Category Archives: Projects

Here it is, the tutorial for my Bucketful of Sunshine Hat!  My daughter absolutely loves it, and so do I.  And it’s ready, just in time for the glorious weather in the Netherlands.

Let’s get started, shall we?  This tutorial will show you how to make a hat to fit a toddler/preschooler.  My daughter has a small head for her age (it’s a family thing, so does my husband), so if your toddler’s a bit bigger, go up half a hook size, it won’t matter.

This hat is made using the V-Stitch and the Half V-Stitch.  The half V-stitch may well be a made up term, but it’s essentially the same stitch as a normal V-Stitch, but using the half double crochet instead of a double crochet.  You can V-Stitch using whatever height stitch you like really, but Google wouldn’t tell me the official name, so I’ve assigned one to it.

The V-Stitch

The V-Stitch is a very easy stitch to master, it is essentially a double crochet, chain 1 and double crochet in the same stitch.  Then you skip a stitch and repeat in the next.  When it comes to the next row, instead of doing the V-Stitch into the double crochet stitch, you do it into the chain 1 space.

A bit like this:

V-Stitch step 1, chain 3

V-Stitch Step 2 – DC into same stitch

V-Stitch step 3 – skip 1 stitch, DC into the next stitch

V-Stitch Step4 – Chain 1

V-Stitch step 5 – DC into the same stitch

And there you have it! The V-Stitch

The Half V-Stitch is the same process, using a half double crochet instead.

What you’ll need

Scheepjeswol Cotton 8 in three shades of the same colour.  I used yellow (508, 551, and 655). The best thing you can do is cake the yarn so you can pull from both ends, because for this project we’re using two strands together.

You’ll also need a 5mm crochet hook. scissors and a tapestry needle.

Abbreviations

(American terms)

MR – Magic Ring

DC – Double Crochet

VS – V-Stitch

HVS – Half V-Stitch

Inc – Increase

STS – Stitches (stitch count)

Notes

The beginning of each row begins with a CH3, which counts as the first DC and CH 1 to start your first V-Stitch of the row.  Below I will just use VS, but assume unless described otherwise that the first V-Stitch is a CH3, DC.  Always join into the chain space of the first V-Stitch.

When working the Half V-Stitch, still chain 3 at the beginning of the each row.

Oh, and did I mention that I’m a leftie?

Round 1

Start with a Magic Ring, chain 3 and work 9 DC into the ring, pulling it tight.  You’ll have 10 double crochets for your foundation.

Round 2

VS Inc x5.  SLS into the first VS to join = 15 STS

To crochet a V-Stitch Increase, follow the instructions for a normal V-Stitch, but instead add a third V.  So, DC, CH1, DC into the same stitch, CH1, DC into the same stitch again.  Skip 1 stitch and either repeat the increase (as is needed in Round 2) or work an ordinary V-Stitch.

Round 3

(VS Inc, VS) x 5.  SLS into the first VS to join = 25 STS

 Round 4

(VS Inc, 2 x VS) x 5.  SLS into the first VS to join = 35 STS

Round 5

VS x 20.  SLS into the first VS to join = 40 STS

Round 6

(VS Inc, 3 x VS) x 5.  SLS into the first VS to join = 45 STS

Round 7

VS x 25.  SLS into the first VS to join = 50 STS

Round 8-12

VS x 25.  SLS into the first VS to join = 50 STS

Change colour

Round 13-15

VS x 25.  SLS into the first VS to join = 50 STS

Change Colour

Round 16

VS x 25.  SLS into the first VS to join = 50

Round 17

In this row we start making the brim.  We will count the CH 1 space in the V-Stitch as a stitch.  We will also be adding a few increases to widen the brim.

CH2, (2DC in the next stitch, which is the 1st CH space, then DC in the next 14 Stitches.  Repeat this 4 times and slip stitch to the first CH2 of the round. = 80 STS

Round 18

HVS x 40 = 80 STS

Round 19

HVS x 40 = 80 STS

Finish off and weave in the ends.

Sunburst

To make the sunburst, I experimented with lots of different flowers and picots and nothing really seemed to be right.  So, when I came across this scrubby pattern on Petals to Picots, I realised it would be perfect.  I just grew the sunburst with each colour instead of crocheting the entire base in one go.  Then I just tacked it onto the hat in the right spot.  You can pick up the pattern for free here.

Here’s the finished hat, modelled on my super-cute (just recovering from chicken pox) daughter:

You’ve made it to the end, way to go!  I hope you enjoy making this adorable hat as much as I’ve enjoyed designing it.

Watch this space, coming soon are other sizes, including the 3-6 month old which is up next!

For updates and cute photos in the mean time, do follow me on both Facebook and Instagram, and I would be so excited if you would share your own projects with me!