• You can adjust the brim width easily by adding or subtracting rounds before finishing.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Crocheting the Crown (All Sizes)

Start by making a magic circle.

Round 1: Ch 1, work 7 sc into the circle. Pull the yarn tail to close the center hole tightly. Sl st to the first sc to join. (7 sc)

Round 2: *(Ch 3, 1 sc in next sc), repeat from * 7 times total. Your final sc will land in the same stitch as your starting ch-3. (7 loops)

Round 3: *(1 sc into the next loop, ch 3, 1 sc in next sc), repeat from * 7 times total. (7 loops)

Note: The stitch you skip in the following rounds will be squished and continuous with the ch-3 preceding it.

Round 4: 1 sc in next st, place a stitch marker in this stitch to mark the start of the round. *(2 sc into the next loop, ch 3, skip the next st, 1 sc into next st), repeat from * until you reach the marked stitch. Work a sc in the marked stitch and remove the marker. (3 sc in each sc patch)

Round 5: 1 sc in next st, mark this stitch to show the start of the round. 1 sc in next st. *(2 sc into the next loop, ch 3, skip next st, 1 sc in next 2 sts), repeat from * until only 1 chain loop remains. 2 sc into that loop, ch 3, skip next st, 1 sc into the marked st, remove the marker. (4 sc in each sc patch)

Round 6: 1 sc in next st, mark this stitch. 1 sc in next 2 sts. *(2 sc into the next loop, ch 3, skip next st, 1 sc in next 3 sts), repeat from * until only 1 chain loop remains. 2 sc into that loop, ch 3, skip next st, 1 sc into the marked st, remove the marker. (5 sc in each sc patch)

Round 7: 1 sc in next st, mark this stitch. 1 sc in next 3 sts. *(2 sc into the next loop, ch 3, skip next st, 1 sc in next 4 sts), repeat from * until only 1 chain loop remains. 2 sc into that loop, ch 3, skip next st, 1 sc into the marked st, remove the marker. (6 sc in each sc patch)

Round 8: 1 sc in next st, mark this stitch. 1 sc in next 4 sts. *(2 sc into the next loop, ch 3, skip next st, 1 sc in next 5 sts), repeat from * until only 1 chain loop remains. 2 sc into that loop, ch 3, skip next st, 1 sc into the marked st, remove the marker. (7 sc in each sc patch)

Round 9: 1 sc in next st, mark this stitch. 1 sc in next 5 sts. *(2 sc into the next loop, ch 3, skip next st, 1 sc in next 6 sts), repeat from * until only 1 chain loop remains. 2 sc into that loop, ch 3, skip next st, 1 sc into the marked st, remove the marker. (8 sc in each sc patch)

Check Gauge: Your circle should measure 5.5 inches in diameter. For Baby size, stop here and jump to the "Side of the Hat" section.

Round 10: 1 sc in next st, mark this stitch. 1 sc in next 6 sts. *(2 sc into the next loop, ch 3, skip next st, 1 sc in next 7 sts), repeat from * until only 1 chain loop remains. 2 sc into that loop, ch 3, skip next st, 1 sc into the marked st, remove the marker. (9 sc in each sc patch)

Check Sizing: Your circle should measure 6 inches in diameter. For Toddler size, stop here and jump to the "Side of the Hat" section.

Round 11: 1 sc in next st, mark this stitch. 1 sc in next 7 sts. *(2 sc into the next loop, ch 3, skip next st, 1 sc in next 8 sts), repeat from * until only 1 chain loop remains. 2 sc into that loop, ch 3, skip next st, 1 sc into the marked st, remove the marker. (10 sc in each sc patch)

Check Sizing: Your circle should measure 6.5 inches in diameter. For Child size, stop here and jump to the "Side of the Hat" section.

Round 12: 1 sc in next st, mark this stitch. 1 sc in next 8 sts. *(2 sc into the next loop, ch 3, skip next st, 1 sc in next 9 sts), repeat from * until only 1 chain loop remains. 2 sc into that loop, ch 3, skip next st, 1 sc into the marked st, remove the marker. (11 sc in each sc patch)

Check Sizing: Your circle should measure 7 inches in diameter. For Adult size, stop here and jump to the "Side of the Hat" section.

Shaping the Side of the Hat (All Sizes)

Note: The decreases in these rounds are staggered intentionally to ensure a smooth, seamless finish. Stitch counts for larger sizes are written in parentheses as Baby (Toddler, Child, Adult).

Round 1: 1 sc in next st, place a marker in this stitch. 1 sc in next 3 (1, 4, 4) sts, sc2tog, 1 sc in next 1 (4, 2, 3) sts. *[2 sc into the next loop, ch 3, skip next st, 1 sc in next 4 (2, 5, 5) sts, sc2tog, 1 sc in next 1 (4, 2, 3) sts], repeat from * until only 1 chain loop remains. 2 sc into the loop, ch 3, skip next st, 1 sc into the marked st, remove the marker. (8 (9, 10, 11) sc in each sc patch)

Note for Baby size: When instructed to work 1 sc in "0" stitches, simply skip that step and proceed directly to the sc2tog.

Round 2: 1 sc in next st, place a marker in this stitch. 1 sc in next 0 (4, 1, 1) sts, sc2tog, 1 sc in next 4 (1, 5, 6) sts. *[2 sc into the next loop, ch 3, skip next st, 1 sc in next 1 (5, 2, 2) sts, sc2tog, 1 sc in next 4 (1, 5, 6) sts], repeat from * until only 1 chain loop remains. 2 sc into the loop, ch 3, skip next st, 1 sc into the marked st, remove the marker. (8 (9, 10, 11) sc in each sc patch)

Keep repeating these two side rounds until your hat measures 6 (6.5, 7, 7.5) inches tall from the top of the crown to the base. Once you reach this height, move on to the brim.

Crafting the Brim

Note: Work the brim with a tight, firm gauge to help it hold its shape.

Round 1: 1 sc in next st, place a marker in this stitch. 1 sc in next 2 (3, 3, 4) sts, 2 sc in next st, 1 sc in next 3 (3, 4, 4) sts. *[2 sc into the next loop, ch 3, skip next st, 1 sc in next 3 (4, 4, 5) sts, 2 sc in next st, 1 sc in next 3 (3, 4, 4) sts], repeat from * until only 1 chain loop remains. 2 sc into the loop, ch 3, skip next st, 1 sc into the marked st, remove the marker. (10 (11, 12, 13) sc in each sc patch)

Round 2: 1 sc in next st, place a marker in this stitch. 1 sc in each sc until you reach the next chain loop. *(2 sc into the loop, ch 3, skip next st, 1 sc in each st until you reach the next chain loop), repeat from * until only 1 chain loop remains. 2 sc into the loop, ch 3, skip next st, 1 sc into the marked st, remove the marker. (11 (12, 13, 14) sc in each sc patch)

For a 3.5-inch Brim: Repeat Round 2 another 9 times. The stitch count in each sc patch will increase by 1 stitch every round. Sl st to the next stitch to finish. (20 (21, 22, 23) sc in each sc patch)

For a 4-inch Brim: Repeat Round 2 another 11 times. The stitch count in each sc patch will increase by 1 stitch every round. Sl st to the next stitch to finish. (22 (23, 24, 25) sc in each sc patch)

Adding the Millinery Wire (Highly Recommended)

Ironing Tip: Before adding the wire, gently steam iron the crown of your hat from the top down along the direction of the spiral. Keep the decorative holes wide while ironing. Do not iron the brim. Only use steam if your yarn is 100% cotton.

Step 1: Slip stitch your yarn to the left side of any single crochet patch. Place your millinery wire close to the slip stitch, leaving about 2.5 to 3 inches of wire free. The wire should extend past the middle of the sc patch.

Step 2: Work single crochet stitches directly over and encircling the wire until you reach the next chain loop.

Step 3: *(Work 2 sc into the chain loop, skip the next stitch, then work 1 sc in each single crochet across until you reach the next chain loop), repeat from * until you have about 2 inches of the brim left uncovered.

Step 4: Smooth out the stitches along the wire brim with your hands to ensure even tension. Using pliers, cut the right side of the wire so it meets the middle of the sc patch.

Step 5: Peel back the rayon covering on the right side and insert the wire end into the joiner.

Step 6: Trim the left side of the wire, leaving just over half an inch to insert into the joiner. Insert it and use your pliers to crimp both sides of the joiner firmly so the wire cannot slip out.

Step 7: Crochet over the joined section until you reach your very first single crochet. Slip stitch to the first stitch to secure, then fasten off and weave in your ends.

Easy Variations & Custom Ideas

• Striped Spiral: Change colors every few rounds to create a vibrant, swirling rainbow effect. Learn How to Seamlessly Change Colors When Crocheting in The Round to keep your transitions looking flawless.
• Mummy and Me Matching Sets: Crochet a matching set for yourself and your little one. You can pair this adult hat with a matching Boy’s Sun Hat Crochet Pattern for a coordinated family look.
• Add a Decorative Ribbon: Thread a contrasting satin ribbon or a crocheted chain through the spiral eyelets at the base of the crown for a classic, breezy look.
• Floppy Brim Style: If you prefer a relaxed, bohemian vibe, simply omit the millinery wire entirely on a 3.5-inch brim to let it drape naturally.
• Color Ideas: Try earthy tones like sage green and cream, or go bold with sunny yellow and crisp white.
• Yarn Substitutions: If you cannot find Bernat Handicrafter Cotton Delux, Sable Sugar 'n Cream is a great alternative, though it is slightly thicker so be sure to check your gauge.

Common Troubleshooting & Fixes

• Problem: The crown of my hat is bulging or forming a cone shape instead of laying flat.
  Fix: This usually means your tension is too tight. Try switching to a larger hook size for the crown rounds to let the stitches relax.
• Problem: The brim is rippling and waving excessively.
  Fix: You may have added too many stitches in the loop spaces. Make sure you are skipping the correct stitch after each chain-3 loop.
• Problem: My hand is cramping up while working with the cotton yarn.
  Fix: Cotton has very little stretch. Try using an ergonomic hook, relax your grip, and take frequent breaks to stretch your fingers.
• Problem: The wire is poking out or the joiner came undone.
  Fix: Ensure you crimp the joiner with pliers as firmly as possible. You can also add a tiny dab of strong craft glue inside the joiner before inserting the wire ends for extra security.

Care Instructions

To keep your sun hat looking its absolute best, hand wash it gently in cool water with a mild detergent. Reshape the crown and brim while damp, and lay it flat to dry in the shade. Avoid machine washing or tumble drying, as this can distort the wire and shrink the cotton fibers.

Final Thoughts

There is nothing quite like the satisfaction of wearing a beautiful, functional accessory that you made with your own two hands. This sun hat is bound to become your go-to companion for beach days, farmers' markets, and sunny backyard reading sessions. Happy crocheting, my friends!