Sunny Side Up Summer Slouch Hat Free Pattern

Sunny Side Up Summer Slouch Hat: A Free Beginner-Friendly Crochet Pattern

Embrace the carefree days of summer with this cheerful and lightweight Sunny Side Up Slouch Hat! Crafted from breathable, worsted-weight cotton yarn in a vibrant sunny yellow, this hat is the perfect accessory for beach strolls, farmers' market runs, or simply lounging in the backyard. The design features a soft, airy mesh stitch that keeps you cool while adding a stylish, textured look. This is an easy crochet pattern that works up quickly, making it an ideal weekend project for beginners and experienced makers alike. With a clean, solid brim and a relaxed, slouchy crown, this hat is as practical as it is pretty.

This free pattern will guide you through every step, from the initial magic ring to the final scalloped edging. Let’s grab your hook and get started on creating your new favorite summer staple!

Materials Needed

Before you begin, gather the following supplies to ensure a smooth and enjoyable crocheting experience. This project uses simple, readily available materials.

• Yarn: Worsted weight cotton yarn (e.g., Lily Sugar'n Cream) in Sunny Yellow (Main Color - MC) and White (Contrast Color - CC). You will need approximately 200 yards of MC and 50 yards of CC.
• Crochet Hook: US Size J/10 (6.0 mm) crochet hook. Using the correct hook size is crucial to achieve the proper gauge and fit.
• Other Tools: A yarn needle for weaving in ends, a pair of scissors, and a stitch marker to keep track of your rounds.

Gauge: 14 double crochet (dc) x 8 rows = 4 inches in the mesh pattern (after blocking). It is always a good idea to make a small gauge swatch first to ensure your hat will be the correct size.

Step-by-Step Instructions

This pattern is worked in joined rounds from the top down. Please read through all the notes before starting. The construction is simple: we begin with a flat circle for the crown, then move to the mesh body, and finish with a solid brim and a pretty edging.

Pattern Notes:

• Worked in joined rounds.
• The chain 3 (ch 3) at the beginning of a round counts as your first double crochet (dc) unless otherwise stated.
• Use a stitch marker to mark the beginning of each round to help you keep your place.

Creating the Crown

We will start by creating a flat circle that will form the top of the hat. With your Main Color (MC) yarn, follow these steps:

1. Magic Ring: Make a magic ring (also known as a magic circle). This creates a tight, seamless center.
2. Round 1: Ch 3 (counts as your first dc). Now, work 11 dc into the center of the magic ring. Join with a slip stitch (sl st) to the top of the beginning ch-3. You should have a total of 12 dc.
3. Round 2: Ch 3 (counts as dc). Work 1 dc in the same stitch as the join (this is an increase). Then, work 2 dc in each dc around. Join with a sl st to the top of the ch-3. You should now have 24 dc.
4. Round 3: Ch 3 (counts as dc). Work 1 dc in the same stitch. Dc in the next dc. *Work 2 dc in the next dc, dc in the next dc.* Repeat from * to * around. Join with a sl st. You will have 36 dc.
5. Round 4: Ch 3 (counts as dc). Work 1 dc in the same stitch. Dc in the next 2 dc. *Work 2 dc in the next dc, dc in the next 2 dc.* Repeat from * to * around. Join with a sl st. You will have 48 dc.
6. Round 5: Ch 3 (counts as dc). Work 1 dc in the same stitch. Dc in the next 3 dc. *Work 2 dc in the next dc, dc in the next 3 dc.* Repeat from * to * around. Join with a sl st. You will have 60 dc. Your crown is now complete and should measure about 5-6 inches across.

Working the Mesh Body

Now we will create the breathable, slouchy body of the hat using a simple mesh stitch pattern. This section is where the hat begins to take its shape.

6. Round 6: Ch 4 (this counts as 1 dc and a ch 1 space). Skip the next dc. Dc in the following dc. *Ch 1, skip the next dc, dc in the next dc.* Repeat from * to * around. To finish the round, ch 1, skip the last dc, and join with a sl st to the 3rd chain of the beginning ch-4. You will have 30 dc and 30 ch-1 spaces.
7. Round 7: Ch 3 (counts as your first dc). Work 1 dc in the next ch-1 space. *Ch 1, skip the next dc, dc in the next ch-1 space.* Repeat from * to * around. End with a ch 1 and join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch-3. You will still have 30 dc and 30 ch-1 spaces.
8. Rounds 8-15: Repeat Round 7 for a total of 8 more times. This means you will have worked a total of 10 mesh rounds (from Round 6 to Round 15). The hat should now be long enough to slouch nicely.

Adding the Solid Brim

Next, we will create a solid, structured brim to frame the face and give the hat a polished finish. We will continue with your Main Color (MC).

9. Round 16: Ch 3 (counts as dc). Work 1 dc in each dc and 1 dc in each ch-1 space around. Join with a sl st to the top of the ch-3. You will have 60 dc again.
10. Round 17: Ch 3 (counts as dc). Work 1 dc in each dc around. Join with a sl st to the top of the ch-3. You will have 60 dc.
11. Round 18: Repeat Round 17. After completing this round, fasten off your Main Color (MC) yarn and weave in the loose end.

Finishing with a Scalloped Edging

To give our hat a delightful, summery touch, we will add a simple scalloped edging using your Contrast Color (CC) white yarn.

12. Joining CC: With your White (CC) yarn, make a slip knot and place it on your hook. Join the yarn by making a slip stitch in any of the double crochet stitches from Round 18.
13. Round 19: Ch 1 (this does not count as a stitch). Work 1 single crochet (sc) in the same stitch as the join. *Ch 2, skip the next dc, work 1 sc in the next dc.* Repeat from * to * around. To finish, ch 2, and join with a sl st to the very first single crochet of the round. Fasten off the CC yarn and weave in all remaining loose ends.

Final Shaping and Styling

Your hat is almost ready to wear! The last steps are simple and will give your hat that perfect, relaxed look.

14. Weave in Ends: Use your yarn needle to carefully weave in all the loose ends from your color changes and fasten-offs to ensure your hat is durable and neat.
15. Blocking (Optional): If desired, lightly block your hat to shape. You can do this by gently wetting the hat, shaping it over a plate or balloon to the correct size, and letting it air dry completely. This helps even out the stitches.
16. Style: Once dry, fold the brim up approximately 1 inch to create the classic, casual slouchy look. Your Sunny Side Up Summer Slouch Hat is now complete and ready to wear!

We hope you enjoyed creating this cheerful hat. It’s a fantastic project for using up cotton yarn and makes a wonderful handmade gift. Happy crocheting!