Mermaid Messy Bun Hat for Kids – Crochet Pattern

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Rock out the rest of your winter by being a magical, messy mermaid with this adorable Mermaid Messy Bun Hat! It’s easy to make and has a gorgeous sparkle and texture when finished. Made using the crocodile stitch, the hat looks like mermaid “scales” and is topped off with a “fin” – the pattern shows how to make it adjustable so you can wear it under your messy bun on the hat, or above your ponytail!

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Looking for a downloadable PDF of this pattern? You can purchase one in my shop HERE!

If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, then you know I am a Mermaid Maniac, or a Mermaniac, if you will! My craze started with my Mermaid Slouchy Hat and the subsequent Kids Edition. The hats were so fun to make and crocheters just love making and wearing them! From there, I decided to make Mermaid Flip Flops, a Mermaid Ornament, and a Mermaid Purse. I even designed a Mermaid Scarf, which was featured by one of my all time favorite blogs, Knot Bad! And trust me, I have more mermaid themed crochet projects in the works!

When trying to think up some more fun mermaid themed projects, my mind immediately went to the striking popularity of Messy Bun Hats. There are so many awesome patterns for this brilliant concept out there on the internet, but I wanted to take it a step further and make it Mermagical! And so, this hat was born.

Unlike my slouchy hat, I decided to mix things up and release the Kids Edition of this pattern first. But if you’re looking for the adult pattern, it will be published here on my blog soon! How fun would mommy and me, auntie and me, or grandma and me mermaid messy bun hats be?! The possibilities are endless!

If you guessed that I’d use the same yarn as many of my other mermaid projects for this hat, then you guessed right! My old favorite for mermaid projects is Caron Simply Soft Party, particularly the colorway Purple (on Amazon HERE!). This yarn is a sturdy but soft medium weight yarn and has a metallic thread running throughout, making this yarn incredibly sparkly and pretty!

So are you ready to get started on this aquatically awesome pattern? Then let’s get started!

Supplies
Size H-8 / 5 mm crochet hook
2 skeins of Caron Simply Soft Party (color shown is Purple Sparkle)
Yarn Needle
Scissors
Optional: barrette or hair clip for detachable Fin

Abbreviations
*= indicates the beginning/end of a section to be repeated
BLO = back loop only
Ch = chain
Croc St = crocodile stitch
Dc = double crochet
Rem = remaining
Rep = repeat
Rnd(s) = round(s)
Sc = single crochet
Sk = skip
Sl St = slip stitch
St(s) = stitch(es)

Gauge
2 croc sts and 4 rows of croc sts = approx. 3.5 inches

Size
About 10 inches wide and 7.5 inches length laying flat; ponytail opening approx. 7.5 inch circumference

Instructions
Hat
Ch 61.
Rnd 1 – sc in each st across. Join with sl st to first sc of rnd. Ch 3 (60 sc)

Rnd 2 – Dc back into same st, ch 1. *Sk 2 sts, [dc, ch 1, dc, ch 1 (2-dc cluster made)] in next st.* Rep from * to * 18 more times. Join with sl st to 2nd ch in beg ch 3. Ch 1 (20 2-dc clusters)

Rnd 3 – *Croc st around next 2-dc cluster, sc in next 2-dc cluster.* Rep from * to * nine more times. Join with sl st to center of first croc st made. (10 croc sts, 10 sc)

Rnd 4 – Ch 3, dc back into same st. *In next sc, [dc, ch 1, dc, ch 1]. In center of next croc, [dc, ch 1, dc, ch 1].* Rep from * to * eight more times. In last sc, [dc, ch 1, dc, ch 1]. Join with sl st to 2nd ch in beg ch 3. Ch 1 (20 2-dc clusters)

Rnd 5 – *Sc in next 2-dc cluster, croc st around next 2-dc cluster.* Rep from * to * nine more times. Join with sl st to first sc made. (10 croc sts, 10 sc)

Rnd 6 – Ch 3, dc back into same st. *In next sc, [dc, ch 1, dc, ch 1]. In center of next croc, [dc, ch 1, dc, ch 1].* Rep from * to * eight more times. In last sc, [dc, ch 1, dc, ch 1]. Join with sl st to 2nd ch in beg ch 3. Ch 1 (20 2-dc clusters)

Rnds 7 – 22 – Rep Rnds 3 – 6 four more times.

Rnd 23 – *Croc st around first 2-dc cluster, sc3tog over next three 2-dc clusters.* Rep from * to * four more times. Join with sl st to center of first croc made. (5 croc sts, 5 sc)

Rnd 24 – Ch 3, dc back into same st. *In next sc, [dc, ch, dc, ch1]. In center of next croc st, [dc, ch, dc, ch1].* Rep from * to * three more times. In last sc, [dc, ch, dc, ch1]. (10 2-dc clusters)

Rnd 25 – *Sc in next 2-dc cluster, croc st around next 2-dc cluster.* Rep from * to * four more times. (5 croc sts, 5 sc)

Rnd 26 – evenly make 20 sc on top of sts of Rnd 25, working multiple sts into croc sts below if necessary.

Fasten off.

Fin
(Note: All Rows starting with Row 2 are worked in BLO.)
Ch 13.
Row 1 – sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each st across. Ch 1, turn (12 sc)

Row 2 – sc in next 11 sts, leaving rem st unworked. Ch 1, turn (11 sc)
Row 3 – sc in each st across. Ch 1, turn (11 sc)

Row 4 – sc in next 10 sts, leaving rem st unworked. Ch 1, turn (10 sc)
Row 5 – sc in each st across. Ch 1, turn (10 sc)

Row 6 – sc in next 9 sts, leaving rem st unworked. Ch 1, turn (9 sc)
Row 7 – sc in each st across. Ch 1, turn (9 sc)

Row 8 – sc in next 8 sts, leaving rem st unworked. Ch 1, turn (8 sc)
Row 9 – sc in each st across. Ch 1, turn (8 sc)

Row 10 – sc in next 7 sts, leaving rem st unworked. Ch 1, turn (7 sc)
Row 11 – sc in each st across. Ch 1, turn (7 sc)

Row 12 – sc in next 6 sts, leaving rem st unworked. Ch 1, turn (6 sc)
Row 13 – sc in each st across. Ch 1, turn (6 sc)

Row 14 – sc in next 5 sts. 2 sc in last st. Ch 1, turn (7 sc)
Row 15 – sc in each st across. Ch 1, turn (7 sc)

Row 16 – sc in next 6 sts. 2 sc in last st. Ch 1, turn (8 sc)
Row 17 – sc in each st across. Ch 1, turn (8 sc)

Row 18 – sc in next 7 sts. 2 sc in last st. Ch 1, turn (9 sc)
Row 19 – sc in each st across. Ch 1, turn (9 sc)

Row 20 – sc in next 8 sts. 2 sc in last st. Ch 1, turn (10 sc)
Row 21 – sc in each st across. Ch 1, turn (10 sc)

Row 22 – sc in next 9 sts. 2 sc in last st. Ch 1, turn (11 sc)
Row 23 – sc in each st across. Ch 1, turn (11 sc)

Row 24 – sc in next 10 sts. 2 sc in last st. Ch 1, turn (12 sc)
Row 25 – sc in each st across. Do not fasten off (12 sc)

Gathering Fin
Working across top of Fin, evenly sc 5 sts across top of Fin. Join with sl st to first sc of Row 1 of Fin.
Fasten off, leaving long tail for sewing.

Finishing
Sew Fin either directly above or below opening at top of Hat, depending on which look is desired (Fin above/below bun/ponytail). Optional: sew Fin to barrette or clip for a detachable / more customizable Fin.

Weave in all ends.

Here is the finished mermaid hat!

I hope you enjoyed crocheting this hat along with me! If you love fun, free patterns, please be sure to subscribe to my email list and follow me on social media. I have so many more fun patterns like this one – including mermaid patterns – coming soon!

Happy Crocheting!!

COPYRIGHT:  This pattern is owned by Crafty Kitty Crochet (Melissa Moore). Any reselling or distribution of this pattern is prohibited. Sale of items made using this pattern is welcomed, but I do ask that credit/a link be provided back to my site, craftykittycrochet.com.