So while I was working on a normal puff stitch hat, I saw the ‘new’ thing called a bun hat. It’s like a normal hat, but then without finishing off the last row. With your own hair, you can make a bun popping out of the hat.
Maybe you also like my frozen winter bun hat pattern
I decided to try this with the hat I was currently on, resulting in many people asking what pattern I used. I wrote down the steps, which you can find below. Make sure to watch on YouTube how to make the puff stitch! ☺
Materials
6mm hook (US J hook)
Acrylic/cotton yarn that matches the hook size
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Abbreviations
Ch: Chain
Sc: Single crochet
Hdc: Half double crochet (US)
Pf: puff stitch
Inc: increase (2 stitches in next stitch)
Dec: decrease (next 2 stitches together)
**: repeat between **
(): amount of stitches at the end of the row
Video tutorial
Below you can find a video to make this hat. At the bottom of this page you can find instructions on how to crochet a puff stitch en puff stitch decrease.
Brim
R1: chain 8
R2: skip 1st chain, 7hdc, chain 1 (7)
R3-R61: 7hdc in back loop only, chain 1 (7)
* Make sure to fit it around your head. With my yarn type, it was long enough when doing 62 rounds. If you’re using thinner yarn, you should probably make a few more rounds. If you’re using chunky yarn, maybe try less rounds.
Hold both brim ends together and stitch them together with hdc.
Puff stitches
R1: Attach yarn and sc around. If you used to work till round 61 like I did, you should get 60sc at the end of the row, which is good for 30 puff stitches.
R2-R10: Puff stitch around and close the round with a chain (30)
Make sure to try the hat a few times while working on these rounds. When it’s long enough, start decreasing. With my yarn type, I had to make 9 rounds of puff stitches.
R11: *3pf, 2pfs together* (repeat 6x) (24)
R12: *2pf, 2pfs together* (repeat 6x) (18)
R13: *1pf, 2pfs together* (repeat 6x) (12)
If you want the hole smaller, decrease one more round:
R12: 2pfs together around (6)
Last round: Sc around to finish the hole.
If you are new to the puff stitch, check out my instruction videos below.
Puff stitch
Puff stitch decrease
NOTICE: The written instructions, illustrations, photos, and patterns herein are protected by copyright law. You are free to link to the patterns, but please do not copy!
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59 Comments
Jodie Schossow
26 October 2018 at 4:19 amI noticed in a comment that you mentioned being ashamed of your accent. I just wanted to say my dear that an accent is like the notes of a song, they are all different but together they create beautiful music, and music makes the world go round and soothes the savage breast. You are a very talented, generous person, who is adding to the Symphony of our hearts. You go girl!
Marge
4 April 2018 at 9:07 pmHi! Very easy-to-read description:) Thanks!
Wilma
6 April 2018 at 10:12 pmThanks so much Marge! 😀
Shirley
25 January 2018 at 5:34 amWilma, I love this pattern, it is so simple and my grandkids love their messy bun hats..since the all have long hair, they love the fact that they can pull their pony tails through the top. I have made 8 of them . Thanks so much for sharing this pattern .
Kathy Herold
19 January 2018 at 5:15 pmJust need to ask a question. Do you skip a stitch between puffs.
Wilma
20 January 2018 at 5:25 amYes, I do. If you want a hat with less gaps/holes, you can make a puff stitch in every stitch. It takes more time and yarn, but will be warmer.
Puff Stitch Bun Hat with Decreases - Free Crochet Tutorials
9 July 2017 at 7:47 am[…] Pattern: Puff Stitch Bun Hat Free Pattern by Wilma […]
Pauline
11 February 2017 at 8:36 amHi . I love this video. Very well done. how much wool for a ladies hat did you use please.thankyou.
Linda Greer
23 January 2017 at 3:21 pmAbsolutely love this pattern,have made several of yours,but will need more patience to do winter snowflake pattern.keep crocheting and sharing.
phyllis
13 January 2017 at 12:15 amThank you so much for the pattern. It seems really fast to do. And I love you accent.
Felicia
9 January 2017 at 3:15 pmthank you for the pattern, i’m loving how it has turned out so far! I did change the brim a little bit to make it easier to stitch, but I love it!
Wilma
11 January 2017 at 10:45 amThank you Felicia!
Billie Jean
1 January 2017 at 7:54 pmLove your pattern. Made 6 for granddaughters for Christmas and making more.
Wyona Bridges
28 December 2016 at 1:32 amThank you for the written instructions!! I found the video first but the written instructions answered my questions about decrease. It is a lovely hat which I plan to make soon.
Julie
25 December 2016 at 9:31 pmWhat size yarn should be used ? Will worsted weight work ?
Wilma
25 December 2016 at 9:35 pmYes, I used worsted with crochet hook H/J (depending on the yarn).
April
20 December 2016 at 9:04 amJust a couple of questions can you let us know how much yarn did you need for the hat and also can you show us a version finishing it will an elastic hair band? I just love it but I’m not very advanced. However, I am a quick learner. Thank you for sharing.
tami
18 December 2016 at 4:21 pmI love this hat! Made for a gift 😀 and Im sure the receiver will love it! One note; My puff stitches looked really small, so instead of 3 loops, I used 6 and it turned out perfect! I also took out the chain 1 between puffs to begin decreasing 😉 Thank you for a great and easy pattern!
Barbara
15 December 2016 at 7:01 pmHi Wilma, I too love your teaching ability. I didn’t realize I am doing my hat with acrylic. Is this ok? Do I need to make some adjustments? You are doing a wonderful job and so young too. Barb.
Monica
15 December 2016 at 3:33 pmWhere you used 60/30 stitches, if I needed to make the hat smaller or larger, is there a particular multiple of a number I need to use for the repeat part of the pattern to work out?
Wilma
15 December 2016 at 3:38 pmHi Monica, just make sure you keep an even amount of stitches (which can be divided by 2). Because a puff stitch takes 2 stitches (one real puff stitch and one ‘chain/skip’). x
Tammy
15 December 2016 at 7:03 amHello is there a reason that my puff stitches look a loose?what can I do to correct the problem
Camille
15 December 2016 at 1:33 amIt’s beautiful! Just wanted to say Thank you!
Wilma
15 December 2016 at 3:40 pmThank you so much Camille <3
Ashley
14 December 2016 at 11:24 pmGood Evening Wilma,
I am confused with the decrease stitch “3pf, 2pf”
I watched the video but it only showed the “2pf, 2pf”
Could you explain more?
Thank you
Wilma
15 December 2016 at 12:37 amHi Ashley,
With *3pfs, 2pfs together* I mean you need to make 3 normal puff stitches and then decrease (2pfs together) like in the video below). Next round you’ll make 2 normal pfs and then decrease.
Hope this helps! If not, let me know 🙂
Ashley
15 December 2016 at 4:12 amHi wilma,
Definitely makes more sense. So for “3pf” is that a normal “pf?” I think I understand the “2pf” from the second video. I had to tear it apart anyways because the hat was too loose.
thanks in advance for your help!
Wilma
15 December 2016 at 3:40 pmExactly! Pfs is just a normal puff stitch and decrease means you combine 2 stitches to get less stitches in total. You’ll need to decrease at the end of the hat when you reach the desired height.
Laura
14 December 2016 at 7:13 pmI didn’t follow your pattern exactly, but it did help me start a hat that I made up as I went for my seven year old. Unfortunately, I made it a little too small, but it fits two year old perfectly. Since she doesn’t have enough hair for a ponytail, I closed up the he and added a pom pom. She won’t take it off. I’m going to go get more yarn and make a dozen or so for Christmas. They only take about an hour! What a great pattern and awesome videos. Don’t be self-conscious about your English to accent, I understood you perfectly!
Laura
14 December 2016 at 7:15 pmSorry about all my typos, I’m usually much better at catching them.
Wilma
14 December 2016 at 8:19 pmHi Laura,
Thank you so much. I’m glad the first version fits your youngest daughter. Also with a pom pom it’s a great hat! 🙂 Great solution! If you’re on Etsy, make sure to list these, I’ve heard many people are making great christmas sales with these hats! It’s really popular at this moment.
Thanks so much for your kind words, it really motivates me <3
Tara
14 December 2016 at 12:45 pmThank you so much!! Love the pattern!
Wilma
14 December 2016 at 8:24 pmThank you Tara! x
Veronica
14 December 2016 at 2:27 amWas wondering… if Inwanted to add a hair elastic, to make this for a bun rather than a ponytail…. should I just crochet around it in the final row of single crochet?? Any advice? Thanks!!
Wilma
14 December 2016 at 8:22 pmHi Veronica,
Yes, I think you can do that. Or maybe try working from the top to the bottom. In this case you need to increase instead of decrease. And the brim is a bit different to make, I think you can make chains + hdc + insert hook in the puff stitches. If you know what I mean.. A bit hard to explain!
Kay
14 December 2016 at 2:26 amHi…Can you tell me what yarn you used please?
Wilma
14 December 2016 at 8:24 pmHi Kay, I used stonewashed from a local store 🙂
Shauna
13 December 2016 at 11:19 pmBeautiful!! Do you happen to have a video on how to do the puff decreases? That’s the only part I’m stumped on. Thanks so much!!!
Wilma
13 December 2016 at 11:31 pmThank you dear Shauna! Yes I do, it’s the second video below this page 🙂
Jane Ann
13 December 2016 at 9:06 pmThank you. I’m returning to crocheting and really appreciate your video. I was able to transfer from laptop to TV for easier viewing. You do a wonderful demo. Very clear and easy to follow. Bless you.
Wilma
13 December 2016 at 10:17 pmHi Jane Ann,
Thank you so much for your kind words, you have no idea how much this did to me <3. I was so afraid to post the videos, because my English is really bad and I feel ashamed of the bad accent. These two videos above were my first uploads including a voice over, so your kind words were really comforting! Thanks again 🙂 x
Julie
13 December 2016 at 6:25 pmThank you for the pattern! The world needs more people like you. The first few people to post free patterns quickly got greedy and turned them into paid patterns instead. So naturally, I looked at their photos and made my own pattern ,which I would have loved to have shared but I’m inept in the ways of publishing patterns ~plus I don’t think I’d have enough patience for the people who ask a thousand follow up questions. For me it is enough that you shared your pattern graciously, I’ll figure out my own issues. Lol. Happy Holidays!
Wilma
13 December 2016 at 10:14 pmThank you so much! Your message put a smile on my face 🙂 Also, feel free to ask! I will share a longer instruction video as soon as possible!
Mandy
13 December 2016 at 6:17 pmHi i love the look of this pattern , but the instructions a are confusing . How do you start a new round of puff stitch?
Wilma
13 December 2016 at 10:12 pmHi,
Close the round with a slip stitch. Instead of chaining three, just make a long loop and count that as your first pull up 🙂 I’ve made a longer video showing this, I still have to edit it. Will post it as soon as possible!
Bella
13 December 2016 at 6:22 amHow do you move from one row of puff stitches to the next? Connect with slip stitch and chain 3?
Wilma
13 December 2016 at 10:13 pmHi Bella,
Yep, connect with a slip stitch. Instead of chaining three, just make a long loop and count that as your first pull up 🙂 I’ve made a longer video showing this, I still have to edit it. Will post it as soon as possible!
Christina
12 December 2016 at 9:01 pmHow’d you go from 60 stitches to 30 stitches? I had 50 stitches and started to do my puffs but then the hat didn’t fit… What does your puff stitch look like and into eat stitches….
Wilma
12 December 2016 at 9:44 pmHi Christina,
After a puff stitch you chain one and skip a stitch. This means 1 puff stitch takes 2 stitches (including the skipped stitch). I’ve added a video showing how to crochet a puff stitch. Hope this makes it more clear. If not, feel free to ask!
P.s. I also made my hat too small the first time, try making the puff stitches a bit less tight. Also, fit the hat on your own head a couple of times to make sure it’s not getting too small!
Tiffany
12 December 2016 at 4:53 amOkay so I’m not new but for some reason in the decrease rounds it’s increasing! Can anyone shed some light?
Wilma
12 December 2016 at 9:44 pmHi Tiffany, I added a video about how to decrease! Hope this helps. If you have any questions, feel free to ask 🙂
Tiffany
12 December 2016 at 11:26 pmThank you!!
Diane
11 December 2016 at 6:19 amSharp hat!! Thank you for the pattern!!
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10 December 2016 at 8:54 pm[…] Free Puff Stitch Bun Hat […]
Jan
10 December 2016 at 4:20 pmWhich puff stitch? The 5 loop, 7 loop, or 9 loop? How do you get only 30 stitches from 60? On subsequent rows, do you crochet into the puff stitch or is there a space between that you crochet into?
Wilma
10 December 2016 at 4:23 pmHi Jan,
After pulling up 9 loops, you make a chain to finish of the puff stitch, followed by another chain. Now you skip a stitch and start your next puff stitch. This means 1 puff stitch takes 2 stitches, 60 st = 30 puff stitches.
This indeed creates a space between the puff stitches. Next row you’ll make puff stitches in these gaps.
I used 9 loops (inserting the hook 4 times), but you can also do less or more loops if you prefer.
Hope this helps!
Michelle
9 December 2016 at 5:38 pmI love your pattern. Thank you so much for sharing
Danielle
9 December 2016 at 7:28 amI love this version. I think this will be the first one I try. Thank you.
Wilma
9 December 2016 at 5:33 pmThank you so much! 🙂 x