Crochet Bucket Hat: What I Learned from Blogs

As I mentioned in my last learning project post, I have picked out the yarn for my final project; a lime-green cotton yarn. As I started up my next hat with my new yarn, I wondered how I could make size adjustments to the hat, because I’d like to make one for my partner. Aaaand I might have seen a crocheted cat hat on Instagram and now my cat needs one too! So, I found this blog to follow along with. I quickly realized what I needed to do to get the perfect shape and fit. One of the biggest things I learned was how to work in only the back stitches to create a fold. The blog’s step-by-step breakdown made it easy to understand when and where to add stitches; the images included in this blog really helped. Essentially, you can increase or decrease the amount of rows you crochet to fit the person’s (or pet’s) head!

Blocking Crochet Projects?

On top of learning how to adjust the size of the hat, I also discovered the importance of blocking from this blog. I had seen the term before on TikTok but never really understood why people do it until now. Blocking helps set the shape of a crochet project by using steam or water to relax the fibers and let them dry in the desired form. This is especially helpful for making sure your project keeps its structure and doesn’t shrink or warp after washing. According to this blog, cotton fibers respond best to soak blocking or wet blocking. With this technique, you submerge your entire project in cold or room-temperature water for 15-30 minutes. Then, you gently squeeze out excess water and let it air-dry on a towel. I’m not entirely sure if I will block my bucket hats… What would you recommend, fellow crocheters? Is this step necessary?

How It’s Going

Based on my new knowledge, I decided to try a new technique with my next bucket hat. I’m creating a fold where the top of the hat meets the middle of the hat, by only working in the back stitches. This way, my hat will have a more bucket-like appearance, like the one in this blog, as opposed to the rounded look of my first attempt. Also, I have been learning to crochet with cotton instead of acrylic. Here’s my experience:

• I find it’s easier to control my tension with cotton
• My stitches look more defined because it’s not as fuzzy as acrylic yarn
• The fibers split more easily than acrylic, making it challenging to take stitches out and redo them

Reflecting on this learning process, I’ve realized that crocheting is just as much about technique as it is about creativity. Now I see how important it is to understand why certain stitches and finishing techniques matter. Learning to increase stitches properly and block the final piece has helped me feel more confident in my skills. It’s been a trial-and-error process, but I can actually see my progress in each project I make! For other crocheters: what’s the most valuable crochet technique you’ve learned so far?