Crochet bird hat pattern
Want a hat that’s cute, cozy, and guaranteed to get compliments? This crochet bird hat pattern makes an adorable bird beanie with big eyes, a bright beak, and fun little hair curls on top.
It’s worked top down in the round, so you can control the fit as you go. The face pieces are simple add-ons, too—so you can make one for a baby photo, a toddler winter hat, a kid costume, or a matching adult hat for the “fun parent” win.
Scroll down for the free pattern, sizing, and all the details you need to get the face placement just right.
Quick answer
This crochet bird hat pattern is a top-down beanie worked in the round with worsted weight yarn (#4) and an I-9 (5.5 mm) hook. It includes baby, toddler, child, and adult sizes, with simple repeats for the hat and easy add-on pieces for the eyes, beak, and hair curls.
Why you’ll love this pattern
- It’s a full size range pattern — baby, toddler, child, and adult.
- The top-down construction makes it easy to adjust the fit while you crochet.
- The hat uses simple rounds, and the cute bird face comes together with quick add-ons.
- It’s a fun make for gifts, dress-up days, winter photos, and handmade holiday hats.
- You can change the “bird personality” fast just by swapping colors or tweaking the hair curls.
Who this pattern is best for
This pattern is best for you if you:
- want a cute animal hat that works up like a basic beanie (then gets the fun details added)
- like making matching sets for siblings, families, teams, or school spirit days
- prefer patterns with clear sizing and repeatable rounds
- want a project that feels playful, but still wearable as a real everyday hat
How the hat is constructed
The hat is made from the top down in the round.
You’ll start with a magic circle and increase rounds to build the crown. Once the crown reaches the size for your chosen head circumference, you’ll work even rounds to reach the correct height. After the beanie is finished, you’ll sew on the eyes and pupils, then add the beak and hair curls.
Crochet bird hat pattern details
Here’s everything you need to know before you start—skill level, materials, sizing, and gauge—so your bird beanie fits well and the face details land in the right spot.
Skill level
Beginner — This free crochet bird hat pattern uses basic stitches worked in simple repeats in the round, plus easy sewn-on face pieces.
Materials needed
- Crochet hook size I-9 (5.5 mm) — for the hat
- Crochet hook size H-8 (5 mm) — for the eyes, pupils, beak, and hair curls
- Worsted weight yarn (#4) — in black, white, blue, dark blue, and yellow
- Yarn needle — for weaving in ends neatly
- Scissors — to cut your yarn
- Stitch markers (optional) — helpful for keeping track of rounds and stitch counts
Finished size
This bird hat pattern includes four sizes.
- Baby — 14–15 inches (36–38 cm) head circumference, 6 inches tall (15 cm)
- Toddler — 18–19 inches (46–48 cm) head circumference, 7 inches (18 cm) tall
- Child — 19–20 inches (48–51 cm) head circumference, 7.75 inches (20 cm) tall
- Adult — 20–23 inches (51–58 cm) head circumference, 8 inches tall (20 cm)
How to adjust the fit of this crochet hat
Small changes can make a big difference. Here are the safest ways to tweak the fit without throwing off the look of the bird face. If you want help choosing the right size, understanding negative ease, or adjusting head circumference and height, my crochet hat sizing guide walks you through it step by step.
To adjust the width (head circumference):
- The crown increase rounds control the width.
- If the hat feels snug, add one more increase round before you start the even rounds.
- If the hat feels loose, stop increasing one round earlier.
To adjust the height:
- Add or remove rounds in the straight (even) section of the hat body.
- After you change height, re-check eye and beak placement so the face stays centered.
To fine-tune fit without changing the pattern:
- Go up a hook size if your hat is coming out too small.
- Go down a hook size if your hat is coming out too big.
- If you change hooks or yarn, re-check gauge so your finished size stays on track.
Gauge
15 stitches and 9 rows = 4 inches (10 cm)
If your swatch has too many stitches, try a larger hook.
If your swatch has too few stitches, try a smaller hook.
Crochet abbreviations
- dc = double crochet stitches
- hdc = half double crochet stitches
- hdc2tog = half double crochet decrease
- sc = single crochet stitches
- ch/chs = chain/chains
- st/sts = stitch/stitches
- sl st = slip stitch
Pattern notes
- Use an I-9 (5.5 mm) crochet hook for the hat
- Use an H-8 (5 mm) crochet hook for the eyes, pupils, beak, and hair curls
- Rounds 1-5 of the hat are the same for all sizes
- The pattern is worked in the round from the top of the hat down
- Repeat the instructions between the asterisks (*) for the rest of the round
- Unless otherwise stated, the face pieces are the same for all sizes
- The pattern is written in US crochet terms
Printable PDF pattern
If you prefer an easy, print-friendly version of this crochet bird hat pattern, a printable PDF is available in my Etsy shop. The PDF includes the full pattern instructions in a clean, ad-free format, making it perfect for printing or saving on your device.
Quick links
Rounds 1-5
Baby size
Toddler size
Child size
Adult size
Bird eyes
Bird pupils
Bird beak
Hair curls
Finishing
FAQs
Crochet bird hat pattern instructions
Rounds 1-5 are the same for all sizes.
Rounds 1-5
Round 1: Magic circle, ch 2, 11 dc, join with sl st to the top of the first dc (11 stitches)
Round 2: Ch 2, 2 dc in each st, join (22 stitches)
Round 3: Ch 2, *2 dc, dc in next st*, join (33 stitches)
Round 4: Ch 2, *2 dc, dc in next 2 sts*, join (44 stitches)
Round 5: Ch 2, *2 dc, dc in next 10 sts*, join (48 stitches)
Baby size
Rounds 6-14: Ch 2, dc in each st, join (48 stitches)
Fasten off and weave in your ends.
Toddler size
Round 6: Ch 2, *2 dc, dc in next 11 sts*, join (52 stitches)
Round 7: Ch 2, *2 dc, dc in next 12 sts*, join (56 stitches)
Rounds 8-17: Ch 2, dc in each st, join (56 stitches)
Fasten off and weave in your ends.
Child size
Round 6: Ch 2, *2 dc, dc in next 11 sts*, join (52 stitches)
Round 7: Ch 2, *2 dc, dc in next 12 sts*, join (56 stitches)
Round 8: Ch 2, *2 dc, dc in next 13 sts*, join (60 stitches)
Rounds 9-18: Ch 2, dc in each st, join (60 stitches)
Fasten off and weave in your ends.
Adult size
Round 6: Ch 2, *2 dc, dc in next 11 sts*, join (52 stitches)
Round 7: Ch 2, *2 dc, dc in next 12 sts*, join (56 stitches)
Round 8: Ch 2, *2 dc, dc in next 13 sts*, join (60 stitches)
Round 9: Ch 2, *2 dc, dc in next 14 sts*, join (64 stitches)
Rounds 10-19: Ch 2, dc in each st, join (64 stitches)
Fasten off and weave in your ends.
Bird eyes
Make 2 using white yarn.
Round 1: Magic ring, ch 2, 9 hdc, join with sl st to the top of the first hdc (9 stitches)
Round 2: Ch 2, 2 hdc in each st, join (18 stitches)
Round 3: Ch 2, *2 hdc, hdc in next st*, join (27 stitches)
Sew the eyes onto the hat. Make sure they are centered.
Bird pupils
Make 2 using black yarn.
Round 1: Magic circle, ch 2, 9 hdc, join with sl st to the top of the first hdc (9 stitches)
Use scrap pieces of white yarn to add the eye sparkle. Sew the pupils to the eyes.
Bird beak
Use yellow yarn.
Row 1: Ch 7, hdc in 3rd ch from the hook and in each rem ch, turn (5 stitches)
Row 2: Ch 2, hdc in each st, turn (5 stitches)
Row 3: Ch 2, hdc2tog, hdc in next st, hdc2tog, turn (3 stitches)
Row 4: Ch 2, hdc3tog (1 stitch)
Sew the beak onto the hat. It should be centered below the eyes.
Hair curls
Make 3 using blue yarn. I made the same color as the hat and made 2 using dark blue yarn.
Row 1: Ch 7, 3 hdc in 3rd ch from the hook and in each rem ch, turn (15 stitches)
If you want to make longer hair, just make a longer starting chain. Sew the hair curls to the top of the hat.
Finishing
Fasten off and then weave in the ends.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a different yarn weight?
Yes, but the size will change. For the same finished sizing, you’ll need to match gauge or adjust hook size and/or rounds.
What if my hat is taller or shorter than the size chart?
That’s an easy fix—add or remove rounds in the even section of the hat body, then re-check where the eyes and beak will sit.
Do the face pieces change for each size?
Most of the face pieces can stay the same across sizes. Just take a moment to center them based on the hat size you’re making.
How do I make the hair curls longer or shorter?
Change the starting chain. A longer chain makes longer curls; a shorter chain makes tighter curls.
Where should I place the eyes and beak?
Center the eyes first, then place the beak centered below them. Using stitch markers to “pin” placement before sewing helps a lot.
Can I sell finished hats made from this pattern?
You can include a standard permission line here (your usual policy). If you want, I can word it to match the exact wording you use across your hat patterns.
What’s the best way to weave in ends neatly?
Use a yarn needle and weave through multiple stitches, changing direction once to help lock the tail in place.
More free crochet animal hats
Love cute animal hats? You’re in the right place! This collection of free crochet animal hat patterns includes fun designs for every season and personality, from sweet farm animals to wild zoo favorites.
Each pattern is beginner-friendly and written in baby to adult sizes, so you can make matching hats for the whole family. They’re great for gifts, dress-up, photo props, school spirit days, and everyday cold-weather fun.
Pick your favorite animal and start crocheting a hat that makes everyone smile.
Let’s connect!
I’d love to see what you’re making! Share your finished project and follow along for more free crochet patterns and tutorials.
📌 Don’t forget to pin this pattern for later!
Happy crocheting! 🧶
— Melissa