Sunny Days

Silas likes to go for walks - they instantly calm down a very fussy baby like nothing else.  The temperature in Iowa has been soaring of late, which makes for great walking weather, but also great sunburn weather.  What's a mom to do when it's too hot for her collection of wool and acrylic baby hats, and the summer hats fit like this?

Obviously, design a cotton bucket hat.  There probably exist patterns for baby bucket hats, but I decided to challenge myself a little.  

So, here it is - my first pattern:

Baby Bucket Hat for Sunny Days

Materials:

One skein of 100% cotton worsted-weight yarn - I used Peaches and Creme Denim
H hook. I crochet very tightly, so if you are a loose crocheter, try an F hook instead
Tapestry needle to weave in ends

Pattern: 

Make 6 single crochet in a magic loop

The crown is worked in continuous spirals without joining. You can use a stitch marker in the first stitch to keep track of the rounds' beginning, but I just count stitches

Crown:

Round 1: 2 sc in each sc around (12 sts)
Round 2: Sc in first sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat around (18 sts)
Round 3: Sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat around (24 sts)
Round 4: Sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat around (30 sts)
Round 5: Sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next sc, repeat around (36 sts)
Round 6: Sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in next sc, repeat around (42 sts)
Round 7: Sc in next 6 sts, 2 sc in next sc, repeat around (48 sts)
Round 8: Sc in next 7 sts, 2 sc in next sc, repeat around, sl st in next sc to join (54 sts)

Body:

Round 9: Chain 2 (counts as first hdc), working in back loops only, hdc in each sc around, join in second ch of first hdc
Rounds 10-14: Ch 2, hdc around, join

Brim:

Round 15: Ch 2, working in back loops only hdc in same st, hdc in next st, *2 hdc in next st, hdc in next hdc, repeat from around, join
Round 16: Ch 2, hdc around, join
Round 17: Ch 2, hdc in same st, hdc in next two sts, *2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 2 sts, repeat from * around, join
Round 18: Ch 2, hdc around, join

Fasten off, weave in ends

Options: For a larger hat to fit an older baby, add one or more rounds to the crown and body of the hat, or use a larger hook 
Crochet the last round or two before the brim in a contrasting color for a classic hat-band look
For a more ruffly, girly style, change Round 15 to “2 hdc in every st,” and replace Round 17 with Round 15's original directions (increase every other st). This would look very cute with a flower embellishment sewed to the body.  All girls' hats should have a giant flower tacked onto them.