Landscape featured image showing a crochet lion hat with a golden face, brown yarn mane, round ears, black eyes and nose, and white muzzle beside bold text reading “Crochet Lion Hat Pattern.”

Crochet lion hat pattern

ByMelissa Hassler

Looking for a free crochet lion hat pattern? This cute animal hat is worked from the top down and includes baby, toddler, child, and adult sizes. Add a snout, nose, eyes, ears, whiskers, and a yarn mane to turn the simple beanie into a playful lion hat.

It’s a fun project for gifts, dress-up, photos, costumes, or everyday wear.

Quick answer
This crochet lion hat pattern is worked from the top down in the round using worsted weight yarn and an I-9 (5.5 mm) crochet hook for the hat. It includes baby, toddler, child, and adult sizes and is finished with separate lion details including the snout, nose, eyes, ears, whiskers, and mane.

Skill level: Advanced beginner
Style: Top-down animal hat with sewn-on lion details
Sizes: Baby, toddler, child, and adult
Yarn weight: Worsted weight #4
Includes: Hat, snout, nose, eyes, ears, whiskers, and mane instructions

Why you’ll love this crochet lion hat

  • Cute and playful — the lion design is fun, sweet, and easy to recognize
  • Approachable construction — The basic hat uses simple stitches and joined rounds.
  • Sizes for everyone — baby, toddler, child, and adult sizes are included
  • Fun lion details — Add the face pieces, ears, whiskers, and yarn mane after crocheting the hat.
  • Great for gifts — perfect for dress-up, photos, and handmade presents

Crochet lion hat pattern details

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

Skill level

Advanced beginner — The basic hat uses simple crochet stitches worked in joined rounds. The lion details include basic shaping, decreases, sewing, and yarn embroidery.

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 for the hat
  • H-8 (5 mm) crochet hook for the lion details
  • Worsted weight yarn (#4) in black, white, brown, and golden yellow
  • Yarn needle
  • Scissors
  • Stitch markers (optional)

Size guide

  • Baby — 14–15 inches (36–38 cm) head circumference, 6 inches (15 cm) standard head height
  • Toddler — 18–19 inches (46–48 cm) head circumference, 7 inches (18 cm) standard head height
  • Child — 19–20 inches (48–51 cm) head circumference, 7.75 inches (20 cm) standard head height
  • Adult — 20–23 inches (51–58 cm) head circumference, 8 inches (20 cm) standard head height

Need help with sizing? Check out my crochet hat sizing guide to measure head circumference, use negative ease, and adjust crown diameter and hat height for the best fit.

Looking for even more size options? You may also like my crochet lion hat pattern in 6 sizes, which includes baby through adult sizes.

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.

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

Crochet abbreviations

Pattern notes

  • Use an I-9 (5.5 mm) crochet hook for the hat.
  • Use an H-8 (5 mm) crochet hook for the lion details.
  • Rounds 1–5 of the hat are the same for all sizes.
  • The hat is worked from the top down in joined rounds.
  • Join each round with a slip stitch to the first stitch.
  • The beginning chain does not count as a stitch.
  • Repeat instructions between asterisks (*) around as indicated.
  • Unless otherwise stated, the lion face pieces are the same for all sizes.
  • The pattern is written in US crochet terms.
Pinterest pin showing a bright yellow crochet lion hat with brown fringe mane, round ears, black facial features, white muzzle, and colorful text reading “Crochet Lion Hat Pattern.”

Quick links

Rounds 1-5
Baby size
Toddler size
Child size
Adult size
Lion snout
Lion nose
Lion eyes
Lion ears
Smile and whiskers
Mane
Finishing

Crochet lion hat pattern instructions

Rounds 1–5 are the same for all sizes. Work those rounds first, then continue with the instructions for your chosen size.

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.

Crochet the snout

Make 2 using white yarn.

Round 1: Magic circle, 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.

Crochet the lion nose

Use black yarn.

Row 1: Ch 7, hdc in 3rd ch from the hook and in each remaining 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.

Crochet the 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.

Crochet the lion ears

Make 2 using golden yellow yarn.

Row 1: Ch 8, hdc in 3rd ch from the hook and in each remaining 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.

Add the smile and whiskers

Use black yarn and a yarn needle to stitch the smile and whiskers onto the lion’s face.

Add the lion mane

Cut strands of brown yarn to the desired length. Attach the strands around the sides and back of the hat by looping them through the crochet stitches. Continue adding yarn until the mane looks full, then trim the strands evenly if needed.

Finishing

Make sure all of the lion details are securely sewn to the hat. Fasten off and weave in all remaining yarn ends. Gently shape the ears, face, and mane before wearing.

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

Frequently asked questions

Is this crochet lion hat pattern beginner-friendly?
This pattern is best for advanced beginners. The basic hat uses simple double crochet stitches, while the lion details include decreases, sewing, and simple yarn embroidery.

What sizes are included in this lion hat pattern?
The pattern includes four sizes: baby, toddler, child, and adult.

What yarn works best for this crochet lion hat?
Worsted weight yarn (#4) works well for the hat and lion details. You’ll need golden yellow, brown, black, and white yarn.

How is the lion mane added?
The mane is made from strands of brown yarn that are attached around the sides and back of the finished hat and trimmed to the desired length.

Can I make the lion hat in different colors?
Yes. You can change the hat and mane colors while following the same pattern instructions.

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.

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Pinterest pin featuring a golden crochet lion hat with round ears, shaggy brown yarn mane, black eyes and nose, white muzzle, and bold text reading “Crochet Lion Hat — Cute Animal Hat Pattern.”