Sew Your Own Bucket Hat in a Few Easy Steps

DIY Mode
by DIY Mode
6 Materials
$25
2 Hours
Easy


Are you going to the beach? Going for a hike? Or simply want to look cool and funky? It’s no secret that bucket hats are super cute! You can sew a bucket hat in just 2 hours and have a fun accessory to your everyday wear that is both stylish and functional, shielding you from the harmful sun rays. Also, this easy bucket hat is interchangeable, meaning you’ve two prints to show off! All you need is your sewing machine, two printed fabrics, and my bucket hat pattern that’s linked in the tools and materials section above. Ready to make your own DIY bucket hat?

Tools and materials:

  • Two pieces of fabric
  • Bucket hat pattern found here
  • Pins
  • Matching thread
  • Sewing machine
  • Scissors
Bucket hat

Cut the fabric

Start with your first fabric piece. Place your pattern on your fabric and cut. You should have two pieces of each section.

Women’s bucket hat

Make notches

Line up the notches accordingly. You can either use a pencil to mark them on the wrong side of the fabric or snip the markings. It doesn’t really matter how you do it, though. 

Sew a women’s bucket hat

If you choose to snip into the fabric, use a pair of sharp, small scissors for this step. Make sure to transfer all 8 notches to the previously cut-out fabric pieces.

Easy bucket hat

Pin and press

Place the longer fabric pieces on top of each other, right sides facing. Sew the sides with a little seam allowance.

DIY bucket hat

Then, press the seams after sewing the sides.

Make a bucket hat

Sew and assemble

Sew the upper circular piece to the shorter curved section of the middle fabric piece. Pin the fabric all the way around, lining up the notches on the side seams.

How to make a bucket hat

Now, sew the upper part to the side panel, leaving around a centimeter ( ⅓ of an inch) seam allowance. This is the most challenging step, so take your time with this, sewing slowly from pin to pin, making sure you don’t sew any creases into the fabric.


TIP-

If your fabric is stiff, simply cut small incisions to the upper side panel, with a distance of about 2 centimeters (0.7 Inches), throughout. 

How to sew a bucket hat

Trim the seam allowance all around and try on the hat to see if it fits well.

Bucket hat pattern

Pin the brim all around the middle section. Remember to match the notches accordingly. 

Bucket hat tutorial

Sew all around, leave a centimeter ( ⅓ of an inch) seam allowance. Press the seam open and make sure the seam allowance is located on the inside of the head part.

Repeat the process

Repeat the above steps for your second fabric piece.

Sew the pieces together

Assemble and sew the fabric pieces

Turn one of the head parts left side out and put it over the other head part. Again, be sure to match the side seams accordingly. Pin the two sides together at the side seams and on the two notches.

Leave an opening

Leave a 6 centimeter (2.5 inches) opening so that it’s easier to turn the hat inside out after. Sew the parts together all the way around, leaving a centimeter ( ⅓ of an inch) seam allowance.

Cut off the seam allowance

Cut a little from the seam allowance all the way around. Don’t cut the seam allowance around the opening, as this will help you for the next step.

Turn the hat inside out

Turn the hat inside out and close the gap

Using the opening, gently turn the fabric inside out. Press the outer edge into shape by pressing all around the brim and seams.

Press the opening’s folds

Following the curve, fold the opening inwards and press so that you have a neat fold.

Stitch the opening

You can stitch the gap closed either by hand or with your sewing machine. If you choose the sewing machine route, stitch the brim of your hat all the way around to make it look cohesive. Use a small edge top stitch for this.

Make the bucket hat smaller

Adjust the pattern for a bigger or smaller size

This pattern is a unisex fit and should fit snug on adults and teenagers. If you need to adjust the pattern’s size, you can easily do this by taking in the middle piece. Always make sure that the top panel stays the same, though. You can make the hat tighter or larger at the bottom. For example, to make the head smaller by 2 centimeters (0.7 inches), mark the two sides of the bottom curved middle piece by 5 millimeters (0.1 inches) on each side.

Draw a line

Next, connect that point with a line all the way to the upper end. Repeat the same process with the brim.

Make the bucket hat bigger

On the flip side, if you want to make your bucket hat larger, do the same process but instead of taking away the length, add the length to those same spots as shown above.

Double-sided DIY bucket hat


cute bucket hat

You now have a functional, double-sided cute bucket hat to add to your bucket list of sewing projects. This is so easy to do and really requires time more than anything else. The results are so worth it, though! I hope you enjoyed this bucket hat tutorial.


How to fold hats

Want to learn the best way to fold a crushable hat? Check out these 5 Easy Methods!

Suggested materials:
  • Fabric
  • Pattern   (https://www.etsy.com/listing/977924066/)
  • Pins
See all materials

The author may collect a small share of sales from the links on this page.

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