Crochet Hat Patterns

The Dappled Sunbeam Sun Hat: A Free Crochet Pattern for a Textured, Wide-Brimmed Child's Hat

Anonymous • July 28, 2026

Shield Little Ones in Style: The Dappled Sunbeam Sun Hat

There's nothing quite like a handmade hat to keep a child safe and stylish during sunny adventures. The Dappled Sunbeam Sun Hat is a free crochet pattern designed to mimic the gentle play of light filtering through leaves, with a unique textured stitch pattern that is both beautiful and functional. This wide-brimmed, floppy hat is worked in soft, breathable cotton yarn, making it a comfortable essential for toddlers and young children. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced crocheter, this pattern is easy to follow and yields a stunning, practical accessory.

Materials Needed

To create this charming sun hat, you'll need the following supplies:

Yarn: Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton (or any worsted weight cotton yarn) in two colors:
- Main Color (MC): 'Linen' – approximately 150-200 yards
- Contrast Color (CC): 'Ecru' – approximately 50-75 yards
Hook: 5.0 mm (H-8) crochet hook
Gauge: 16 half double crochet (hdc) and 12 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in hdc
Other: Yarn needle for weaving ends, scissors, stitch markers (optional)

Step-by-Step Instructions

Sizes: 6-12 months (12-24 months, 2-4 years). Instructions are for the smallest size, with larger sizes in parentheses.

Abbreviations

ch = chain
sl st = slip stitch
sc = single crochet
hdc = half double crochet
dc = double crochet
st(s) = stitch(es)
rnd = round
MC = Main Color (Linen)
CC = Contrast Color (Ecru)

Special Stitch: Dappled Cluster (dc-cl)

Work 2 double crochet (dc) in the same stitch, skip 1 stitch, then single crochet (sc) in the next stitch.

Hat Crown (worked in continuous rounds – do not join)

With MC:

Rnd 1: Make a magic ring, ch 2 (does not count as a stitch), work 8 hdc into ring. Pull ring closed. (8 hdc)
Rnd 2: Work 2 hdc in each st around. (16 hdc)
Rnd 3: *Hdc in next st, 2 hdc in next st; repeat from * around. (24 hdc)
Rnd 4: *Hdc in next 2 sts, 2 hdc in next st; repeat from * around. (32 hdc)
Rnd 5: *Hdc in next 3 sts, 2 hdc in next st; repeat from * around. (40 hdc)
Rnd 6: *Hdc in next 4 sts, 2 hdc in next st; repeat from * around. (48 hdc)
Rnd 7: *Hdc in next 5 sts, 2 hdc in next st; repeat from * around. (56 hdc)
Rnd 8: *Hdc in next 6 sts, 2 hdc in next st; repeat from * around. (64 hdc)
For 12-24 months: Rnd 9: *Hdc in next 7 sts, 2 hdc in next st; repeat from * around. (72 hdc)
For 2-4 years: Rnd 10: *Hdc in next 8 sts, 2 hdc in next st; repeat from * around. (80 hdc)

Hat Body

Work the following rounds without increasing:

Rnd 9 (10, 11): Hdc in each st around. (64, 72, 80 hdc)
Rnd 10 (11, 12): Hdc in each st around.
Rnd 11 (12, 13): Hdc in each st around.

Brim (worked in joined rounds – join with sl st at end of each round)

Rnd 12 (13, 14): Ch 1 (does not count as a stitch), sc in same st, *ch 1, skip 1 st, sc in next st; repeat from * around. Join with sl st to first sc. (32, 36, 40 sc, with ch-1 spaces)

Rnd 13 (14, 15): Sl st into first ch-1 space, ch 1, sc in same space, *ch 1, sc in next ch-1 space; repeat from * around. Join with sl st to first sc. (32, 36, 40 sc)

Rnd 14 (15, 16): Repeat Rnd 13.

Rnd 15 (16, 17): Ch 1, sc in same st, *dc-cl in next ch-1 space (work 2 dc in that space, skip next sc, sc in next ch-1 space); repeat from * around. Join with sl st to first sc. (16, 18, 20 dc-cl)

Rnd 16 (17, 18): Ch 1, sc in same st, *ch 1, sc in next sc (the sc between clusters); repeat from * around. Join with sl st to first sc. (16, 18, 20 sc)

Rnd 17 (18, 19): Repeat Rnd 15.

Rnd 18 (19, 20): Repeat Rnd 16.

Rnd 19 (20, 21): Repeat Rnd 15.

Rnd 20 (21, 22): Repeat Rnd 16.

Rnd 21 (22, 23): Ch 1, sc in same st, *2 sc in next ch-1 space, sc in next sc; repeat from * around. Join with sl st to first sc. (48, 54, 60 sc)

Rnd 22 (23, 24): Ch 1, sc in same st, *sc in next st, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. Join with sl st to first sc. (72, 81, 90 sc)

Rnd 23 (24, 25): Ch 1, sc in same st, *sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. Join with sl st to first sc. (96, 108, 120 sc)

Rnd 24 (25, 26): Ch 1, sc in same st, *sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. Join with sl st to first sc. (120, 135, 150 sc)

Rnd 25 (26, 27): Ch 1, sc in same st, *sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. Join with sl st to first sc. (144, 162, 180 sc)

Rnd 26 (27, 28): Ch 1, sc in same st, *sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. Join with sl st to first sc. (168, 189, 210 sc)

Rnd 27 (28, 29): Ch 1, sc in same st, *sc in next 6 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. Join with sl st to first sc. (192, 216, 240 sc)

Rnd 28 (29, 30): Ch 1, sc in same st, *sc in next 7 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. Join with sl st to first sc. (216, 243, 270 sc)

Rnd 29 (30, 31): Ch 1, sc in same st, *sc in next 8 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. Join with sl st to first sc. (240, 270, 300 sc)

Rnd 30 (31, 32): Ch 1, sc in same st, *sc in next 9 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. Join with sl st to first sc. (264, 297, 330 sc)

Fasten off. Weave in ends.

Finishing

For a polished, structured edge, add a round of crab stitch (reverse single crochet) around the outer brim. Join CC with a sl st to any stitch, ch 1, work crab stitch in each stitch around. Join with sl st to first crab stitch. Fasten off. Weave in all ends.

Your Dappled Sunbeam Sun Hat is now complete! This textured, wide-brimmed hat is perfect for sunny days and will be a cherished handmade gift. Enjoy watching little ones stay cool and stylish in their new hat.

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