A bucket hat has a round crown, slightly flared sides and a brim that slopes down all around. Sewn reversible, it is two hats in one: a plain side and a print, or two colors. Sewly drafts the crown, side band and brim from your head measurement, adding a little ease, so the hat sits on your head rather than perching on top or falling over your eyes.
Bucket hat options
- Brim width: from 4 to 10 cm (1 1/2 to 4 in), 6.5 cm (2 1/2 in) by default.
- Side height: from 5 to 11 cm (2 to 4 1/4 in), 7.5 cm (3 in) by default.
- Brim slope: from 10 to 60 degrees, 35 degrees by default. A low slope gives a flatter, wider brim; a steep one falls down like a fisherman's hat.
- Reversible: on by default, with a second set of pieces in a contrast fabric for the inside.
Sizes
Measure around your head above the ears and across the forehead, keeping the tape snug but not tight. If you use a standard size (women's EU 32–54, men's XS to 3XL or children's 2 to 14 years), Sewly takes the head measurement from that size, which you can change. Our guide on how to take body measurements shows where the tape goes.
Best fabrics for a bucket hat
Medium-weight wovens that hold a shape: cotton twill, denim, corduroy, canvas or waxed cotton. For the reverse, a quilting cotton in a print is easy to sew. Medium fusible interfacing on the brim keeps it from flopping, and rows of topstitching add structure.
How hard is it to sew?
Intermediate, because of the curves: the round crown is sewn into the side band, and the sides into the brim, which needs careful pinning and clipping so the seams lie flat. There are few pieces, and a hat is quick once you have made one. Allow 2 to 4 hours.
What's in the pattern
- Crown, a circle cut once, with quarter notches
- Side band, cut in two halves
- Brim, cut in two halves
- The same three pieces again for the inside, in the contrast fabric (reversible version)
Notions: medium fusible interfacing for the brim. The crown has a narrower seam allowance so the curve eases in smoothly. The guide gives the fabric quantity for 110, 140 and 150 cm (45, 55 and 60 in) wide fabric and a cutting layout.
How to sew a bucket hat
- Interface the brim pieces.
- Join the side band halves into a ring, and the brim halves into another.
- Pin the crown into the side band at the notches and sew it.
- Sew the brim to the sides; repeat for the inside hat.
- Join the two hats along the brim edge, turn through a gap and close it.
- Topstitch rows around the brim and press.
Our project post sew a reversible bucket hat sized to your head has close-ups of the crown seam.
Frequently asked questions
How much fabric do I need for a bucket hat?
About 0.3 to 0.5 m (3/8 to 5/8 yd) of each fabric, outer and inside, on 110 to 150 cm (45 to 60 in) wide fabric; a wide brim needs the upper end. Sewly computes the exact quantity for your size and fabric width.
How do I measure my head for a hat?
Wrap the tape around your head about 1 cm above the ears and across the middle of the forehead, where a hat sits. Sewly adds a little ease to that measurement, so do not add any yourself.
Can I make a bucket hat for a child?
Yes. Pick a children's size or enter the child's head measurement, and reduce the brim width a little so it does not cover their eyes.
How do I keep the brim from flopping?
Interface the brim with medium fusible interfacing and sew several rows of topstitching around it. Both are part of the pattern's steps.
