Crochet lion hat pattern – baby to adult (4 sizes)

Embrace the wild side of crochet with my Crochet Lion Hat Pattern, designed for all sizes from baby to adult. This cute crochet beanie pattern will guide you in crafting a cozy and fun lion-themed hat, perfect for adding a roar of warmth and fun to your winter wardrobe. The free crochet pattern is below.

Pinterest pin for a crochet lion hat pattern by Lovable Loops. The pin shows a yellow crochet lion hat with a brown yarn mane and a lion face on a light background. Text on the pin reads “Crochet lion hat pattern,” “Baby to adult sizes!,” “beginner-friendly,” and “FREE.”

If you’re looking for more cozy designs, you can also explore my full collection of crochet hat patterns for babies, kids, and adults.

Crochet lion hat pattern details

Here’s everything you need to know before you start—skill level, materials, sizing, and gauge—so your lion beanie fits well and the face details land in the right spot.

Skill level

Beginner — This crochet lion hat pattern uses basic stitches worked in simple repeats in the round.

Materials needed

Crochet hook size I-9 (5.5 mm) — for the hat
Crochet hook size H-8 (5 mm) — for the snout, nose, eyes, and ears
Worsted weight yarn (#4) — in black, white, brown, and golden 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 lion 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)

Need help sizing your crochet animal hat?

Getting the right fit is one of the most important parts of making a crochet hat, especially for animal hats with ears and face details.

If you’re unsure about head circumference, hat height, negative ease, or which size to make, check out my full crochet hat sizing guide. It walks you through the sizing basics step by step and makes it easier to choose the best fit from baby to adult.

You’ll learn:

How to measure head circumference correctly — so you pick the right size
How to choose the right crochet hat size (baby to adult) — using your measurements
How hat height affects fit and comfort — so it doesn’t feel too short or too tall
How much negative ease to use — for a snug, comfy fit
How to adjust a crochet hat pattern — if your hat feels too tight, loose, or short

If your hat feels too tight, too loose, or too short, the sizing guide will help you make simple adjustments with confidence.

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 snout, nose, eyes, and ears
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 lion 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.

Golden yellow crochet lion beanie with fluffy brown mane, rounded ears, and a bold lion face detail.

Crochet lion 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.

Lion snout

Make 2 using white yarn.

Round 1: Magic ring, ch 2, 9 dc, join with sl st to the top of the first dc (9 stitches)
Round 2: Ch 2, 2 dc in each st, join (18 stitches)
Round 3: Ch 2, *2 dc, dc in next st*, join (27 stitches)

Sew the snout pieces to the front of the hat. Make sure they are centered.

Lion nose

Use black yarn.

Row 1: Ch 7, hdc in 3rd ch from the hook and in each rem ch, turn (5 stitches)
Row 2: Ch 2, hdc2tog, hdc, hdc2tog, turn (3 stitches)
Row 3: Ch 2, hdc3tog (1 stitch)

Single crochet around the entire shape and fasten off. Sew the nose to the hat just above the snout.

Lion eyes

Make 2 using black yarn.

Round 1: Magic circle, ch 2, 9 dc, join with sl st to the top of the first dc (9 stitches)

Use scrap pieces of white yarn to add the eye sparkle. Fasten off leaving a long tail. Sew the eyes to the face.

Lion ears

Make 2 using golden yellow yarn.

Row 1: Ch 8, hdc in 3rd ch from the hook and in each rem ch, turn (6 stitches)
Rows 2-4: Ch 2, hdc in each st, turn (6 stitches)
Row 5: Ch 2, hdc2tog, hdc2tog, hdc2tog (3 stitches)

Single crochet around the entire shape and fasten off. Sew the ears to the hat.

Adding the smile and whiskers

Use black yarn and a yarn needle to stitch a smile and whiskers.

Adding the mane

Tie pieces of brown yarn around the hat and trim.

Finishing

Fasten off and weave in your ends.

More free crochet safari animal hat patterns

Looking for more animal-themed hats? Visit my safari animal crochet hat patterns collection to see lions, monkeys, giraffes, zebras, tigers, and more playful safari designs.

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.