A step-by-step guide to crocheting your super-stylish bucket hat 💕🌸
Ever gotten halfway through a project and thought “Hang on, am I even doing this right?” We have 🙋♀️
That’s why we’ve created these step-by-step guides to walk you through the crocheting process.
Even if you've never crocheted before, we'll take you from zero to crochet hero in no time 🦸♀️
When it comes to learning to crochet, practice makes perfect.
Before we get started on the pattern we suggest you spend a bit of time learning the basic stitches you’ll need to complete your hat.
Your gorgeous creation will be made in single crochet so you'll want to be confident with the single crochet stitch before you start 🧶 While we make the hat in the round if you're a total beginner we suggest you do some practice in rows first. To do that, you'll also want to get a hang of tying a slip knot and chaining.
You can use the yarn that came in your kit to practice these stitches. Once you've got these mastered you'll find the pattern a cinch!
Total beginner? 👩🏫
For a more comprehensive lesson on the basics of crochet visit our Learn How To Crochet page.
Time to let your creativity blossom!
⚡️What you'll need
Your kit comes with everything you'll need to make your masterpiece. In your kit you'll find;
- 6.5mm hook
- 3 balls of Cardigang Chunky Cotton
- A darning needle
- Stitch markers
- Made by me tag
You also want to have a pair of scissors and a tape measure handy.
⚡️Test your tension
Before you start your project, make sure your tension (how tightly or loosely your crocheting is) is juuuust right 🥣 We do this by making a “tension swatch”. It's a bit like goldilocks, if the tension is too tight, your piece will be too small, and if it's too loose it may not hold its shape and might be too big.
Gauge: If done correctly, your 10x10cm swatch should be 10 stitches wide x 12 rows high when made in single crochet on your 6.5mm hook.
To test this, chain 13 stitches, then work in single crochet for 14 rows. Just like you would have done when you were practicing. Then measure a 10x10cm square and count your stitches and rows within that space to make sure you're crocheting at the correct tension.
If you've got more stitches or rows than the instructions say you should have, your work is a little too tight, and if you've got less your work is too loose. Adjust your tension by holding the yarn a little more tightly/loosely as you crochet.
💪 Remember learning a new skill can be a little challenging at first, and you’re bound to find yourself making some mistakes along the way. But as with learning anything, your brain and your hands slowly start to get the hang of it, muscle memory is created, and soon the thing you found tricky/daunting/scary is like second nature!
🧶 Happy hooker, let's crochet!
Time to switch off. Stitch on. And whip up your drool-worthy summer hat!
We make our hat in rounds starting from the middle of the crown and working outwards to the tip of the brim. We increase stitches as we go in order to create the hat's shape.
TO START
Let's start with our magic loop. If you haven't done one of these before, have a bit of a practice using the video below.
🎬 Watch how to make a magic loop
When you've finished it should look like this.
ROUND 1
Next you're going to do 6 single crochets into the loop.
💭 Try to make your stitches as evenly sized as possible and don't pull the yarn too tight because you'll struggle to work into these loops in your first round.
🎬 Watch how to crochet into a magic loop
When all the stitches are made it will look a bit like the below. Gently pull the tail of yarn not connected to the ball to close your circle.
ROUND 2
This is our first round with increases. To increase a stitch you'll insert your hook under the same stitch twice and do 2 single crochets into the same space.
🎬 Watch how to increase a stitch
💭 Make sure you're using your stitch marker to mark the first stitch of each round.
This is what your work will look like after you've completed the second round.
ROUND 3 ONWARDS
You'll just continue working in rounds and following the instructions for increases.
🌈 You'll change colour every 4 or 2 rounds. To change colours, yarn over with your new colour and slip stitch the first stitch for your new round. This will count as your first stitch.
🎬 Watch how to change colours in the round
Just keep on stitching! You've got this 💪
D.O.N.E! You've finished your hat, well done! Epic work 🤩 If this was your first-ever crochet project or one of many, we hope you had a blast. Don't forget to share your masterpiece with us on Instagram and TikTok @cardigang_knits 💥❤️
In a bind and need some help?
Book in for a 15min one-on-one knitting or crochet session with the Cardigang Hotline ☎️. Whether you're just starting out, or you've got a specific question or problem (dropped a stitch, no stress!), we're here to get you out of a bind.