Mint Lavender Ripple Bucket Hat Free Crochet Pattern

Mint Lavender Ripple Bucket Hat Free Crochet Pattern

Introduction

This bucket hat is a gentle introduction to chevron crochet, and it is written for anyone who can make a single crochet and a slip stitch. The crown is a simple flat circle in mint, the sides are a straight ripple tube striped in mint and lavender, and the whole thing is grounded by a solid pale cream brim. The ripple stitch gives the sides a soft, wavy texture with raised peaks and dipped valleys, while the dense single-crochet brim keeps its shape and shades the eyes. Worked in an aran wool blend, it feels warm but light, with a firm, tidy fabric that holds up to daily wear.

Materials Needed

• Yarn: Aran weight (Category 4) wool blend, approx. 180 yd / 100 g per skein.
  • Color A (mint): 1 skein, approx. 90 yd
  • Color B (lavender): 1 skein, approx. 70 yd
  • Color C (pale cream): 1 skein, approx. 45 yd
  • Total: approx. 205 yd
• Hook: 5.0 mm (US H-8) crochet hook
• Notions: stitch marker, tapestry needle, scissors, measuring tape
• Finished size: Fits head circumference 22–23 in / 56–58 cm. Finished circumference approx. 22.5 in / 57 cm unstretched; crown depth approx. 6.5 in / 16.5 cm; brim width approx. 2 in / 5 cm.

Abbreviations

• ch – chain: yarn over and pull through the loop on your hook.
• sc – single crochet: insert hook, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through both loops.
• sc2tog – single crochet two together: a decrease that joins two stitches into one.
• sl st – slip stitch: insert hook, yarn over, pull through both the stitch and the loop on your hook.
• MR – magic ring: an adjustable loop you crochet into, then pull closed.
• sp – space: the gap made by a chain.
• rep – repeat.
• sts – stitches.

Gauge

16 sts and 8 rows = 4 in / 10 cm in ripple pattern (one 16-stitch ripple repeat = 4 in / 10 cm wide; 2 rows = 1 in / 2.5 cm tall). Work a small swatch in the ripple pattern and measure the width of one repeat and the height of a few rows before starting.

Tips Before You Start

• The ripple repeat is always 16 stitches: [sc2tog, sc 12, sc2tog, ch 1]. Count your repeats (7 per round) rather than every stitch to stay on track.
• Each new ripple round begins with a slip stitch to the first ch-1 peak so the peaks stack neatly; don't skip this step.
• Change colors on the last pull-through of the final stitch of a round so the new shade starts cleanly at the join.
• Keep your tension even on the decreases; loose sc2tog stitches make the valleys sag and the tube flare.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Notes: The ripple repeat is 16 sts (2 dec, 12 sc, 2 dec across 16 sts, with ch-1 peaks and dec valleys). The hat is worked top-down in joined rounds, ch 1 at the start of each round; turning is not required. The crown circle is 7 ripple repeats (112 sts).

Crown Circle (Color A, mint)

Rnd 1: MR, ch 1, 7 sc, join with sl st to first sc (7 sts).

Rnd 2: ch 1, 2 sc in each st around, join (14 sts).

Rnd 3: ch 1, [sc, 2 sc in next] x7, join (21 sts).

Rnd 4: ch 1, [2 sc, 2 sc in next] x7, join (28 sts).

Rnd 5: ch 1, [3 sc, 2 sc in next] x7, join (35 sts).

Rnd 6: ch 1, [4 sc, 2 sc in next] x7, join (42 sts).

Rnd 7: ch 1, [5 sc, 2 sc in next] x7, join (49 sts).

Rnd 8: ch 1, [6 sc, 2 sc in next] x7, join (56 sts).

Rnd 9: ch 1, [7 sc, 2 sc in next] x7, join (63 sts).

Rnd 10: ch 1, [8 sc, 2 sc in next] x7, join (70 sts).

Rnd 11: ch 1, [9 sc, 2 sc in next] x7, join (77 sts).

Rnd 12: ch 1, [10 sc, 2 sc in next] x7, join (84 sts).

Rnd 13: ch 1, [11 sc, 2 sc in next] x7, join (91 sts).

Rnd 14: ch 1, [12 sc, 2 sc in next] x7, join (98 sts).

Rnd 15: ch 1, [13 sc, 2 sc in next] x7, join (105 sts).

Rnd 16: ch 1, [14 sc, 2 sc in next] x7, join (112 sts). Do not fasten off.

Ripple Tube (chevron sides)

Rnd 17 (A): ch 1, work 7 ripple repeats around: [sc2tog, sc 12, sc2tog, ch 1] x7, join (112 sts incl. 7 ch-1 peaks).

Rnd 18 (A): sl st to first ch-1 peak, ch 1, [sc2tog, sc 12, sc2tog, ch 1] x7, join. Change to B.

Rnds 19–20 (B): rep Rnd 18 twice. Change to A.

Rnds 21–22 (A): rep Rnd 18 twice. Change to B.

Rnds 23–24 (B): rep Rnd 18 twice. Change to A.

Rnds 25–26 (A): rep Rnd 18 twice. Change to B.

Rnds 27–28 (B): rep Rnd 18 twice. Change to A.

Rnds 29–30 (A): rep Rnd 18 twice. Change to B.

Rnds 31–32 (B): rep Rnd 18 twice. Change to A.

Rnds 33–34 (A): rep Rnd 18 twice. Change to C. Fasten off A and B.

Brim (Color C, pale cream, solid)

Rnd 35: ch 1, sc in each st and each ch-1 sp around, join (112 sts).

Rnd 36: ch 1, [sc 15, 2 sc in next] x7, join (119 sts).

Rnd 37: ch 1, sc in each st around, join (119 sts).

Rnd 38: ch 1, [sc 16, 2 sc in next] x7, join (126 sts).

Rnd 39: ch 1, sc in each st around, join (126 sts).

Rnd 40: ch 1, [sc 17, 2 sc in next] x7, join (133 sts).

Rnd 41: ch 1, sc in each st around, join (133 sts).

Rnd 42: ch 1, [sc 18, 2 sc in next] x7, join (140 sts).

Rnd 43: ch 1, sc in each st around, join (140 sts).

Rnd 44: ch 1, sc in each st around, join (140 sts). Fasten off C.

Edging

Edging Rnd: With C, join to any st at the brim edge, ch 1, sc in each st around, join, fasten off (140 sts).

Assembly and Finishing

Weave in all ends on the wrong side, running each tail through a few stitches in its own color so it doesn't show. There is no seaming: the hat is worked in one piece from crown to brim. Block the crown over a bowl or hat form about 22.5 in / 57 cm in circumference, steam lightly, and let it air dry fully before wearing. If you like, work 1 round of sl st in Color A around the base of the crown where the tube meets the brim for a crisp, preppy line.

Pro Tips and Variations

• Two-color ripple: work every ripple round in alternating A and B for a finer, denser stripe instead of 2-round bands.
• Wider brim: repeat the increase/plain round sequence (Rnds 42–43) once more for a sun hat with a broader brim.
• Stiffer brim: hold a strand of smooth cotton thread along with C for the brim rounds to help it keep its shape.