September 30, 2025 • Updated January 29, 2026

DIY Reversible Bucket Hat Tutorial + Free Pattern

If you’re looking for a summer accessory that’s both stylish and provides shade from harsh summer rays, we’ve got you covered with DIY reversible bucket hat tutorial! To make it reversible, use 2 fat quarters of coordinating fabric designs or 2 designs on a split Fill-A-Yard. By selecting different designs for each side, you can easily switch sides for different moods. Follow along and download our free bucket hat sewing pattern to learn how you can make a your own with our Lightweight Cotton Twill.

Free Reversible Bucket Hat Pattern

Materials to Sew a Reversible Bucket Hat

Skill Level: Beginner

Free Bucket Hat pattern
2 fat quarters of Lightweight Cotton Twill
Sewing machine
Scissors or rotary cutter
Thread
Iron
Optional: Bias tape for the brim’s edges

Editor’s Picks: Animal Prints

Pro Tip for Size Alternations: If you want to make the hat smaller or larger, you can alter the pattern by adding or subtracting 1/2″ (1 cm) around each of the pieces, repeating if needed to reach the desired size. This is a great method for kid’s bucket hats!

Fabric for Sewing a Bucket Hat

While we’re using Lightweight Cotton Twill for our hat, you can also create a fuzzy and durable winter bucket hat with our sturdy Dogwood Denim™ and backed with our soft and fuzzy Minky for an added layer of insulation. A fat quarter of Spoonflower’s Lightweight Cotton Twill is a bit wider than the traditional fat quarter, measuring 29″ wide rather than 21″. Take this into consideration when deciding how much fabric you need, as only two regular-width fat quarters may not be enough for this project. All of our fabric types can be found here with measurements and other details.

Bucket Hat Sewing Terminology

Brim: The projecting edge at the bottom Crown: The sides, right above the brim Top: The part that touches the very top of your head

DIY Bucket Hat Tutorial

https://www.youtube.com/embed/rRIiqq0yTSA?feature=oembed

Step 1: Cut out the pattern

Bucket hat cut fabric pieces laying on a table

Iron your fabric smooth and pin the bucket hat’s paper pattern pieces on top of one of your fat quarters. Make sure when positioning the crown and brim pieces that the “fold line” edges of the pattern are placed along a folded edge of your fabric. When the fabric is cut, you should be able to open the fold and have a correct sized crown and brim that’s double the length of your original pattern piece. While including a 1/2″ seam allowance around each piece, cut one top, two brims and two crowns, giving you a total of five pieces to work with. Later on, we’ll cut another set of the same pieces from the other fat quarter for the reversible side.

Step 2: Pin the crown

Crown of bucket hat being pinned and sewn

Pin your crown pieces at the short ends, with right sides (the sides of the fabric with the design showing) facing each other, and stitch together with a 1/2″ (1 cm) seam allowance. You should have a big ring!

Step 3: Finish the seam

Ironing and topstitching the crown piece

Iron your seams flat, then add two topstitches (a stitch designed to be seen on the outside) on both sides of each seam. Not only is this stitch decorative, but it also reinforces your sewing. You can use thread that matches your fabric’s colors, or go with a contrasting color like we did!

Step 4: Attach the top

Now you can attach the top piece to the crown piece with right sides facing each other. This process can be a bit tricky as we’re working with a round seam, but just pull the fabric tight as you go and use as many pins as you need.

Attaching the top of the hat to the crown with pins

Pin the four notches first, then pin between these marks and distribute the rest of your pins around the circle until even. Sew these pieces together with a 1/2″ (1 cm) seam allowance, and iron your seam flat. Pro Tip: For a cleaner look, consider using the notching method before ironing your seam flat. Take some scissors and cut little slits about 1/4″ (1/2 cm) into the edge of the seam, making sure to not cut through the stitch itself. This is great for curved seams like the one we just made by releasing the tension and allowing for easier pressing.

Step 5: Topstitch the edge

Next, sew a line on top of the hat about 1/4″ (1/2 cm) down from the edge of the top part’s seam. Just like in step 3, this helps both reinforce and decorate your seam.

Step 6: Make the brim

Similar to how we put together the crown, pin your brim parts with right sides facing at the short ends and stitch them together with a 1/2″ (1 cm) seam allowance. Iron the seam apart and reinforce/decorate with a topstitch on the outside.

Brim of bucket hat being pinned, sewn, and ironed

Step 7: Attach the brim

Place the brim on the crown, right sides together. Similar to step 4, pin around the edges making sure the fabric is evenly secured, and sew in place. Once again, iron your seam flat and topstitch on the outside. Now you have one side of your bucket hat!

Repeat steps 1-7 with your other fat quarter so you end up with two hats.

Two sides of the bucket hat, one cow print and one leopard print

Step 8: Sew the two sides together

Once you have your two hats, pin them together by the raw brim edges, this time with the wrong sides (non-design side) facing instead of the right sides.

The inside layer of the bucket hat pinned to the outside layer

Now stitch the brims together 1/2″ (1 cm) from the raw edge. If you’d like to add more structure to your hat, consider sewing rings around the edges of the brim about 1/2″ (1 cm) apart. You can also border your edge with bias tape, but we decided to go with the fun frayed edge that Lightweight Cotton Twill offers.