Free crochet cat hat patterns: cozy kitty hats

If you have been searching for free crochet cat hat patterns that are cute, quick, and actually comfortable to wear, this set of three is the one. Each hat is worked in soft worsted-weight yarn with pointy cat ears that stand up on their own: a dusty rose classic beanie, a sage green earflap hat for cold days, and a striped tabby hat in cream and grey. One hat takes about an hour, so you can make the whole set in an evening.

Why you'll love these free crochet cat hat patterns

Most crochet cat hat patterns fall into one of two traps: the ears are either so floppy that they droop like a sad bunny, or so stiff that the hat looks like a costume and feels like one too. These patterns dodge both. The ears are worked as small triangles with a simple shaping sequence that makes them stand up on their own, and the hat body is worked in half-double crochet, which gives it a soft, stretchy fabric that fits comfortably without squeezing.

The construction is simple and forgiving. You start with a magic ring at the crown and increase evenly until the hat reaches the right circumference, then work straight down to the brim. There is no seaming, no sewing the hat closed, and no fiddly join to hide. The ears are crocheted separately and sewn on with a few stitches, so you can place them exactly where you like them, and you can even make the hat first and decide on the ears later.

Materials you'll need

A soft worsted-weight acrylic yarn is the best pick here: it is warm, washable, and comes in beautiful colours, and it holds the ear shaping well. A wool blend is even warmer and gives the hat a lovely drape, but it needs hand washing, so think about who will wear the hat before you choose. Avoid very slippery or very fluffy yarn for cat hats: slippery yarn makes the ears droop, and fluffy yarn hides the stitch definition that makes the ears look crisp.

Yarn amounts by size (approximate): Baby (0–12 months) — 80 yds. Child (2–6 years) — 100 yds. Adult — 120 yds. One 100 g ball of worsted yarn (about 200 yds) makes one adult hat with yarn to spare, or a child hat and a baby hat together.

Size, gauge and skill level

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

• Finished size (adult): about 20–22 in (51–56 cm) around, 8 in (20 cm) from crown to brim. The fabric is stretchy, so one adult size fits most heads comfortably.
• Gauge: 14 hdc and 10 rows = 4 in (10 cm) with a 5.0 mm hook. Gauge matters here because a hat that is too tight will not fit, and a hat that is too loose will slide down over the eyes. Check your gauge before you start, and go up or down a hook size if your stitches are tighter or looser than the pattern gauge.
• Skill level: beginner. You should know how to chain, half-double crochet, single crochet, and slip stitch. The increases are simple and evenly spaced, and the ears are just a small triangle worked in rows.

Abbreviations — US terms

A note on the magic ring: start each hat with a magic ring and work the first round into it, then pull the tail tight to close the hole. Weave the tail in firmly so the crown cannot open up.

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 adult size, with baby and child in brackets: baby (child, adult).

Dusty rose classic beanie — the pointy-ear hat

With color A (dusty rose) and a 5.0 mm hook, start with a magic ring.

• Round 1: ch 2 (counts as hdc), work 9 hdc into the ring, join with sl st to top of ch 2. [10]
• Round 2: ch 2, 2 hdc in each st around, join. [20]
• Round 3: ch 2, *hdc in next st, 2 hdc in next st; rep from * around, join. [30]
• Round 4: ch 2, *hdc in next 2 sts, 2 hdc in next st; rep from * around, join. [40]
• Round 5: ch 2, *hdc in next 3 sts, 2 hdc in next st; rep from * around, join. [50]
• Round 6 (child and adult only): ch 2, *hdc in next 4 sts, 2 hdc in next st; rep from * around, join. [60]

For the baby size, stop increasing after Round 5 and adjust: work Round 5 as *hdc in next 3 sts, 2 hdc in next st, then work one round of hdc in the next st only where needed to reach 44 stitches, spacing the extra increases evenly. For the child size, stop after Round 5 and work one round with 2 evenly spaced increases to reach 52 stitches. For the adult size, stop after Round 6 at 60 stitches.

• Rounds 7–16 (baby: Rounds 6–11; child: Rounds 7–14): ch 2, hdc in each st around, join. Work even until the hat measures 5.5 in (baby), 6.5 in (child), or 8 in (adult) from the crown.
• Brim: ch 1, sc in each st around, join. Repeat the sc round once more for a firmer brim edge. Fasten off and weave in the ends.

Ears (make 2): With color A, ch 11. Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. [10] Row 2: ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc in next 6 sts, sc2tog. [8] Row 3: ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. [8] Row 4: ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc in next 4 sts, sc2tog. [6] Row 5: ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. [6] Row 6: ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc in next 2 sts, sc2tog. [4] Row 7: ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. [4] Row 8: ch 1, turn, sc2tog twice. [2] Row 9: ch 1, turn, sc2tog. [1] Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Work a round of sc around the two straight edges of the ear if you want a firmer edge. Sew each ear to the top of the hat, about 3 in apart, with the point facing up and slightly outward.

Sage green earflap hat — the cold-day kitty

With color B (sage green) and a 5.0 mm hook, work the hat body exactly as for the classic beanie, but stop the straight rounds 1 in shorter than the finished height, because the earflaps add coverage at the sides.

• Hat body: Work Rounds 1–6 (or the baby and child equivalents) as above, then work even in hdc until the hat measures 4.5 in (baby), 5.5 in (child), or 7 in (adult) from the crown. Do not work the sc brim rounds yet.
• Earflaps (make 2, worked onto the hat): With the hat right side out, count 14 stitches at the side of the hat for the first flap, mark them, and join color B at the first marked stitch. Row 1: ch 1, sc in each of the 14 marked sts. [14] Row 2: ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc in next 10 sts, sc2tog. [12] Row 3: ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. [12] Row 4: ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc in next 8 sts, sc2tog. [10] Row 5: ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. [10] Row 6: ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc in next 6 sts, sc2tog. [8] Row 7: ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. [8] Row 8: ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc in next 4 sts, sc2tog. [6] Row 9: ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. [6] Row 10: ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc in next 2 sts, sc2tog. [4] Row 11: ch 1, turn, sc2tog twice. [2] Fasten off. Repeat for the second flap on the opposite side of the hat, leaving 14 stitches between the flaps at the front and 14 at the back.
• Edging and ties: Join color B at the back of the hat and work a round of sc around the whole lower edge, including down one side of each earflap, across its point, and up the other side. This gives the flaps a neat edge. For ties, chain 30 at the tip of each earflap, then slip stitch back along the chain to the flap. Fasten off and weave in the ends.
• Ears: Make 2 ears exactly as for the classic beanie, in sage green, and sew them to the top of the hat.

Striped tabby hat — the cream and grey cat

With colors C (cream) and grey, and a 5.0 mm hook, work the hat body as for the classic beanie, changing colours every two rounds to make stripes.

• Rounds 1–2: Work in cream. Round 1: magic ring, 10 hdc. Round 2: increase to 20.
• Rounds 3–4: Change to grey. Round 3: increase to 30. Round 4: increase to 40.
• Rounds 5–6: Change to cream. Round 5: increase to 50. Round 6 (adult): increase to 60.
• Straight rounds: Continue the two-round stripes, alternating cream and grey, working even in hdc until the hat reaches the finished height. Carry the unused colour up the inside of the hat if you prefer not to cut the yarn each time, or cut and weave in the ends for a cleaner inside.
• Brim: Work 2 rounds of sc in grey. Fasten off and weave in the ends.
• Ears: Make 2 ears in grey, following the ear instructions above, and sew them to the top of the hat. For a tabby look, embroider three short grey stripes on each ear with the tapestry needle, or work the last two rows of each ear in grey if the ear is cream.
• Face (optional): With dark pink yarn, embroider a small triangle nose on the front of the hat, about 2 in above the brim, and add three short whisker stitches on each side. Keep the stitches small and neat, and knot the yarn on the inside of the hat.

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 fabric. Check the ears: they should sit evenly, about 3 in apart, pointing up and slightly outward. If one ear leans, re-sew it with the base a little wider apart.

Finishing touches

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

Block them lightly. Lay the hats flat on a towel, shape the crown and the ears, and mist them lightly with water. Let them dry completely before you stack or gift them. Blocking evens out the stitches and sets the ears so they stay pointed. Do not stretch the hats while blocking: the fabric should keep its gentle stretch.

Three cute variations to try next

Once you have made one set, the same crown-down construction makes a whole drawer of cat hats. Same shaping, three personalities:

1. Chunky winter cat hat. Use bulky (#5) yarn and a 6.0 mm hook, and work the same stitch counts. Your gauge will be looser, so the hat comes out bigger and warmer, and it works up in about forty minutes. It is the cosiest cat hat you will own.
2. Kitten hat for a pet. Work the baby size in a soft cotton yarn, and leave off the earflaps. Measure your cat's head first: most cats need a circumference of about 11–12 in, which is smaller than the baby size, so work one fewer increase round. Never leave a hat on a pet unsupervised, and take it off if the cat shows any sign of stress.
3. Striped rainbow cat hat. Work the classic beanie in stripes of three or four bright colours, changing every two rounds. A rainbow cat hat uses up half balls from your yarn basket and looks adorable in photos.

Troubleshooting tips

• Your ears droop instead of standing up. Your yarn is too soft, or the ears are too tall. Work the ears with a hook half a size smaller, or work a round of single crochet around the ear edges to firm them up.
• The hat is too tight and will not fit. Your gauge is tighter than the pattern, or you stopped increasing too soon. Go up a hook size, or add one more increase round before the straight section.
• The hat is too loose and slides down. Your gauge is looser than the pattern, or you worked too many increase rounds. Go down a hook size, or work the straight section one round shorter.
• The crown looks wavy or ruffled. You worked too many increases. Frog back one round and work the increases with one more plain stitch between them.
• The crown cups like a bowl. You worked too few increases. Frog back one round and work the increases with one fewer plain stitch between them.
• The stripes jog at the join. That is normal for stripes worked in the round. Slip stitch into the first stitch of the new colour, then chain 2 and continue: the jog will sit at the back of the hat where nobody sees it.

Frequently asked questions

Are these free crochet cat hat patterns really free?

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

What skill level are these cat hat patterns?

Beginner. If you can half-double crochet, single crochet, and slip stitch, you have every skill these patterns need. The increases are simple and evenly spaced.

How long does it take to make one cat hat?

About one hour for the adult size: roughly 15 minutes for the crown increases, 30 minutes for the straight rounds, and 15 minutes for the ears and finishing. The earflap version takes about 15 minutes longer.

How much yarn do I need?

About 120 yds of worsted-weight yarn per adult hat, 100 yds for a child hat, and 80 yds for a baby hat. One 100 g ball of worsted yarn (about 200 yds) makes one adult hat with yarn to spare.

Will the ears stay pointy after washing?

Yes, if you wash gently and reshape the ears while the hat is damp. Hand wash in cool water, lay flat to dry, and pinch the ears back into points before the hat dries.

Can I make a cat hat for my cat?

Yes, with care. Work the baby size with one fewer increase round, use soft cotton yarn, and never leave the hat on your cat unsupervised.

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 cat hats were fun, keep the hook moving. The free crochet cat sweater pattern is the matching piece for your cat, the crochet cat pattern free is another feline favourite, the floppy cat crochet pattern uses the same stripe rhythm in a soft plush, and the crochet dinosaur hat pattern is the next animal hat to try.