Pastel Stripe Bucket Hat – Free Crochet Pattern – Crochet

There’s just something magical about working up a mandala in crochet – every round feels like adding a new layer of personality and color. This cheerful potholder is one of those projects that looks intricate but is actually just a series of fun, repetitive stitches that build into a stunning sunburst effect.

I designed this piece with scraps from my cotton yarn stash (isn’t it the best when you can turn leftover odds and ends into something beautiful?). The best part is, no two versions ever look the same – change up the colors and it instantly has a whole new vibe. I’ve made it in citrus shades for summer, but I can imagine it in rich jewel tones for fall, or even frosty blues and silvers for a winter kitchen.

This potholder is a practical make too. Worked in cotton yarn, it’s thick enough to handle hot dishes, and pretty enough to leave out on display. If you’re a mandala lover, this one will have you hooked (pun intended) – and if you’ve never tried one before, consider this your invitation. Don’t be intimidated; just take it one round at a time, and you’ll be surprised at how quickly it comes together.

What You’ll Need

Cotton DK yarn in 4 shades (I used scraps – perfect stash-buster!)
Crochet hook: 3.5 mm for a snug fabric or 4.5 mm for a looser, larger version
Scissors
Yarn needle for sewing in ends

Difficulty: Intermediate
Finished Size: approx. 20 cm (3.5 mm hook) or 22 cm (4.5 mm hook)

Stitches & Abbreviations (US terms)

mc – magic circle
ch – chain
st – stitch
sl st – slip stitch
sc – single crochet
hdc – half double crochet
dc – double crochet
trc – treble crochet
puff st – puff stitch (explained below)
V-st – (dc, ch 2, dc) in the same stitch
picot – ch 3, sl st into 1st ch

Puff Stitch Reminder:
Yarn over, insert hook into stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop (3 loops on hook). Repeat this step 2 more times (7 loops on hook). Yarn over and pull through all loops. Chain 1 to close the puff.

Pattern Instructions

Round 1: With Color 1, make a mc. Ch 2 (doesn’t count), work 9 puff stitches into the ring. Sl st to the first puff, fasten off. [9 puff sts]

Round 2: Attach Color 2 between any 2 puff sts. Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in the same space. Work 2 dc between each puff around. Sl st into the 3rd ch of start, fasten off. [18 dc]

Round 3: Join Color 3 between any 2 dc groups. Ch 2 (counts as hdc), hdc in the same space. Puff st between the 2 dc of previous round. Work 2 hdc in the next space between dc groups, puff st between next dc around. Sl st to top of beg ch-2, fasten off. [18 hdc, 9 puff sts]

Round 4: With Color 4, sl st into space between any 2 hdc. Ch 2 (counts as hdc), then 3 more hdc in same space. 4 hdc between next 2 hdc around. Sl st to beg ch-2. Do not fasten off. [36 hdc]

Round 5: Ch 2, 2 hdc in same space. Place 2 hdc between 2nd & 3rd hdc of previous round. 3 hdc in next space, 2 hdc between 2nd & 3rd hdc of previous round around. Sl st to beg ch-2, fasten off. [45 hdc]

Round 6: With Color 3, join in any stitch. Ch 1, sc in each st around. Sl st to first sc, fasten off. [45 sc]

Round 7: Attach Color 2. Ch 5 (counts as dc + ch 2), dc in same st. Skip 2 sts, work V-st in next st around. Sl st into 3rd ch of starting ch-5, fasten off. [15 V-sts]

Round 8: With Color 1, work into any ch-2 space. Ch 1, 3 sc in same space. Dc into the next 2 sc from Round 6. 4 sc in ch-2 space, dc in next 2 sc (from Round 6) around. Sl st into beg ch-1, fasten off. [60 sc, 30 dc]

Round 9: Attach Color 4 between any 2 dc from previous round. Ch 5, dc in same space. Skip 1 st, sc in next 2 sts, skip 1 st. V-st between dc, skip 1, sc in next 2 sts, skip 1 around. Sl st into 3rd ch of starting ch-5. Do not fasten off. [15 V-st, 30 sc]

Round 10: Sl st into ch-2 space. In same space: sc, hdc, dc, trc, picot, trc, dc, hdc, sc. Repeat this full sequence in each V-st around. Sl st into beg sc, fasten off.