Get Your Child Crocheting This Summer with These Project Ideas!

Where I live here in Canada, we are deep into summer. I’m so excited about that, as I’m a summer person, big time. When it comes to crochet, summer is a wonderful time of year for kids to dive into this hobby. I absolutely love crocheting in the summer, but my choice in crochet projects does change with the seasons. I find it way too hot to work on a heavy blanket when the weather is hot.

Over the past 2 1/2 years of teaching kids to crochet, I have gathered a long list of project ideas from my students that are perfect for this time of year. I have narrowed down my list to the top 6 most popular crochet project ideas in 5 categories that will keep your child hooked this summer.

Tote bags

One of my favourite things about summer is visiting local farmers markets, or going to the beach. For both of these activities, a durable bag is really helpful. These are a great project for your child to make in the summer.

There are so many different designs your child could use for their bag. I’ve made two different versions in the past. One of my favourite things to crochet are granny squares. I filmed a course on granny squares last year, and turned my completed squares into the bag in the picture below. It is one of my favourite crochet pieces I’ve ever made. There are so many different ways to make a bag using granny squares.

Another summer-appropriate tote bag option is a mesh bag. These are most often made of cotton, and can expand to hold a lot of stuff. They are durable and easy to clean. I have made several in the past.

Stuffed animals

Stuffed animals are on my project ideas list year round, as they are hands-down the most requested projects from my students. There are so many different options out there to choose from, but I chose to recommend a pattern I designed in the summer of 2025, that my students absolutely loved. As the ocean and water in general is a great way to cool down in the summer, I designed this turtle stuffed animal pattern for my students. I have become attached to this little stuffie. I let my students pick his name, and we decided on Fred. He now lives in my office and keeps me company while I’m working. I have also made 4 more turtles for my nephews and to donate to local charities.

Some other ideas for summer stuffed animals include fish, octopi, popsicles, flowers, and so much more. Any crochet stuffed animal that your child wants to make is a great idea for this time of year.

Sun hats

The sun is incredibly bright and hot this time of year. It is so important for your child to protect their head and eyes from the sun. So, why not let them crochet their own sun hat. I’ve made a few of them over the years. Along the same theme of granny squares I was talking about earlier, I made a granny square bucket hat pattern for my students last fall. Here is what it turned out like.

If I were to make a summer-appropriate bucket hat, I would do two things differently. First, I would use light coloured yarn so it’s not as hot on my head in the heat of the day. Second, I would use cotton yarn instead of acrylic, as it’s lighter, has better structure, and it doesn’t hold onto moisture and sweat as much.

Clothing

When people think of crocheted clothing, a lot of people think about sweaters and cardigans. Summer is actually a perfect time to crochet clothing, and there are so many options. Things like tank tops, t-shirts, shorts, skirts, sundresses, and more. Although I knit mine instead of crocheted, I recently finished making a summer tank top, my first knitted top in my wardrobe. There are so many wonderful patterns online for summer crocheted clothing.

There are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to yarn for summer clothing. I wouldn’t go with synthetic yarns, bulky yarns, or wool. They are just way too hot for the summer months. Instead, go with light weight, plant based yarns like cotton, linen or bamboo. I made my tank top with 100% cotton yarn, and it’s perfect for summer. I would also recommend choosing a thinner yarn, so the finished fabric isn’t too hot or heavy.

Reusable household and personal items

Sometimes your child just wants to spend a quiet afternoon working on a crochet project they can finish in just a few hours. In this case, there are a lot of project ideas for the home or small fashion accessories that would fit perfectly into this category. I have two ideas for you.

The first idea is to have your child crochet dishcloths for your kitchen. I know this might not be the most exciting crochet project ever, however, I feel it’s a great project for kids. It teaches kids how to count their stitches in their rows and prevent their work from getting wider or narrower. It is also a great project to get them used to working with cotton yarn. I recommend using cotton yarn for dishcloths, as it’s durable and doesn’t hold onto stains as much as synthetic yarns. I have made countless dishcloths over the years. The one pictured below is crocheted in the moss stitch.

The second idea that fits into this category is hair scrunchies. I have made more of these than I can count at this point. They were the most popular item I sold in my previous crochet business when I sold my creations in my online shop (that business closed in 2023). There are a lot of pattern options when it comes to crochet hair scrunchies. I liked to make them with superfine #1 weight yarn, but thicker yarn works as well.

Reusable water balloons

Here’s a fun idea for your child, that came directly from one of my crochet camp students last summer. She told me about how her siblings like to have water balloon fights in the summer to stay cool, but she was concerned about the plastic waste that results from that. Her request from me to was to create a crochet pattern for a reusable water balloon. It took me a couple days to figure it out, but I was successful. Unfortunately I don’t have a photo of mine to share with you, but you can find patterns online. I’d recommend using acrylic yarn for this project, as it really holds onto a lot of water and takes a long time to dry.

Okay, there you have it. My top 6 crochet project ideas for summer. What are your kids going to be crocheting this summer? Let me know in the comments!

Please let me know if you have any questions about the topics I covered in this post in the comments down below. I have lots more crochet content on the way, and new articles are released here on the blog every other Tuesday. If your child would like to learn to crochet with me, check out my FREE Crochet Starter Guide here.