# Woodland Animal Bucket Hats Free Crochet Pattern
I have been dreaming about a woodland animal hat collection for the longest time, and I’m so excited to finally share it! Here’s the clever part: all four hats — owl, raccoon, deer, and squirrel — start with the exact same base hat. Once you make your first one, the other three practically fly off your hook. The personality comes entirely from the appliques you sew on at the end.
The base is just single crochet in continuous rounds: a flat circle crown, straight sides, and a flared brim. Totally beginner territory. The embellishments ask a little more of you — small circular appliques, careful counting, neat sewing — which lands the whole collection at intermediate. Whether you make one for yourself or the whole woodland gang as gifts, maximum cuteness is guaranteed.
What You’ll Need
- Main color (MC): approximately 200 yards / 183 meters of worsted weight yarn in your animal’s primary color
- Contrast colors (CC): small amounts of 15 to 30 yards / 14 to 27 meters each:
- Owl: medium brown MC; golden yellow 20 yds (eyes); black 10 yds (pupils); orange 5 yds (beak)
- Raccoon: medium gray MC; black 25 yds (mask, ear trim); white 15 yds (mask highlights); dark charcoal 10 yds (brim stripe)
- Deer: warm tan MC; cream 20 yds (spots, face shading); pink 10 yds (inner ears); dark brown 10 yds (eyes, antlers); black 5 yds (pupils); optional two 12 mm brown safety eyes
- Squirrel: rust/terracotta MC; tan 15 yds (face center, acorn cap); medium brown 10 yds (acorn body); black 5 yds (eyes); optional two 10 mm black safety eyes
- Smooth, non-fuzzy yarn (avoid bouclé or textured yarns — the facial appliques won’t read against busy fabric)
- US J / 6 mm crochet hook
- Locking stitch marker, yarn needle, scissors, straight pins; optional hat form or balloon for blocking, polyfill or yarn scraps for light stuffing
Finished size:
- Head circumference approximately 22 to 22.5 in / 56 to 57 cm
- Hat height from crown to base of brim approximately 9 in / 23 cm
- Brim width approximately 2 in / 5 cm
- Crown diameter approximately 6.5 in / 16.5 cm
The Pattern
Gauge:
- 18 sc and 20 rounds = 4 in / 10 cm in continuous rounds with the J hook
- Gauge is critical for fit — even one stitch per inch off gives you a hat that doesn’t fit
Notes: Worked in continuous rounds without joining — place a marker in the first stitch of each round and move it up. Right side faces throughout; do not turn.
Base Bucket Hat (all four animals)
Crown: With MC, make a magic ring.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in ring. (6 sc)
Rnd 2: Inc in each st. (12 sc)
Rnd 3: *Sc 1, inc* 6 times. (18 sc)
Rnd 4: *Sc 2, inc* 6 times. (24 sc)
Rnd 5: *Sc 3, inc* 6 times. (30 sc)
Rnd 6: *Sc 4, inc* 6 times. (36 sc)
Rnd 7: *Sc 5, inc* 6 times. (42 sc)
Rnd 8: *Sc 6, inc* 6 times. (48 sc)
Rnd 9: *Sc 7, inc* 6 times. (54 sc)
Rnd 10: *Sc 8, inc* 6 times. (60 sc)
Rnd 11: *Sc 9, inc* 6 times. (66 sc)
Rnd 12: *Sc 10, inc* 6 times. (72 sc)
Lay flat — the circle should measure approximately 6.5 in / 16.5 cm across.
Hat body:
Rnd 13: Sc in BLO in each st around. (72 sc) — this one round creates the crisp turning ridge.
Rnds 14-29: Sc in each st around. (72 sc each round; 16 rounds even) The body measures approximately 3.5 in / 9 cm tall.
Brim:
Rnd 30: *Sc 5, inc* 12 times. (84 sc)
Rnd 31: *Sc 6, inc* 12 times. (96 sc)
Rnd 32: *Sc 7, inc* 12 times. (108 sc)
Rnd 33: Sc in each st around. (108 sc)
Raccoon brim stripe: On Rnd 32, change to black for the final yarn-over of the last stitch; work Rnd 33 entirely in black. Fasten off black and rejoin MC for the edging.
Edging — owl and deer (scalloped): Sl st to join at the start of Rnd 34.
Rnd 34: *Sk 2 sts, 5 dc in next st, sk 2 sts, sl st in next st* 18 times. Join. Fasten off.
Edging — squirrel and raccoon (plain): After Rnd 33, work 3 more rnds of sc in each st around, then fasten off.
Owl Embellishments
Eyes (make 2): *Pupil:* with black, magic ring, 6 sc in ring, join, fasten off leaving a 6-inch tail. (6 sc) *Iris:* with golden yellow, magic ring;
Rnd 1: 6 sc in ring. (6 sc)
Rnd 2: inc in each st, join. (12 sc)
Rnd 3: *sc 1, inc* 6 times, join, fasten off leaving a 12-inch tail. (18 sc) Place the pupil on the iris center, wrong sides together, and whipstitch around the pupil’s edge through both layers. Each eye measures about 1.25 in / 3 cm.
Beak: With orange, magic ring.
Rnd 1: 3 sc in ring. (3 sc)
Rnd 2: inc in first st, sc 1, inc in last st. (5 sc)
Rnd 3: sc in each st. Fasten off with a sewing tail. Do not stuff.
Ear tufts (make 2): With MC, magic ring.
Rnd 1: 4 sc in ring. (4 sc)
Rnd 2: inc in each st. (8 sc)
Rnd 3: sc in each st. (8 sc)
Rnd 4: *sc2tog* 4 times. (4 sc) Stuff lightly; cinch the 4 sts closed with the tail. Fringe: cut 4-6 lengths of MC, 2 in long; fold in half and pull through the tuft top with your hook; fray the ends.
Ear bases (make 2): With MC, ch 2.
Row 1: 3 sc in 2nd ch from hook. (3 sc)
Row 2: inc in first st, sc 1, inc in last st. (5 sc)
Row 3: inc in first st, sc 3, inc in last st. (7 sc) Fasten off with a long tail.
Assembly: Sew the flat ear bases to the crown top about 2 in apart, then sew a tuft on each base with fringe pointing up and out. Pin the eyes 3.5 in up from the brim edge, 1.25 in apart center-to-center, and sew firmly. Sew the beak between and just below the eyes, pointing down. Optional: embroider 6-8 straight stitches radiating from each eye for feather detail.
Raccoon Embellishments
Mask: With black, ch 18.
Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across. (17 sc)
Row 2: ch 1, turn, inc in first st, sc 15, inc in last st. (19 sc)
Row 3: ch 1, turn, sc across. (19 sc)
Row 4: ch 1, turn, inc in first st, sc 2, inc, sc 5, inc, sc 5, inc, sc 2, inc in last st. (24 sc)
Row 5: ch 1, turn, sc across. (24 sc) Fasten off.
Inner highlights (make 2): With white, magic ring.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in ring. (6 sc)
Rnd 2: inc in each st, join, fasten off. (12 sc)
Ears (make 2): With gray MC, magic ring.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in ring. (6 sc)
Rnd 2: inc in each st. (12 sc)
Rnd 3: *sc 1, inc* 6 times. (18 sc)
Rnd 4: sc in each st. (18 sc) Fasten off, leaving a tail. With black, work one round of sc around the outer edge of each ear for the dark trim. Stuff lightly and pinch the base flat before sewing to the crown.
Assembly: Center the mask across the front of the hat and sew it down. Sew a white highlight circle on the mask under each eye position, then embroider simple black eyes (or use safety eyes) on the highlights. Sew the ears to the crown top.
Deer Embellishments
Face shading: With cream, ch 14.
Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across. (13 sc)
Rows 2-4: ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc across to last 2 sts, sc2tog. (11, 9, 7 sc) Fasten off with a sewing tail. Sew centered on the front of the hat, point down.
Fawn spots (make 7): With cream, magic ring, 6 sc in ring, join, fasten off. (6 sc) Scatter and sew across the crown and upper body.
Ears (make 2): With tan MC, ch 8.
Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across. (7 sc)
Rows 2-5: ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc across to last 2 sts, sc2tog. (5, 4, 3, 2 sc) Fasten off. With pink, sc one row along the inner edge of each ear for the lining. Sew to the crown sides.
Antlers (make 2): With dark brown, ch 10.
Row 1: sl st in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across. (9 sl st) Branch: ch 5, sl st back down 4. Branch 2: ch 4, sl st back down 3. Fasten off with a tail. Sew between the ears, angling outward.
Assembly: Sew the face shading in place. Embroider the eyes with dark brown (French-knot style circles) with tiny black pupils, adding 3-4 little eyelash stitches at the outer corners. Or attach the 12 mm safety eyes. Sew on the spots, ears, and antlers.
Squirrel Embellishments
Face center: With tan, magic ring.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in ring. (6 sc)
Rnd 2: inc in each st. (12 sc)
Rnd 3: *sc 1, inc* 6 times, join, fasten off with a tail. (18 sc) Sew centered on the front.
Tufted ears (make 2): With rust MC, magic ring.
Rnd 1: 4 sc in ring. (4 sc)
Rnd 2: inc in each st. (8 sc)
Rnds 3-4: sc in each st. (8 sc) Fasten off. Add a 1-inch MC fringe tuft at each tip like the owl’s. Sew to the crown.
Acorn: *Cap:* with tan, magic ring;
Rnd 1: 6 sc in ring. (6 sc)
Rnd 2: *sc 1, inc* 3 times. (9 sc) Fasten off. *Body:* with medium brown, magic ring;
Rnd 1: 6 sc in ring. (6 sc)
Rnd 2: inc in each st. (12 sc)
Rnd 3: sc in each st. (12 sc)
Rnd 4: *sc2tog* 6 times, stuff lightly, cinch closed. (6 sc) Sew the cap to the body, then sew the whole acorn to the hat cheek, tilted jauntily.
Assembly: Sew the face center on first. Embroider black eyes above it (or attach the 10 mm safety eyes). Sew the ears and the acorn. Weave in every end — these hats get a lot of love and wear.
Sophie’s Tips
- Pin every applique in place and step back to look before you sew a single stitch. Moving a pinned ear is easy; moving a sewn one is heartbreak.
- Stuff ears and tufts lightly — just enough to hold their shape. Overstuffed appliques look lumpy and pull the hat fabric.
- Work the whole base hat first and try it on before adding faces. If the fit needs tweaking, it’s much easier before the woodland crew moves in.
One base pattern, four woodland friends — I can’t wait to see which one you make first!
