Peekaboo Sunhat (Free and Easy Crochet Pattern)
Introduction
This beautiful sun hat was designed to be the perfect sunhat for those hot summer months. The mesh crown is super breathable, and the wide brim effectively keeps the sun out of your eyes.
This free crochet sunhat pattern is written in 2 different sizes using basic crochet stitches to fit a wide age range. The Peekaboo Sunhat is sure to become your new favorite beach hat this spring/summer!
Inspiration
While dreaming up this design, I was thinking not only of fashion but functionality. I wanted to create a super cute floppy sun hat, but I didn’t want it to be too heavy with the tight stitching and potentially heavy cotton yarn. And that’s where the mesh body came from! It allows the hat to be super breathable while using less yarn at the same time.
The picot edging around the brim gives it a nice feminine finishing touch while still blocking the sun’s rays from your face.
Techniques Used
The only difficult part of this design for me was the stitch count throughout the brim and quite honestly if your count is off somewhere, just fudge it! This is definitely one of those patterns that you can do so and it is not noticeable.
That being said, the only stitches used are the chain stitch and single crochet stitches with a single tr or dtr (see stitch index below if you’re unfamiliar) in each of the increase rounds of the body of the hat. It’s such a super easy stitch pattern!
I consider this pattern easy and I think adventurous beginner crocheters could tackle this free crochet pattern.
For the edge of the brim, I decided to use the Picot Stitch to give it a feminine finish.
I mention in the notes below but will mention it here again, keep a tight tension throughout the whole pattern, mesh and brim. I used a much smaller hook than the yarn calls for normally AND kept a tight tension to get the desired look/feel I was going for.
About The Yarn
For this project I used a cotton worsted weight yarn that’s a bit on the stiffer side. The best yarn for this free crochet hat pattern is going to be a stiffer yarn like Lily Sugar’n Cream or Lion Brand 24/7 to get the same results. One of my testers used a softer cotton yarn, though, and said it still turned out beautifully and with enough integrity!
I highly recommend making a gauge swatch when making crochet hats. Because this is a wearable item, you don’t want it to come out too big or too small. Gauge swatching is a great way to ensure your finished project comes out the size you want it to.
Without further ado, let’s get to the free crochet sun hat pattern!
Skill Level
Easy
Gauge
20sc and 20 rows is 4″ x 4″ (10x10cm)
Finished Measurements
Child fits 19-21” (48-53cm) head circumference with a 3 3/4” (9.5cm) brim
Adult fits 21-23” (53-58.5cm) head circumference with a 4 ½” (11cm) brim
Materials
Approximately 175-225 yards worsted weight cotton yarn
US Size D/3/3.25mm crochet hook
1 Stitch marker
Tapestry needle for weaving in ends
Scissors
Spray starch to give the brim stability
Notes
– Tension is everything with this project. Please check your gauge and keep your tension tight throughout the pattern.
– * * indicates a repeat
– (xx) at the end of a row/round indicates how many total stitches for that row/round
Stitch Index
R – row/round
inc – increase
ch – chain
ch-sp – chain space
st(s) – stitch(es)
sk – skip
PM – place marker
BLO – work the stitch indicated in the back loop only
sl st – slip stitch
sc – single crochet
sc2tog – single crochet 2 stitches together
dc – double crochet
tr – treble crochet (yo 2x, insert hook and pull up a loop, *yo, pull through 2 loops* 3 times)
dtr – double treble crochet (yo 3x, insert hook and pull up a loop, *yo, pull through 2 loops* 4 times)
trtr – triple treble crochet (yo 4x, insert hook and pull up a loop, *yo, pull through 2 loops* 5 times)
Pattern
(Both Sizes)
Foundation/R1 in a magic circle ch 4, *tr, ch 1* 11x, sl st to the 3rd ch of the beginning ch 4, do not ch, do not turn (12 tr and 12 ch-sp)
R2 sl st in the BLO of the next ch, sl st around the ch-sp, *ch 6, sl st in the next ch-sp* 11x, ch 3, tr into the base of the first ch of the round, do not ch, do not turn (12 ch-sp)
R3 *ch 6, sl st into the next ch-sp* 11x, ch 3, tr into the base of the first ch of the round, do not ch, do not turn (12 ch-sp)
R4 *ch 7, sl st into the next ch-sp* 11x, ch 4, dtr into the base of the first ch of the round, do not ch, do not turn (12 ch-sp)
R5 *ch 8, sl st into the next ch-sp* 11x, ch 5, trtr into the base of the first ch of the round, do not ch, do not turn (12 ch-sp)
The sizes are written separately from here for easier reading.
Child body cont’d
R6-10 repeat R5 (12 ch-sp)
R11 ch 1, sc in the top of the trtr, *ch 7, sc in the next ch-sp* 11x, ch 7, join with a sl st to the beginning sc, ch 1, do not turn (12 ch-sp)
Brim (Child only)
R12 2 scBLO in the joining st, *scBLO in the next 7 ch, 2 scBLO in the next sc (inc)* around, scBLO in the last 7 ch, do not join, you will now work in continuous rounds, PM in the 1st st of the round here and throughout (108)
R13 sc in each st around (108)
R14 sc in the next 3 sts, 2 sc in the next st (inc), *sc in the next 6 sts, 2 sc in the next st (inc)*, sc in the next 5 sts, 2 sc in the last st (inc) (124)
R15 sc in each st around (124)
R16 *sc in the next 5 sts, 2 sc in the next st (inc)* around, sc in the last 4 sts (144)
R17 sc in each st around (144)
R18 *sc in the next 11 sts, 2 sc in the next st (inc)* around (156)
R19 sc in each st around (156)
R20 sc in the next 6 sts, 2 sc in the next st (inc), *sc in the next 12 sts, 2 sc in the next st (inc)* around, sc in the last 6 sts (168)
R21 sc in each st around (168)
R22 *sc in the next 13 sts, 2 sc in the next st (inc)* around (180)
R23 sc in each st around (180)
R24 sc in the next 7 sts, 2 sc in the next st (inc), *sc in the next 14 sts, 2 sc in the next st (inc)* around, sc in the last 7 sts (192)
R25 sc in each st around (192)
R26 *sc in the next 31 sts, 2 sc in the next st (inc)* around (198)
R27-28 sc in each st around (198)
R29 sl st in the BLO in the next 3 sts, *[sc, ch 2, sc] in the next st, sk 1 st* around, do not join, break yarn, thread your yarn through your tapestry needle, insert from front to back into the first sc of the last round and weave in your end. Weave in any other ends.
Adult body cont’d
R6-12 repeat R5 (12 ch-sp)
R13 ch 1, sc in the top of the trtr, *ch 7, sc in the next ch-sp* 11x, ch 7, join with a sl st to the beginning sc, ch 1, do not turn (12 ch-sp) id make a space here and label the next section Adult Brim. Just to help break up all the words. Same in child section.
Brim (Adult only)
R14 2 scBLO in the joining st, *scBLO in the next 7 ch, 2 scBLO in the next sc (inc)* around, scBLO in the last 7 ch, do not join, you will work in continuous rounds until stated otherwise, PM in the 1st st of the round here and throughout (108)
R15 sc in each st around (108)
R16 sc in the next 3 sts, 2 sc in the next st (inc), *sc in the next 6 sts, 2 sc in the next st (inc)*, sc in the next 5 sts, 2 sc in the last st (inc) (124)
R17 sc in each st around (124)
R18 *sc in the next 5 sts, 2 sc in the next st (inc)* around, sc in the last 4 sts (144)
R19 sc in each st around (144)
R20 *sc in the next 11 sts, 2 sc in the next st (inc)* around (156)
R21 sc in each st around (156)
R22 sc in the next 6 sts, 2 sc in the next st (inc), *sc in the next 12 sts, 2 sc in the next st (inc)* around, sc in the last 6 sts (168)
R23 sc in each st around (168)
R24 *sc in the next 13 sts, 2 sc in the next st (inc)* around (180)
R25 sc in each st around (180)
R26 sc in the next 7 sts, 2 sc in the next st (inc), *sc in the next 14 sts, 2 sc in the next st (inc)* around, sc in the last 7 sts (192)
R27 sc in each st around (192)
R28 *sc in the next 15 sts, 2 sc in the next st (inc)* around (204)
R29 sc in each st around (204)
R30 sc in the next 8 sts, 2 sc in the next st (inc), *sc in the next 16 sts, 2 sc in the next st (inc)*, sc in the last 8 sts (216)
R31 sc in each st around (216)
R32 *sc in the next 35 sts, 2 sc in the next st (inc)* around (222)
R33-34 sc in each st around (222)
R35 sl st in the BLO in the next 3 sts, *[sc, ch 2, sc] in the next st, sk 1 st* around (including the 3 sl st made at the beginning of the round), do not join, break yarn, thread your yarn through your tapestry needle, insert from front to back into the first sc of the last round and weave in your end. Weave in any other ends.
Both sizes:
Lightly spray starch your brim for a little extra stability.
Final Thoughts on the Peekaboo Sunhat
I hope you enjoy making this easy and free crochet pattern. I love breaking out this summer crochet hat when the warmer weather starts coming.
Create different looks with this large brim hat by dressing it up with a pretty dress or dressing it down with some cute shorts and a tank top.
This wide-brim sun hat has served me well over the years. And the best part? It folds up nice and small to fit inside my beach bag or purse!
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Happy crocheting!
