Dog hat crochet pattern free: cozy hats for dogs

If you have been looking for a dog hat crochet pattern that is free, fast, and actually stays on your dog, this set of three is the one. Each hat is worked in soft worsted yarn with ear holes that let your dog hear and stay comfortable: a mustard yellow beanie with a pom pom, a dusty blue earflap hat with braided ties, and a red and cream striped beanie. One hat takes about an hour, so you can make the whole set in an evening, which makes them perfect for cold walks, holiday photos, or a last-minute gift for the dog lover in your life.

Why you'll love this dog hat crochet pattern

Most dog hat patterns fall into one of two traps: they are either so tight that the dog paws them off in seconds, or so loose that they slide down over the eyes and the dog refuses to move. These patterns dodge both. Each hat is worked in the round with a stretchy ribbed brim that grips gently without pinching, and the ear holes are placed to match where a dog's ears actually sit, so the hat stays put and the dog stays happy.

The construction is simple and forgiving. You crochet straight in joined rounds, so there is no seaming, no sewing the hat closed, and no fiddly join to hide. The shaping comes from simple increases, not from fancy stitches, so the pattern is mostly double crochet with a little half-double crochet for the ribbing. And because each hat uses only a few yards of yarn, you can make the whole set from the leftovers of bigger projects: the mustard from a scarf, the blue from a hat, the red from a blanket.

They are also the perfect gift and market make. A set of three in matching colours sells beautifully at craft fairs, and a single hat tucked into a birthday card turns a small gift into a thoughtful one. If you like quick pet makes, our crochet dog collar pattern is the natural next project: same worsted yarn, same one-evening speed, with a sturdy stitch instead of a brim. And the crochet weiner dog pattern is another dog lover's favourite.

Materials you'll need

A soft worsted-weight acrylic yarn is the best pick here: it is warm, it washes well, and it has enough stretch to fit comfortably over a dog's head. Wool blends work too and are warmer, but they need hand washing, which is a nuisance for a hat that will get muddy on walks. Avoid cotton yarn for dog hats: it has no stretch, so the hat will not grip, and it stays damp in the rain.

Yarn amounts by size (approximate): Small (toy breeds) — 45 yds per hat. Medium (beagles, dachshunds) — 60 yds per hat. Large (labs, shepherds) — 80 yds per hat. One 100 g ball of each colour makes one medium hat with yarn to spare.

A note on measuring your dog: measure around the widest part of your dog's head, just in front of the ears, and measure from the top of the head to the base of the ears. The hat should fit snugly but not tightly: if you can slip two fingers under the brim, the fit is right. Always measure before you start, because dog heads vary far more than human heads.

Size, gauge and skill level

Each hat is worked in joined rounds from the crown down. Use a stitch marker in the first stitch of every round.

• Finished size (medium): about 14 in (36 cm) around the brim, 6 in (15 cm) tall from crown to brim, with two ear holes about 2 in (5 cm) wide. The ribbed brim stretches about 2 in (5 cm) to fit.
• Gauge: 14 dc and 8 rows = 4 in (10 cm) with a 5.0 mm hook. Gauge matters here, because a hat that is too big slides over the eyes and a hat that is too small pinches. Check your gauge before you start: if your stitches are looser than the gauge, go down half a hook size.
• Skill level: beginner. You should know how to chain, double crochet, half-double crochet, and slip stitch. The ear holes are just chains skipped over a few stitches.

If you have never crocheted a hat in the round before, this is the perfect first project: the crown increases are simple and regular, the rounds are short, and you will finish your first hat in about an hour. If the first round feels awkward, work it loosely: the crown will tighten up as you add rounds.

Abbreviations — US terms

A note on the ear holes: the ear holes are made by chaining over a few stitches in one round and then working into those chains on the next round. It sounds tricky but it is just a chain space: if you can chain, you can make an ear hole. Try the hole placement on your dog before you finish the brim, so you can move the holes if they sit wrong.

The pattern (US terms)

Work each hat in joined rounds from the crown down. Join each round with a slip stitch to the top of the starting chain. Instructions below are for the medium size, with small and large in brackets: small (medium, large).

Mustard yellow beanie — the classic

With color A (mustard yellow) and a 5.0 mm hook, start at the crown.

• Round 1: magic ring, ch 3 (counts as dc), 11 dc in ring, join. [12]
• Round 2: ch 3, dc in same st, 2 dc in each st around, join. [24]
• Round 3: ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next st, 2 dc in next st; rep from * around, join. [36]
• Round 4: ch 3, dc in same st, *2 dc, 2 dc in next st; rep from * around, join. [48 (36, 60)]
• Rounds 5-8: ch 3, dc in each st around, join. [48 (36, 60)]
• Ear hole round (Round 9): ch 3, dc in next 9 (7, 11) sts, ch 4, skip 4 sts, dc in next 14 (11, 17) sts, ch 4, skip 4 sts, dc in remaining sts, join.
• Round 10: ch 3, dc in each st and each ch around, join. [48 (36, 60)]

Work 5 body rounds for the small size, 6 for medium, and 7 for large, with the ear hole round as the last body round before the brim. The ear holes should sit about a third of the way around from each other: if they look too close together, move them two stitches further apart on your next hat.

Brim: work 3 rounds of half-double crochet in the back loop only, which makes a stretchy ribbed edge. Ch 2, hdc in the back loop of each st around, join. Repeat for 3 rounds, then fasten off.

Pom pom: make a pom pom about 2.5 in (6 cm) across from the same yarn, using a pom pom maker or two circles of cardboard. Trim it round and fluffy, then sew it firmly to the top of the crown with strong thread, going through the stitches several times so it cannot pull off.

Dusty blue earflap hat — the cosy one

With color B (dusty blue) and a 5.0 mm hook, work the crown and body exactly as for the beanie, Rounds 1 to 10, including the ear holes.

Earflaps: with the hat right side out, join the yarn to the brim at the back of the hat, 4 stitches to the left of centre. Work in rows: ch 2, hdc in the next 8 (7, 9) sts, turn. Work 4 rows of hdc, decreasing 1 stitch at each end of every row, until 2 stitches remain. Fasten off. Repeat for the second earflap, starting 4 stitches to the right of centre at the back.

Braided ties: cut six strands of yarn, each about 12 in (30 cm) long, for each earflap. Thread three strands through the tip of the earflap, fold them in half, and braid the six strands together. Knot the end firmly and trim the tassel even. The ties should be long enough to tie under your dog's chin with a small bow.

Red and cream striped beanie — the cheerful one

With color C (red and cream) and a 5.0 mm hook, work the crown and body as for the beanie, changing colour every two rounds: red for Rounds 1 and 2, cream for Rounds 3 and 4, red for Rounds 5 and 6, cream for Rounds 7 and 8, red for the ear hole round, and cream for the brim.

Colour changes: change colour on the last yarn over of the last stitch of the round, so the new colour starts cleanly at the join. Carry the unused colour loosely up the inside of the hat instead of cutting it each time: it saves yarn and saves you weaving in a dozen ends.

Brim: work the brim in cream, 3 rounds of half-double crochet in the back loop only. Fasten off and weave in all the ends on the inside of the hat, so nothing rough touches your dog's head.

Finishing each hat

Fasten off, leaving a 6 in tail. Weave the tail into the wrong side of the hat for at least 2 in, working it through the base of the stitches near the crown so it cannot wriggle out. Trim the tail flush and the end will disappear inside the stitches. Then try the hat on your dog: the ear holes should sit over the ears with the ears poking through, and the brim should sit just above the eyes. If the hat slides down, work the brim one round tighter on your next hat.

Let your dog sniff the hat first and give a treat when they let you put it on. Most dogs accept a hat within a few minutes if you go slowly and keep it cheerful.

Finishing touches

Take five unhurried minutes here: it is the difference between homemade and handmade.

Block the hat lightly. Lay the hat flat on a towel, shape the brim, and mist it lightly with water. Let it dry completely before you put it on your dog. Blocking evens out the stitches and sets the ribbing so the brim stays stretchy. Do not stretch the hat while blocking: the brim should keep its gentle grip.

Check the ear holes. Hold the hat up and look at the ear holes. They should be even, clean-edged, and big enough for your dog's ears to pass through without bending. If a hole looks tight, work one more chain into it on your next hat.

Three cute variations to try next

Once you have made one set, the same crown makes a whole wardrobe of dog hats. Same construction, three personalities:

1. Dog snood. Work the beanie crown and body, then keep going for 6 more rounds without a brim, so the hat becomes a snood that covers the ears and neck. It is the warmest option for short-haired dogs in winter.
2. Dog ear warmer. Work only the brim rounds, 6 rounds of ribbed half-double crochet, and skip the crown entirely. An ear warmer keeps the ears warm without covering the head, and most dogs tolerate it better than a full hat. For more ear-warming makes, the crochet earflap hat free pattern is the human version of the same idea.
3. Holiday dog hat. Work the striped beanie in red and green, add a white pom pom, and sew a tiny white brim to the front. The holiday hat is the fanciest of the set and makes wonderful Christmas card photos. If you like holiday pet makes, the shih tzu crochet pattern is another dog lover's favourite.

And if these hats gave you the pet-make bug, the free crochet hat pattern is the human version of the same beanie: same crown, same one-evening speed, for the owner instead of the dog. Or keep it canine with the crochet weiner dog pattern, a dachshund amigurumi that wears a tiny hat of its own.

Troubleshooting tips

• The hat slides down over your dog's eyes. The brim is too loose or the hat is too big. Work the brim rounds with a hook half a size smaller, or go down one size in the pattern.
• Your dog paws the hat off immediately. The hat is probably uncomfortable, not just unfamiliar. Check that the ear holes sit over the ears, that no yarn ends poke the head, and that the brim is not too tight. Introduce the hat slowly with treats.
• The ear holes are in the wrong place. Dog ears sit further back than most people expect. Measure from the top of the head to the base of the ears and place the holes to match, rather than guessing.
• The crown looks pointy. You worked the increases too slowly. Add one more increase round at the crown, or work Round 4 with two stitches between increases instead of three.
• The stripes jog at the join. You changed colour in the middle of a stitch. Always change colour on the last yarn over of the last stitch of the round, so the new colour starts cleanly.
• The pom pom falls off. You sewed it through only one stitch. Sew the pom pom through the crown stitches at least four times, in different directions, and knot the thread firmly inside the hat.

Frequently asked questions

Is this dog hat crochet pattern really free?

Yes, the complete patterns above are free, no email signup, no PDF purchase required.

What skill level is this dog hat pattern?

Beginner. If you can chain, double crochet, half-double crochet, and slip stitch, you have every skill these patterns need. The ear holes are just chain spaces.

How long does it take to make one dog hat?

About 1 hour for the medium size: roughly 20 minutes for the crown, 25 minutes for the body and ear holes, and 15 minutes for the brim and finishing. The whole set of three takes about three hours.

How much yarn do I need?

About 60 yds per medium hat in worsted-weight yarn. One 100 g ball of each colour makes one medium hat with yarn to spare, so a set of three needs less than one ball of each colour.

Will the hat stay on my dog?

Yes, if the fit is right. The ribbed brim grips gently, the ear holes anchor the hat, and the earflap ties can be tied under the chin for extra security. Always check the fit with two fingers under the brim: snug, not tight.

Can I wash a crocheted dog hat?

Yes. Hand wash in cool water with a little gentle soap, squeeze out the water without wringing, and lay flat to dry. Acrylic hats can go in the machine on a gentle cold cycle, but hand washing keeps the shape better.

Can I sell the finished hats I make?

Yes! You may sell finished hats made from these patterns in small batches (craft fairs, markets, gifts). Please credit Little Loop Finds as the pattern designer with a link back to this page.

More free patterns to try

If these hats were fun, keep the hook moving. The crochet dog collar pattern is the matching pet accessory, the crochet weiner dog pattern is another dog lover's favourite, the shih tzu crochet pattern is a cute companion make, and the free crochet hat pattern is the human version of the same beanie.