Farm animal bucket hats to crochet for toddlers

Four farm bucket hats. G-6 hook. About 4-6 hours each, with ears and horns.

Farm animal bucket hats to crochet for toddlers
Farm animal bucket hats to crochet for toddlers
  • LevelIntermediate
  • Time4-6 hours
  • Hook4.0 mm
  • YarnWorsted

About This Pattern

This is a bucket hat with a face. One crown pattern becomes a pig, a cow, a sheep, or a fox. The body works up in continuous rounds, then small pieces get sewn on after. It suits a slow evening with the television low. It needs a quiet hour for the crown, safety eyes, and a little stuffing patience for ears and horns.

In the basket

For the Pig Hat

For the Cow Hat

For the Sheep Hat

For the Fox Hat

Abbreviations

ch
chain. Wrap yarn over hook and pull through the loop on your hook.
sl st
slip stitch. Insert hook, yarn over, pull through both the stitch and the loop on hook in one motion.
sc
single crochet. Insert hook into stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop (2 loops on hook), yarn over, pull through both loops.
hdc
half double crochet. Yarn over, insert hook, yarn over, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), yarn over, pull through all 3 loops.
dc
double crochet. Yarn over, insert hook, yarn over, pull up a loop, (yarn over, pull through 2 loops) twice.
inc
single crochet increase. Work 2 sc in the same stitch to add one stitch to your count.
dec
invisible decrease. Insert hook in front loop only of next stitch, insert hook in front loop only of following stitch, yarn over, pull through both loops, yarn over, pull through remaining 2 loops.
BLO
back loop only. Work into just the back loop of the stitch instead of both loops.
FLO
front loop only. Work into just the front loop of the stitch.
MR
magic ring. Create an adjustable loop to begin working in the round.
st(s)
stitch(es)
pm
place marker
rnd(s)
round(s)
bo5
bobble stitch worked over 5 double crochets

Farm animal bucket hats to crochet for toddlers

Hat Base Pattern (Crown, Body, Brim - Used for All Four Animals)

For toddler size only: Stop increasing at round 12. Total crown stitches: 72 sc.

Checkpoint: After round 12, the flat crown circle should measure approximately 6.5 inches or 16.5 cm in diameter.

Checkpoint: After the body section, the hat should measure approximately 4 inches or 10 cm from crown center to the current working edge when laid flat.

Pattern is written for toddler size. Child size adjustments appear in parentheses where rounds differ. Where only one number appears, it applies to both sizes.

All hats are worked in continuous rounds (spiral) unless otherwise stated. Do not join rounds with a slip stitch and do not chain 1 to begin rounds unless explicitly instructed.

Use a stitch marker in the first stitch of each round and move it up as you go.

The pattern works from the top of the hat down toward the brim.

Right side is the outer-facing side throughout. The magic ring beginning sits at the top center of the hat.

Stitch counts appear at the end of each round in parentheses for easy reference.

Note: source text is incomplete/cut off during Round 3 of Brim (Child size).

  1. Round 1Crown Starting with MR, work 6 sc into ring, pull ring closed. (6 sc)
  2. Round 2Crown Inc in each st around. (12 sc)
  3. Round 3Crown (Sc 1, inc) rep 6 times. (18 sc)
  4. Round 4Crown (Sc 2, inc) rep 6 times. (24 sc)
  5. Round 5Crown (Sc 3, inc) rep 6 times. (30 sc)
  6. Round 6Crown (Sc 4, inc) rep 6 times. (36 sc)
  7. Round 7Crown (Sc 5, inc) rep 6 times. (42 sc)
  8. Round 8Crown (Sc 6, inc) rep 6 times. (48 sc)
  9. Round 9Crown (Sc 7, inc) rep 6 times. (54 sc)
  10. Round 10Crown (Sc 8, inc) rep 6 times. (60 sc)
  11. Round 11Crown (Sc 9, inc) rep 6 times. (66 sc)
  12. Round 12Crown (Sc 10, inc) rep 6 times. (72 sc)
  13. Round 13Crown, Child size only (Sc 11, inc) rep 6 times. (78 sc)
  14. Rounds 13–22(Body, Toddler, 10 rounds even): Work even, one sc in each stitch with no increases or decreases. (72 sc each round)(72)
  15. Rounds 14–24(Body, Child, 11 rounds even): Work even, one sc in each stitch with no increases or decreases. (78 sc each round)(78)
  16. Round 1of Brim (Toddler, worked on 72-st base): (Sc 11, inc) rep 6 times. (78 sc)
  17. Round 2of Brim (Toddler): (Sc 12, inc) rep 6 times. (84 sc)
  18. Round 3of Brim (Toddler): (Sc 13, inc) rep 6 times. (90 sc)
  19. Round 4of Brim (Toddler): Work even. (90 sc)
  20. Round 5of Brim (Toddler): Work even in BLO. (90 sc)
  21. Round 1of Brim (Child, worked on 78-st base): (Sc 12, inc) rep 6 times. (84 sc)
  22. Round 2of Brim (Child): (Sc 13, inc) rep 6 times. (90 sc)
  23. Round 3of Brim (Child): (Sc 14, inc) rep 6 t

Before the first stitch

  1. Check which animal you are making, then confirm you have its yarn colors on hand.
  2. Work a gauge swatch through round 8 of the crown and measure it flat.
  3. Set out stitch markers, safety eyes, and fiberfill before you start the first round.

Minutes per piece

  • Hat base: crown, body, brim about 2 to 3 hours because it runs 23 rounds total
  • Ears, snouts, and horns plus assembly about 2 to 3 hours because small pieces need stuffing and careful placement

Other yarns that work

  • acrylic worsted weight Keeps the hat lightweight and holds its shape; stuffing stays firm with the same hook size.
  • cotton-blend worsted weight Gives a cooler, denser fabric with less give; you may need to size up the hook for the same gauge.

Where it ends up

  • A soft first hat for a toddler's outdoor play, paired with simple mittens.
  • A nursery shelf piece, set beside other animal toys for a themed corner.
  • A baby shower gift, paired with a plain blanket in a matching color.

Joining up

  1. Step 1 All embellishments like ears, snouts, and horns are made separately and sewn on after the hat body is complete.
  2. Step 2 Safety eyes should be inserted and secured before stuffing and closing any 3D elements such as the snout or ears.

Small notes

  • Keep a stitch marker in your working round; 23 rounds blur together fast without one.
  • Insert and secure the safety eyes before you stuff or close any 3D piece like a snout or ear.
  • Check your gauge swatch against the 3.5 inch target; a tight circle means size up your hook.
  • Work 18 single crochet stitches and 20 rounds to equal 4 inches or 10 cm in continuous rounds with G-6 hook.
  • To check gauge: work a magic ring and complete rounds 1 through 8 of the crown instructions; after 8 rounds, the flat circle should measure approximately 3.5 inches or 9 cm in diameter. Block lightly and measure before proceeding.
  • If the circle is too small, tension is too tight, go up a hook size. If it's too big, go down a hook size.
  • Finished size - Toddler (2 to 4 years): approximately 18 to 19 inches or 46 to 48 cm head circumference, hat height approximately 6 inches or 15 cm including the brim.
  • Finished size - Child (5 to 10 years): approximately 20 to 21 inches or 51 to 53 cm head circumference, hat height approximately 6.5 inches or 16.5 cm including the brim.
  • Bobble Stitch (bo5): Step 1: Yarn over, insert hook into designated stitch. Step 2: Yarn over, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook). Step 3: Yarn over, pull through first 2 loops (2 loops remain on hook). Step 4: Repeat steps 1 through 3 four more times in the same stitch, so you have 6 loops total on hook. Step 5: Yarn over, pull through all 6 loops on hook. Step 6: Chain 1 to close and secure the bobble. The chain 1 counts as part of the bobble stitch structure and does not count as a separate stitch. The bobble occupies one stitch position.
  • Ruffle Stitch (used for the pig hat brim edging): Work 3 dc in each stitch around.
  • Invisible Join: Step 1: Cut yarn leaving a 6-inch tail. Step 2: Thread tail onto yarn needle. Step 3: Insert needle from front to back through both loops of the first stitch of the round. Step 4: Insert needle back down through the back loop only of the last stitch of the round. Step 5: Pull gently to match tension of surrounding stitches. Weave in tail.
  • Color Change Technique (used for cow hat spots and fox hat face markings): Work the last stitch before the color change until 2 loops remain on hook. Drop current color to wrong side. Pick up new color and pull through remaining 2 loops to complete the stitch. Continue with new color. Carry unused color loosely along wrong side for spans of 3 stitches or fewer. For longer spans, cut and rejoin.

Little questions

  • Can I resize this hat for a different age?

    The pattern gives toddler sizing by stopping increases at round 12. For other sizes, you would need to adjust the crown rounds yourself.

  • Do all four animals use the same base?

    Yes, one 23-round hat base works for the pig, cow, sheep, and fox. Only the yarn colors and the sewn-on pieces change.

  • Why do I need safety eyes before stuffing?

    Safety eyes lock from the inside, so they must go in before any piece is closed. Securing them first keeps the backing accessible and the work tidy.

  • What if my gauge swatch comes out too big?

    A big circle after round 8 means your tension is loose. Go down a hook size and swatch again before starting the hat.

Original pattern: https://crochr.com/farm-animals-bucket-hats-set-free-crochet-pattern/

About the Author

Tamsin Okoro Who writes the patterns at Yarn Gallery, how a pattern gets from the hook to the page, and what this site will never do.

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