Duck Bucket Hat – Free Crochet Pattern

by strommercrafts / May 15, 2021

Hello everyone, I wanted to share with you my latest creation; a crochet duck bucket hat! Now that it’s getting warmer, I’ve been in the mood to make less wintery hats and focus more on summer time crochet patterns.

I was inspired to create this little guy after I finished my Frog Bucket Hat. I think both turned out super cute!

The Duck Bucket Hat (pictured above) is toddler size, however I do have different sizes included. If you need help determining your hat size, I have a size chart here.

I have estimated sizes underneath each hat size. Please note that these may be a little bigger or smaller depending on your tension.

As always, you can use any yarn type (this is acrylic), as long as it’s worsted medium weight #4. If you use different yarn weights and hook sizes, your hat might come out too big or small!

I use a magic circle to start the duck bucket hat, but you can use a chain 2 and start your hat in the second chain from your hook if you prefer. If you need help with starting a magic circle, see my previous post here.

The brim of a bucket hat is created by working in the front loop of the next stitch. If you look at the top of your stitch, you can see that there are two little “bars” next to each other. The “bar” that is closest to you is the front one.

Crocheting in the front loop makes your stitches go out instead of down! Very useful for making brims on hats.

Please also note that on this page, instructions for the different size hats is displayed first and the facial features are at the bottom of this page. I use the same size eyes, beak and hair tufts for all the sizes, however feel free to adjust and make bigger or small by taking away or adding stitches.

Alright, let’s get to the pattern!

Please note that some of these links are affiliate links. That means that if you click on these links and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. You can find more information about our disclosure policy here. Thank you for supporting Strommer Crafts!

Materials Used:

5 mm crochet hook
4 mm crochet hook
Bright Yellow Yarn by Red Heart Super Saver (1 skein)
Black Yarn by Red Heart Super Saver (1 skein)
Pumpkin Yarn by Red Heart Super Saver (1 skein)
Stitch Marker
Tapestry Needle
Scissors
Pins (optional)

Abbreviations Used:

Mc – magic circle
Ch – chain
St(s) – stitch(es)
Sl st -slip stitch
Sc – single crochet
Hdc – half double crochet
Dc – double crochet

Special Considerations:

The beginning chain does not count as a stitch in the bucket hat.
Every round starts in the same stitch as the beginning chain in the bucket hat.
Slip stitch to the first stitch of the round to join (not the beginning chain) in the bucket hat.
Repeat instructions between *and* when indicated.
You will see (x) at the end of the instructions for each round/row. X indicates how many stitches you should have when finished with that round/row.
Use pins to keep the eyes, beak and hair tufts in placed while sewing (this step is not totally necessary, just a preference).

Other Crochet Patterns You Might Like:

Crochet Duck Bucket Hat Pattern

Newborn Size:

Hat circumference: 13″ | Hat length: 5″

With Bright Yellow yarn and 5mm crochet hook:

Round 1: Make 8 hdc in mc, sl st to first st (8 sts)
Round 2: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next stitch* repeat around, sl st to first st (16 sts)
Round 3: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next st* repeat around, sl st to first st (24 sts)
Round 4: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next 2 sts* repeat around, sl st to first st (32 sts)
Round 5: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next 3 sts* repeat around sl st into first st (40 sts)
Round 6: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next 7 sts* repeat around sl st into first st (45 sts)
Round 7-13: Ch 1, hdc in each st around, sl st into first st (45 sts)

Hat Brim:

Round 14: Ch 1, *2 hdc in front loop of next st, 1 hdc in front loop of next st* repeat around, Sl st to first st (68 sts)
Round 15-16 (or until desired length): Ch 1, hdc in each st around, sl st to first st (68 sts)

Cut yarn and pull through. Weave in end using your tapestry needle.

***See at the end of page for eye, beak, and hair tuft instructions***

0-3 Months:

Hat circumference: 14″ | Hat length: 5.25″

With Bright Yellow yarn and 5 mm crochet hook:

Round 1: Make 8 hdc in mc, sl st to first st (8 sts)
Round 2: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next stitch* repeat around, sl st to first st (16 sts)
Round 3: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next st* repeat around, sl st to first st (24 sts)
Round 4: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next 2 sts* repeat around, sl st to first st (32 sts)
Round 5: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next 3 sts* repeat around, sl st to first st (40 sts)
Round 6: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next 4 sts* repeat around, sl st to first st (48 sts)
Round 7-14: Ch 1, hdc in each st around, sl st to first st (48 sts)

Hat Brim:

Round 15: Ch 1, *2 hdc in front loop of next st, 1 hdc in front loop of next st* repeat around, Sl st to first st (72 sts)
Round 16-17 (or until desired length): Ch 1, hdc in each st around, sl st to first st (72 sts)

Cut yarn and pull through. Weave in end using your tapestry needle.

***See at the end of page for eye, beak, and hair tuft instructions***

3-6 Months:

Hat circumference: 15″ | Hat length: 5.75″

With Bright Yellow yarn and 5 mm crochet hook:

Round 1: Make 8 hdc in mc, sl st to first st (8 sts)
Round 2: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next stitch* repeat around, sl st to first st (16 sts)
Round 3: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next st* repeat around, sl st to first st (24 sts)
Round 4: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next 2 sts* repeat around, sl st to first st (32 sts)
Round 5: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next 3 sts* repeat around, sl st to first st (40 sts)
Round 6: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next 4 sts* repeat around, sl st to first st (48 sts)
Round 7: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next 11 sts* repeat around, sl st to first st (52 sts)
Round 8-15: Ch 1, hdc in each st around, sl st to first st (52 sts)

Hat Brim:

Round 16: Ch 1, *2 hdc in front loop of next st, 1 hdc in front loop of next st* repeat around, Sl st to first st (78 sts)
Round 17-18 (or until desired length): Ch 1, hdc in each st around, sl st to first st (78 sts)

Cut yarn and pull through. Weave in end using your tapestry needle.

***See at the end of page for eye, beak, and hair tuft instructions***

6-12 Months:

Hat circumference: 16″ | Hat length: 6.25″

With Bright Yellow yarn and 5 mm hook:

Round 1: Make 8 hdc in mc, sl st to first st (8 sts)
Round 2: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next stitch* repeat around, sl st to first st (16 sts)
Round 3: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next st* repeat around, sl st to first st (24 sts)
Round 4: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next 2 sts* repeat around, sl st to first st (32 sts)
Round 5: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next 3 sts* repeat around, sl st to first st (40 sts)
Round 6: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next 4 sts* repeat around, sl st to first st (48 sts)
Round 7: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next 5 sts* repeat around, sl st to first st (56 sts)
Round 8-16: Ch 1, hdc in each st around, sl st to first st (56 sts)

Hat Brim:

Round 17: Ch 1, *2 hdc in front loop of next st, 1 hdc in front loop of next st* repeat around, sl st to first st (84 sts)
Round 18-19 (or until desired length): Ch 1, hdc in each st around, sl st to first st (84 sts)

Cut yarn with scissors and pull through. Weave in end using your tapestry needle.

***See at the end of page for eye, beak, and hair tuft instructions***

Toddler (1-3 Years):

Hat circumference: 17″ | Hat length: 7″

With Bright Yellow yarn and 5mm hook:

Round 1: Make 8 hdc in mc, sl st to first st (8 sts)
Round 2: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next stitch* repeat around, sl st to first st (16 sts)
Round 3: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next st* repeat around, sl st to first st (24 sts)
Round 4: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next 2 sts* repeat around, sl st to first st (32 sts)
Round 5: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next 3 sts* repeat around, sl st to first st (40 sts)
Round 6: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next 4 sts* repeat around, sl st to first st (48 sts)
Round 7: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next 5 sts* repeat around, sl st to first st (56 sts)
Round 8: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next 13 sts* repeat around, sl st to first st (60 sts)
Round 9-18: Ch 1, 1 hdc in each st around, sl st to first st (60 sts)

Hat Brim:

Round 19: Ch 1, *2 hdc in front loop of next st, 1 hdc in front loop of next st* repeat around, sl st to first st (90 sts)
Round 20-23 (or until desired length): Ch 1, hdc in each st around, sl st to first st (90 sts)

Cut yarn with scissors and pull through. Weave in end using your tapestry needle.

***See at the end of page for eye, beak, and hair tuft instructions***

Child (4-10 years):

Hat circumference: 18″ | Hat length: 7.5″

With Bright Yellow yarn and 5mm crochet hook:

Round 1: Make 8 hdc in mc, sl st to first st (8 sts)
Round 2: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next stitch* repeat around, sl st to first st (16 sts)
Round 3: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next st* repeat around, sl st to first st (24 sts)
Round 4: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next 2 sts* repeat around, sl st to first st (32 sts)
Round 5: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next 3 sts* repeat around, sl st to first st (40 sts)
Round 6: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next 4 sts* repeat around, sl st to first st (48 sts)
Round 7: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next 5 sts* repeat around, sl st to first st (56 sts)
Round 8: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next 6 sts* repeat around, sl st to first st (64 sts)
Round 9-20: Ch 1, hdc in each st around, sl st to first st (64 sts)

Hat Brim:

Round 21: Ch 1, *2 hdc in front loop of next st, 1 hdc in front loop of next st* repeat around, sl st to first st (96 sts)
Round 22-25 (or until desired length): Ch 1, hdc in each st around, sl st to first st (96 sts)

Cut yarn with scissors and pull through. Weave in end using your tapestry needle.

***See at the end of page for eye, beak, and hair tuft instructions***

Teen/Adult Small

Hat circumference: 19.5″ | Hat length: 7.75″

With Bright Yellow yarn and 5mm crochet hook:

Round 1: Make 8 hdc in mc, sl st to first st (8 sts)
Round 2: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next stitch* repeat around, sl st to first st (16 sts)
Round 3: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next st* repeat around, sl st to first st (24 sts)
Round 4: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next 2 sts* repeat around, sl st to first st (32 sts)
Round 5: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next 3 sts* repeat around, sl st to first st (40 sts)
Round 6: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next 4 sts* repeat around, sl st to first st (48 sts)
Round 7: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next 5 sts* repeat around, sl st to first st (56 sts)
Round 8: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next 6 sts* repeat around, sl st to first st (64 sts)
Round 9: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next 15 sts* repeat around, sl st to first st (68 sts)
Round 10-21: Ch 1, hdc in each st around, sl st to first st (68 sts)

Hat Brim:

Round 22: Ch 1, *2 hdc in front loop of next st, 1 hdc in front loop of next st* repeat around, sl st to first st (102 sts)
Round 23-26 (or until desired length): Ch 1, hdc in each st around, sl st to first st (102 sts)

Cut yarn with scissors and pull through. Weave in end using your tapestry needle.

***See at the end of page for eye, beak, and hair tuft instructions***

Adult Medium:

Hat circumference: 20.5″ | Hat length: 8″

With Bright Yellow yarn and 5mm crochet hook:

Round 1: Make 8 hdc in mc, sl st to first st (8 sts)
Round 2: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next stitch* repeat around, sl st to first st (16 sts)
Round 3: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next st* repeat around, sl st to first st (24 sts)
Round 4: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next 2 sts* repeat around, sl st to first st (32 sts)
Round 5: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next 3 sts* repeat around, sl st to first st (40 sts)
Round 6: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next 4 sts* repeat around, sl st to first st (48 sts)
Round 7: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next 5 sts* repeat around, sl st to first st (56 sts)
Round 8: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next 6 sts* repeat around, sl st to first st (64 sts)
Round 9: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next 7 sts* repeat around, sl st to first st (72 sts)
Round 10-21: Ch 1, hdc in each st around, sl st to first st (72 sts)

Hat Brim:

Round 22: Ch 1, *2 hdc in front loop of next st, 1 hdc in front loop of next st* repeat around, sl st to first st (108 sts)
Round 23-26 (or until desired length): Ch 1, hdc in each st around, sl st to first st (108 sts)

Cut yarn with scissors and pull through. Weave in end using your tapestry needle.

***See at the end of page for eye, beak, and hair tuft instructions***

Adult Large:

Hat circumference: 21.75″ | Hat length: 8.25″

With Bright Yellow yarn and 5mm crochet hook:

Round 1: Make 8 hdc in mc, sl st to first st (8 sts)
Round 2: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next stitch* repeat around, sl st to first st (16 sts)
Round 3: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next st* repeat around, sl st to first st (24 sts)
Round 4: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next 2 sts* repeat around, sl st to first st (32 sts)
Round 5: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next 3 sts* repeat around, sl st to first st (40 sts)
Round 6: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next 4 sts* repeat around, sl st to first st (48 sts)
Round 7: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next 5 sts* repeat around, sl st to first st (56 sts)
Round 8: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next 6 sts* repeat around, sl st to first st (64 sts)
Round 9: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next 7 sts* repeat around, sl st to first st (72 sts)
Round 10: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next 17 sts* repeat around, sl st to first st (76 sts)
Round 11-22: Ch 1, hdc in each st around (76 sts)

Hat Brim:

Round 23: Ch 1, *2 hdc in front loop of next st, 1 hdc in front loop of next st* repeat around, sl st to first st (114 sts)
Round 24-27 (or until desired length): Ch 1, hdc in each st around, sl st to first st (114 sts)

Cut yarn with scissors and pull through. Weave in end using your tapestry needle.

***See at the end of page for eye, beak, and hair tuft instructions***

Eye, Beak, and Hair Tuft:

Use a 4 mm crochet hook for eyes, beak, and tufts.

Again, these are for all hat sizes. Feel free to adjust size if desired by adding or subtracting stitches/rows or by sizing up/down a hook size.

Eyes (make 2):

With Black yarn and 4 mm crochet hook:

Round 1: Make 5 dc in magic circle (5)
Round 2: Use stitch marker to mark the next stitch. Do not sl st to the next st, continue crocheting in the round. Make 2 sc in each st around. Sl st to first st (10 sts)

Cut a long length of yarn for sewing later with your scissors, and pull through.

Beak:

Note that I am not counting the turning chain as a stitch.

With Pumpkin yarn and 4 mm crochet hook:

Row 1: Ch 2, make 1 sc in second ch from hook (1 sc)
Row 2: Ch 2, turn, make 2 dc in the previous sc you made (2 sts)
Row 3: Ch 2, turn, make 2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next st, and 2 dc in the top of the turning chain from the previous row (5 sts)
Row 4: Ch 2, turn, make 2 dc in next st, make 1 dc in the next 3 sts, make 2 dc in last st (not the turning chain this time) (7 sts)
Row 5: Ch 2, turn, make 2 dc in the next st, make 1 dc in next 5 sts, and make 2 dc in last st (9 sts)

Cut a long length of yarn for sewing later with your scissors, and pull through.

Hair Tufts (make 6):

With Bright Yellow yarn and 4 mm crochet hook:

Row 1: Ch 10, from 3rd ch from hook, make 1 dc, make 1 hdc in next 2 chs, make 1 sc in next 2 chs, and make 1 sl st in next 3 chs (8 sts)

Cut a long length of yarn for sewing later with your scissors and pull through.

Assembly:

You will need to sew two pieces of the hair tufts together, that way you have a total of three “bulkier” pieces.

Line two tufts up and sew together with tapestry needle. Whip stitch, or use whichever sewing method you prefer. Do not cut off any excess yarn yet.

Line one tuft up on the top of the hat by placing one directly in the middle (there should be a larger hole there). Sew in place with tapestry needle. I like to tie the yarn ends together and cut of any excess, that way my assembled pieces are more secure.

Sew the next two tufts on each side of the middle tuft to create three cute little tufts coming from the top of the hat together. See pic below for reference.

Line the beak in the middle of the hat and sew in place. I think the beak looked better by lining the tip of the beak on the very last round prior to the brim. Feel free to use pins to keep the beak from moving around on you. Tie and cut off any excess.

Sew both eyes almost right on the two corners of the beak. Sew closer than you think you need to. If you sew them too far away from the beak, it tends to look a little wonky when the hat is worn. Wearing the hat will stretch the eyes away from each other a bit and the facial features might look a little silly.