Oh friend, this little guy just makes me smile every single time I look at him! This free crochet fish hat pattern is the latest addition to my Summer Kids’ Bucket Hat Collection. With his big googly eyes, round little mouth, and those sweet teal fins poking out from the sides, this crochet fish hat is equal parts adorable and hilarious — and your little one is going to be the cutest kid at the beach.
This pattern is built on my Essential Basic Bucket Hat base — the same beginner-friendly, top-down construction I use throughout the whole collection. The hat itself works up entirely in single crochet, so if you’ve got the basics down, you’re already most of the way there. The fins, eyes, and mouth are simple appliques that get sewn on at the end, and I’ve written out every stitch so you can tackle them with confidence even if you’re relatively new to crochet.
I made this hat in Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton in Goldenrod — that warm, golden color is just perfect for a little fish! The fins are in Jade green, which gives just the right pop of color. Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton is my absolute go-to for summer hats because it’s breathable, machine washable, and holds its shape beautifully. Plus it comes in a rainbow of colors if you want to get creative with your own fish color palette!
Why You’ll Love This Crochet Fish Hat Pattern
Quick and Beginner-Friendly Base: The hat body is worked entirely in single crochet from the top down, making it totally approachable even if you’re still building your crochet confidence. No complicated stitch patterns, no colorwork — just simple, satisfying rounds that work up fast.
Intermediate Appliques with Full Instructions: The fins, eyes, and mouth take this hat from plain bucket hat to full-on fish character. Each applique piece has its own clearly written instructions, and the gold yarn spine embroidery detail adds a fun, polished finishing touch.
Three Kid-Friendly Sizes: This pattern includes Newborn (0–6 months), Toddler, and Child sizes, so you can make one for every little fish lover in your life. It’s perfect for craft fairs, gifts, or just because.
Made with Machine-Washable Cotton: Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton is not only beautiful to work with — it’s also completely machine washable and dryer friendly. Practical AND adorable? Yes please.
Perfect for Summer Craft Fairs: Bucket hats are a perennial bestseller at summer markets, and an animal character hat? Even better. This one is fast enough to make in multiples and eye-catching enough to stop shoppers in their tracks.
Video Tutorial Available: Not sure about a technique? My Essential Basic Bucket Hat video tutorial walks you through the whole base hat process step by step, so you’ll never feel stuck.
Part of the Summer Kids’ Bucket Hat Collection!
This crochet fish hat is part of my exciting new Summer Kids’ Bucket Hat Bundle, a collection of 8 adorable animal-themed bucket hats designed especially for children. Each hat uses the same Essential Basic Bucket Hat as its foundation, so once you’ve made one, you’ll be flying through the whole set!
The collection features a sea turtle, crab, frog, dinosaur, shark, fish, blue whale, and orca. Most of the hats in the bundle will be released as free crochet patterns over the coming weeks – but the whale hats (blue whale and orca) will be exclusive to the pattern bundle only. If you don’t want to miss a single release, be sure to sign up for my newsletter or follow me on social media!
Already Released: Shark, Crab and Frog Hats
If you’re loving this fish hat, you’ll definitely want to check out the two patterns that launched before it!
Crochet Shark Hat free crochet pattern: Our fierce little shark hat was the first in the collection and has already become so popular. It features a dramatic shark fin, a row of sharp teeth, and the same easy bucket hat base.
Crochet Crab Hat free crochet pattern: The crochet crab hat brought all the beach vibes with its cheerful red color, adorable claws, and googly crab eyes. It’s just as fun to make as it is to wear!
Crochet Frog Hat free crochet pattern: The Frog Crochet Bucket Hat is simply adorable with fun feet hanging off the brim!
Can’t get enough? Grab the full Summer Kids’ Bucket Hat Bundle to get all 8 patterns, including the exclusive whale hats, in one convenient download.
Grab the Crochet Fish Hat Ad-Free Printable PDF
| Want an ad-free, printer-friendly version of the Fish Bucket Hat pattern? The printable PDF is available in my shop! It’s perfectly formatted, easy to read while you’re working, and great for keeping in your pattern binder.👉 [LINK TO PDF ] If you love PDFs, you might want to check out my Lifetime Membership. It’s an awesome deal! Never pay for one of my PDFs again!! |
Supplies for the Crochet Fish Bucket Hat Pattern
*This post contains affiliate links. You can click on any yarn or material highlighted to purchase. I will receive a small commission if you purchase but it won’t cost you any extra! As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
I am using Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton for my crochet fish hat which is a 100% mercerized cotton. it has a beautiful sheen, holds its shape well, and is completely machine washable. It’s soft against skin, which makes it especially great for babies and kids.
If you are substituting with a different cotton yarn be sure to check gauge!
Looking for More Free Crochet Hat Patterns?
I have tons of free crochet hat patterns right here on the blog, from cozy winter beanies to fun seasonal accessories. And if you don’t want to miss a single new release – especially as I drop each new design in the Summer Kids’ Bucket Hat series – be sure to sign up for my free newsletter! You’ll get new patterns, tutorials, and crafty inspiration delivered straight to your inbox.
👉 Sign up for my free newsletter here!
Let’s Stay Connected!
I love seeing your finished makes – tag me on social media so I can cheer you on!
Check out these adorable free crochet patterns!
1. Shark Bucket Hat free crochet pattern
2. Crab Bucket Hat free crochet pattern
3. Frog Bucket Hat free crochet pattern
Fish Bucket Hat Free Crochet Pattern
Pattern written in US crochet terminology
Supplies:
Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton Weight 4 / Medium (100% mercerized cotton)
Colorways:
- Goldenrod (Gold)
- Newborn 1.7 oz / 91 yards
- Toddler 2.1 oz / 112 yards
- Child 2.4 oz / 128 yards
- Jade (Green) 0.2 oz / 11 yards
- Black (Black) 0.1 oz / 6 yards
- White (White) 0.1 oz / 6 yard
Size G-6 (4.0 mm) crochet hook
Scissors
Tapestry Needle
Stitch Markers
Approximate finished size:
Gauge: 4” = 9 rounds of sc
Abbreviations:
- Rnd(s) = round(s)
- RS = right side
- MC = magic circle
- ch(s) = chain(s)
- sc = single crochet
- sl st = slip stitch
- st(s) = stitch(es)
- hdc = half double crochet
- sc2tog = single crochet 2 sts together (see special stitches section below)
- yo = yarn over
Special Stitches:
sc2tog = (insert hook into next st, yo and pull up a loop) twice, yo and pull through all 3 loops on hook.
Pattern Notes:
Note: The base bucket hat is worked using the Essential Basic Bucket Hat free crochet pattern. Follow that pattern in Gold yarn for your chosen size, then complete the appliqués below to turn it into the Fish Bucket Hat.
Note: All appliqué pieces are worked flat or in continuous rounds. Pieces are assembled after finishing the base hat.
Even though these Appliqués were designed for the child sizes you could certainly use them for a larger teen – adult size hat if you wish!
- Hat is worked from the top-down.
- Work in continuous rounds, do not join, instead use a stitch marker to mark the first stitch of each round.
- Fit Note: Sizes are based on standard head circumference measurements for a close fit. For a more relaxed or oversized look, go up one size. To add width to the brim, work one additional increase round after the final increase round, then add 2–3 rounds of single crochet before fastening off.
Recommended Tutorials:
How to make a perfect circle tutorial
How to sew on appliques in crochet tutorial
Essential Basic Bucket Hat complete video tutorial
How to Make a Magic Circle – the Easy Way!
Appliqué Pattern Instructions
Side Fin (make 2)
With long tail (for sewing) of Green, ch 4.
Row 1: (RS) Sc in second ch from hook and in each ch to end. Turn. (3)
Row 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in same st, sc in next st, 2 sc in last st. Turn. (5)
Row 3: Ch 1, sc in each st to end. Turn.
Row 4: Ch 1, 2 sc in same st, sc in each st to last st, 2 sc in last st. Turn. (7)
Row 5: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in each st to last 2 sts, sc2tog. Turn. (5)
Row 6: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next st, sc2tog. Turn. (3)
Row 7: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in last st. (2)
(RS) Without turning, sl st evenly around outside edge of fin.
Fasten off.
With a long length of gold yarn, embroider 5 spines on RS of fin (see photo on last page).
Weave in ends not left for sewing.
Top Fin
With green, ch 3.
Row 1: Sc in second ch from hook and in next ch. Turn. (2)
Row 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in same st, sc in last st. Turn. (3)
Row 3: Ch 1, sc in same st, sc in next st, 2 sc in last st. Turn. (4)
Row 4: Ch 1, 2 sc in same st, sc in each st to end. Turn. (5)
Row 5: Ch 1, sc in each st to last 2 sts, sc2tog. Turn. (4)
Row 6: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in each st to end. Turn. (3)
Row 7: Ch 1, sc in same st, sc2tog. Turn. (2)
Row 8: Ch 1, sc in each st.
Without turning, sl st evenly around outside edge of fin.
Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing.
With a long length of gold yarn, embroider 3 spines on fin (see photo on last page).
Eyes (make 2)
With black, make a MC.
Rnd 1: (RS) Ch 1, 6 sc in MC, join with sl st in first st, tighten ring. (6)
Fasten off black.
Rnd 2: Join white in first st of rnd 1, ch 1, 2 hdc in each st around, sl st to first st. (12)
Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing. Weave in remaining ends not left for sewing.
Mouth
With black, ch 12, sl st in first ch to form a ring.
Round 1: Ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st to first st. (12)
Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing.
With long length of gold yarn, embroider lips around inside edge of mouth using unused loops of chain, continue to embroider lips around outside edge of mouth working yarn through top of hdc stitches.
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.
Assembly
With long tails, sew side fins to each side of hat.
With long tail, sew top fin to top of hat.
With long tails, sew eyes to RS front of hat.
With long tail, sew mouth below eyes.
Weave in remaining ends.
Copyright 2026 Tonya Bush / Nana’s Crafty Home, LLC.
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Disclaimer: This pattern is for personal use or small-scale crafting. If you intend to sell the finished product in the EU, ensure it complies with the General Product Safety Regulation (EU) 2023/988, including safety, labeling, and traceability requirements.
Hi! Thank you so much for being here! I am Tonya the designer behind Nana's Crafty Home. As a wife, mother, Nana of 9 & with 2 fur babies, my days are filled with love, laughter, hugs and yarn! Here you will find colorful and creative crochet designs for yourself or loved ones. My hope is that you will be inspired to learn and create along with me!