A crochet sun hat needs a brim and crown construction that suit the intended wearer, and the yarn choice changes how it packs. These seven original patterns cover different size ranges, from raffia that folds flat for travel to cotton worked top down with a customizable brim.
Stitch markers matter more than usual here since you’re tracking rounds through crown shaping and brim increases both.
Sun hat patterns to explore
1. Wheatfield Crochet Sun Hat
Briana Kepner’s Wheatfield hat comes in seven sizes from newborn to large adult and is rated intermediate, with a crochet time of about 2 to 5 hours depending on size. It uses Village Yarn Craft Cotton held double, which gives the fabric body, and a 5.5 mm hook. The featured stitch is her Wheat Stitch, and an optional plastic-coated wire in the final brim round keeps the shape. She notes the brim increases were the hard part, so follow the shaping closely to keep the brim from flaring.
2. Lightweight Cotton Crochet Sun Hat
Hannah Cross’s sun hat is worked in a stylish mesh design with simple stitches and no seaming, so it is rated easy. It uses a 4 mm (G) hook, stitch markers and worsted weight cotton-blend yarn, needing 1 ball for most sizes and 2 for the two largest. Sizes range from newborn to large adult, and you can adjust the hat height and brim depth. She lists cotton yarn substitutes with their yardage, so you can swap yarn if you match the gauge. A YouTube video is available.
3. Solara Sunhat
Michelle Moore’s Solara Sunhat is worked in cotton for crisp stitch definition, with a shell stitch pattern and a wide, shapeable brim for sun coverage. The pattern includes baby, child and adult sizes, and the page has a size chart, gauge and construction section. The adult size comes with a step-by-step video tutorial. The gauge section is worth reading before you start, since a structured cotton hat only holds its shape if your fabric is firm enough.
4. Free Floppy Sun Hat
Anne Egan’s floppy hat is a wide-brim design made with a 5 mm hook. The original Stylecraft Classique Cotton shades were discontinued, so the page has been updated to use Stylecraft Naturals Organic cotton, with yarn quantities adjusted. The finished hat is 40 cm (15¾ in) across and 15 cm (6 in) deep, for a head of 55 cm (21½ in). For smaller heads the page suggests a 4 mm hook up to row 34 or stopping short of round 21, and optional stiff wire can go around the brim edge.
5. Free Crochet Sun Hat Pattern
This hat is made from raffia yarn, which the page says holds its shape well and folds flat for packing. It uses two 50 g balls of King Cole Raffia in Natural (124 yards each), with Wool and the Gang Ra Ra Raffia as a substitute, plus a 5 mm (H/8) and a 6 mm (J/10) hook to shape the crown and brim. You can wear the brim turned up or down.
6. Crochet Sun Hat
Joanne Loh’s hat is worked from the crown down in a spiral of basic single crochet using raffia yarn and a 2.5 mm hook. It offers two brim options, a 5 inch narrow brim or a 6 inch wide brim, and a hidden drawstring band lets you adjust the fit for head circumferences from 21 to 23 inches. The small hook makes a dense fabric, so it takes patience, but the result is stiff enough for a proper wide-brim hat.
7. Soft Cotton Sunhat
Rhondda Mol designed this Soft Cotton Sunhat as a summer chemo cap, sized to reach the ears and neck, and the cotton makes it breathable for warm weather. The brim is soft enough to fold up or pin at an angle with a brooch or button. It uses medium weight (#4) yarn, Red Heart Scrubby Smoothie in the sample. It is not a stiff-brim hat, so choose it for comfort and coverage rather than structure.