Landscape featured image showing four crochet ear flap hats with long braided ties beside large text reading “Crochet Hat With Ear Flaps Pattern” and “Free Pattern,” with bright pink, teal, black, and white typography.

Crochet hat with ear flaps pattern

ByMelissa Hassler

Looking for a free crochet hat with ear flaps pattern? This cozy winter hat is worked from the top down in simple double crochet stitches and includes baby, toddler, child, and adult sizes.

Add the ear flaps and braided ties for extra warmth, then customize your hat with different colors, stripes, or a pom pom.

Quick answer
This crochet hat with ear flaps pattern is a beginner-friendly hat worked from the top down using simple stitches and worsted weight yarn. It includes baby, toddler, child, and adult sizes and features warm ear flaps with braids for a cozy winter finish.

Best for: Beginners
Style: Top-down hat with ear flaps
Includes: Baby, toddler, child, and adult sizes, ear flaps, and braided ties

Why you’ll love this crochet earflap hat

  • Warm and practical: The ear flaps keep little (and big) ears cozy in cold weather.
  • Size inclusive: Includes sizes for baby, toddler, child, and adult.
  • Beginner-friendly: Simple double crochet stitches and easy shaping—no tricky techniques required.
  • Customizable: Change colors, add stripes, or top it off with a pom pom or braided ties.
  • Quick to make: Perfect for last-minute gifts or weekend crochet sessions.

This hat is made with double crochet stitches. If you need help with the stitch, see my how to double crochet tutorial.

Crochet hat with ear flaps pattern details

Here’s a quick overview of the materials, sizing, gauge, and pattern notes before you begin.

Skill level

Beginner — This hat pattern uses basic stitches and simple shaping, making it an easy and fun project for new crocheters.

Avoid frustration by learning the most common crochet mistakes beginners make and how to fix them.

Materials needed

  • I-9 (5.5 mm) crochet hook
  • Worsted weight yarn (#4)
  • Yarn needle
  • Scissors
  • Stitch markers (optional)

Finished size

This crochet hat pattern includes four sizes.

  • Baby — 16–17 inches (41–43 cm) head circumference, 6.25 inches (16 cm) tall
  • Toddler — 18–19 inches (46–48 cm) head circumference, 6.75 inches (17 cm) tall
  • Child — 19–20 inches (48–51 cm) head circumference, 7 inches (18 cm) tall
  • Adult — 20–23 inches (51–58 cm) head circumference, 7.75 inches (20 cm) tall

See my crochet hat sizing guide for full details and size charts.

Square graphic featuring white, pink, teal, and pale mint crochet ear flap hats beside bold text reading “Crochet Hat With Ear Flaps” and a teal “Free Pattern” banner, with Lovable Loops by Melissa Hassler branding.

Gauge

16 stitches × 10 rounds = 4 inches (10 cm)

  • Too many stitches? Try a larger hook
  • Too few stitches? Try a smaller hook

Learn how to check crochet gauge before you begin so you can adjust your hook size if needed.

Crochet abbreviations

  • dc = double crochet
  • sc = single crochet
  • sc2tog = single crochet decrease
  • ch / chs = chain / chains
  • st / sts = stitch / stitches
  • sl st = slip stitch

Pattern notes

  • Begin with a magic circle
  • The starting chain does not count as a stitch
  • Join each round with a slip stitch to the first stitch
  • Hat is worked from the top down in the round
  • The pattern is written in US crochet terms
Pinterest graphic showing four colorful crochet hats with ear flaps and ties beneath large text reading “Crochet Ear Flap Hat Pattern,” plus a teal “Free Crochet Pattern” banner and “Fun to Make and Fun to Wear.”

Quick links

Baby size hat
Toddler size hat
Child size hat
Adult size hat
Add ear flaps (baby size)
Add ear flaps (toddler–adult sizes)
Braids
Finishing
FAQs

Free crochet hat with ear flaps pattern instructions

This crochet earflap hat is worked from the top down in double crochet stitches. Choose your size below, complete the hat body, then add the ear flaps and braided ties.

Baby size hat

Round 1: Make a magic circle. Ch 2, work 11 dc into the ring. Join. (11 sts)
Round 2: Ch 2, 2 dc in each st around. Join. (22 sts)
Round 3: Ch 2, *2 dc in next st, dc in next st; repeat from * around. Join. (33 sts)
Round 4: Ch 2, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 2 sts; repeat around. Join. (44 sts)
Round 5: Ch 2, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 10 sts; repeat around. Join. (48 sts)
Round 6: Ch 2, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 11 sts; repeat around. Join. (52 sts)
Round 7: Ch 2, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 12 sts; repeat around. Join. (56 sts)
Rounds 8–13: Ch 2, dc in each st around. Join. (56 sts)

Toddler size hat

Round 1: Make a magic circle. Ch 2, work 11 dc into the ring. Join. (11 sts)
Round 2: Ch 2, 2 dc in each st around. Join. (22 sts)
Round 3: Ch 2, *2 dc in next st, dc in next st; repeat from * around. Join. (33 sts)
Round 4: Ch 2, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 2 sts; repeat around. Join. (44 sts)
Round 5: Ch 2, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 10 sts; repeat around. Join. (48 sts)
Round 6: Ch 2, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 11 sts; repeat around. Join. (52 sts)
Round 7: Ch 2, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 12 sts; repeat around. Join. (56 sts)
Round 8: Ch 2, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 13 sts; repeat around. Join. (60 sts)
Rounds 9–15: Ch 2, dc in each st around. Join. (60 sts)

Child size hat

Round 1: Make a magic circle. Ch 2, work 11 dc into the ring. Join. (11 sts)
Round 2: Ch 2, 2 dc in each st around. Join. (22 sts)
Round 3: Ch 2, *2 dc in next st, dc in next st; repeat from * around. Join. (33 sts)
Round 4: Ch 2, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 2 sts; repeat around. Join. (44 sts)
Round 5: Ch 2, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 10 sts; repeat around. Join. (48 sts)
Round 6: Ch 2, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 11 sts; repeat around. Join. (52 sts)
Round 7: Ch 2, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 12 sts; repeat around. Join. (56 sts)
Round 8: Ch 2, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 13 sts; repeat around. Join. (60 sts)
Round 9: Ch 2, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 14 sts; repeat around. Join. (64 sts)
Rounds 10–16: Ch 2, dc in each st around. Join. (64 sts)

Adult size hat

Round 1: Make a magic circle. Ch 2, work 11 dc into the ring. Join with a sl st to the top of the first dc. (11 sts)
Round 2: Ch 2, 2 dc in each st around. Join. (22 sts)
Round 3: Ch 2, *2 dc in next st, dc in next st; repeat from * around. Join. (33 sts)
Round 4: Ch 2, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 2 sts; repeat around. Join. (44 sts)
Round 5: Ch 2, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 10 sts; repeat around. Join. (48 sts)
Round 6: Ch 2, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 11 sts; repeat around. Join. (52 sts)
Round 7: Ch 2, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 12 sts; repeat around. Join. (56 sts)
Round 8: Ch 2, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 13 sts; repeat around. Join. (60 sts)
Round 9: Ch 2, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 14 sts; repeat around. Join. (64 sts)
Round 10: Ch 2, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 15 sts; repeat around. Join. (68 sts)
Rounds 11–17: Ch 2, dc in each st around. Join. (68 sts)

Crochet hat with ear flaps displayed from an angled view, featuring braided ties and multiple color options in a free beginner crochet hat pattern

Adding the ear flaps

Begin the first ear flap where you ended the last round of your hat. Then, refer to the chart below for placement of the second ear flap.

SizeFront of HatBack of Hat
Baby & Toddlerleave 18 stitches in frontleave 14 stitches in back
Childleave 20 stitches in frontleave 16 stitches in back
Adultleave 22 stitches in frontleave 18 stitches in back

Baby size ear flaps

  • Row 1: Ch 1, sc in 12 sts, turn (12 stitches)
  • Row 2: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in 8 sts, sc2tog, turn (10 stitches)
  • Row 3: Ch 1, sc in each st, turn (10 stitches)
  • Row 4: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in 6 sts, sc2tog, turn (8 stitches)
  • Row 5: Ch 1, sc in each st, turn (8 stitches)
  • Row 6: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in 4 sts, sc2tog, turn (6 stitches)
  • Row 7: Ch 1, sc in each st, turn (6 stitches)
  • Row 8: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in 2 sts, sc2tog, turn (4 stitches)
  • Row 9: Ch 1, sc in each st, turn (4 stitches)
  • Row 10: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc2tog, turn (2 stitches)
  • Row 11: Ch 1, sc2tog (1 stitch)
  • Repeat for second ear flap and then continue to single crochet around entire hat and both ear flaps.

Toddler – adult size ear flaps

  • Row 1: Ch 1, sc in 14, turn (14 stitches)
  • Row 2: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in 10 sts, sc2tog, turn (12 stitches)
  • Row 3: Ch 1, sc in each st, turn (12 stitches)
  • Row 4: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in 8 sts, sc2tog, turn (10 stitches)
  • Row 5: Ch 1, sc in each st, turn (10 stitches)
  • Row 6: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in 6 sts, sc2tog, turn (8 stitches)
  • Row 7: Ch 1, sc in each st, turn (8 stitches)
  • Row 8: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in 4 sts, sc2tog, turn (6 stitches)
  • Row 9: Ch 1, sc in each st, turn (6 stitches)
  • Row 10: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in 2 sts, sc2tog, turn (4 stitches)
  • Row 11: Ch 1, sc in each st, turn (4 stitches)
  • Row 12: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc2tog, turn (2 stitches)
  • Row 13: Ch 1, sc2tog (1 stitch)
  • Repeat for second ear flap and then continue to single crochet around entire hat and both ear flaps.
Stacked crochet hats with ear flaps in white, teal, pink, and sage green, made using a beginner-friendly crochet ear flap hat pattern

Adding the braids

Braided ties add a fun, handmade touch to your crochet hat with ear flaps—and they’re practical, too! They help keep the hat snug on windy days and look adorable on all ages.

  1. Cut six equal lengths of yarn (about 24–30 inches each) for every ear flap.
  2. Thread three strands through the bottom of one ear flap and fold them in half so you have six working strands.
  3. Divide the strands into three groups and braid tightly to your desired length.
  4. Tie a knot at the end to secure the braid.
  5. Trim the ends evenly for a neat finish.
  6. Repeat these steps for the second ear flap.

Your braided ties are complete, and your cozy earflap hat is ready to wear or gift!

Finishing

Weave in all loose ends with a yarn needle. Your crochet hat with ear flaps is now ready to wear or gift!

Crochet hat with ear flaps made in white, sage green, teal, and pink, showing a free crochet ear flap hat pattern for baby, toddler, child, and adult sizes

Frequently asked questions

What yarn is best for a crochet hat with ear flaps?
Use soft, medium-weight (#4) acrylic or wool-blend yarn for warmth and durability. Acrylic yarns are great for easy care, while wool adds extra coziness for winter weather.

How do I adjust the size of my earflap hat?
Use the finished measurements to choose the size closest to the wearer’s head circumference. For a custom fit, check your gauge first and adjust the hat body length if needed. My crochet hat sizing guide can also help you choose the best finished size.

Can I make this hat without ear flaps?
Yes! Simply stop after the final round of the main hat body and skip the ear flap section. You’ll have a classic beanie-style hat.

What’s the best way to attach a pom pom?
Use a yarn needle and tie the pom pom securely through the top center of the hat. Double-knot it tightly and weave in the ends for extra hold.

Is this pattern good for beginners?
Absolutely! This crochet earflap hat pattern uses only basic stitches and includes clear instructions for every step, making it a great choice for newer crocheters.

Prefer a printable version?

You can purchase the ad-free PDF of this crochet earflap hat pattern in my Etsy shop. The downloadable pattern is easy to save, print, and keep with your crochet projects.

More easy crochet hat patterns

If you’re looking for more simple beanies, explore my collection of easy crochet hat patterns. You’ll find beginner-friendly hats made with basic stitches in baby, child, and adult sizes.

More free crochet hat patterns

Looking for more crochet hat ideas? Browse my full collection of free crochet hat patterns for babies, kids, and adults. You’ll find everything from classic crochet beanies and cozy winter hats to playful animal hats and seasonal designs — all written with clear instructions and helpful sizing details.

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

Pinterest pin featuring four crochet ear flap hats in white, bright pink, teal, and pale mint with braided ties beneath bold text reading “Easy Ear Flap Hat Crochet Pattern,” “Free Crochet Pattern,” and “Adorable Hats with Ties.”