Orange and black striped crochet tiger hat with round ears, black eyes, a large black nose, white muzzle, and whiskers beside text reading “Crochet Tiger Hat Pattern” and “Free tutorial.”

Crochet tiger hat pattern

ByMelissa Hassler

This crochet tiger hat pattern turns an orange and black striped beanie into a playful safari animal hat with a white snout, black nose, layered ears, and a cute stitched face. With baby, toddler, child, and adult sizes, it’s a fun choice for gifts, dress-up, costumes, photos, or everyday wear.

Quick answer

This advanced beginner crochet tiger hat pattern uses worsted weight (#4) yarn and includes baby, toddler, child, and adult sizes. The hat is worked from the top down in joined rounds with an I-9 (5.5 mm) crochet hook, with orange and black color changes creating the tiger stripes. The snout, nose, eyes, and layered ears are crocheted separately with an H-8 (5 mm) hook and sewn onto the finished hat.

Crochet tiger hat pattern details

Skill level

Advanced beginner — Uses joined rounds, simple increases, half double crochet decreases, separately crocheted face pieces, layered ears, embroidery, and basic sewing.

Materials needed

  • I-9 (5.5 mm) crochet hook — for the hat
  • H-8 (5 mm) crochet hook — for the snout, nose, eyes, and ears
  • Worsted weight yarn (#4) — orange and black for the striped hat; orange for the outer ears; white for the snout, inner ears, and eye highlights; and black for the nose, eyes, smile, and whiskers
  • Yarn needle
  • Scissors

Finished size

This crochet tiger hat pattern includes four sizes:

  • Baby — Fits a 14–15 inch (36–38 cm) head circumference; finished hat height is 6 inches (15 cm).
  • Toddler — Fits an 18–19 inch (46–48 cm) head circumference; finished hat height is 7 inches (18 cm).
  • Child — Fits a 19–20 inch (48–51 cm) head circumference; finished hat height is 7.75 inches (20 cm).
  • Adult — Fits a 20–23 inch (51–58 cm) head circumference; finished hat height is 8 inches (20 cm).

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.

Square Pinterest graphic featuring an orange and black crochet tiger hat with round ears, black eyes, a white muzzle, whiskers, and a stitched smile beside text reading “Crochet Tiger Hat Pattern” and “Free pattern.”

Gauge

15 dc stitches and 9 rounds = 4 inches (10 cm)

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

Crochet abbreviations

Pattern notes

  • The hat is worked from the top down in joined rounds.
  • The beginning ch 2 does not count as a stitch.
  • Join each round with a sl st to the first stitch made in that round.
  • Repeat from the asterisk (*) as indicated.
  • Rounds 1–2 are worked in orange. Beginning with Round 3, alternate 1 black round with 2 orange rounds.
  • When changing colors, join the previous round with a sl st using the new color.
  • The snout, nose, eyes, and ears are crocheted separately and sewn to the finished hat.
  • Each ear is made from an orange outer ear and a smaller white inner ear.
  • The snout, nose, eyes, and ears are the same for all four hat sizes.
  • The smile and whiskers are stitched onto the finished hat with black yarn.
  • The pattern is written in US crochet terms.
Orange crochet tiger beanie with black stripes, round ears, black eyes, a white muzzle, and a smiling face beneath text reading “Easy Crochet Tiger Hat Pattern” and “Free tutorial.”

Crochet tiger hat pattern instructions

Use the I-9 (5.5 mm) crochet hook for the hat.

Begin with orange yarn. The first 2 rounds are orange. Starting with Round 3, alternate 1 black round with 2 orange rounds.

When changing colors, join the previous round with a sl st using the new color.

Rounds 1–5

These rounds are the same for all four sizes.

Round 1: With orange yarn, make a magic circle. Ch 2, work 11 dc into the ring. Join with a sl st to the first dc. (11 sts)
Round 2: With orange yarn, ch 2, work 2 dc in each st around. Join with black yarn. (22 sts)
Round 3: With black yarn, ch 2, *2 dc in next st, dc in next st; repeat from * around. Join with orange yarn. (33 sts)
Round 4: With orange yarn, ch 2, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 2 sts; repeat from * around. Join. (44 sts)
Round 5: With orange yarn, ch 2, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 10 sts; repeat from * around. Join with black yarn. (48 sts)

Baby

Round 6: With black yarn, ch 2, dc in each st around. Join with orange yarn. (48 sts)
Round 7: With orange yarn, ch 2, dc in each st around. Join. (48 sts)
Round 8: With orange yarn, ch 2, dc in each st around. Join with black yarn. (48 sts)
Round 9: With black yarn, ch 2, dc in each st around. Join with orange yarn. (48 sts)
Round 10: With orange yarn, ch 2, dc in each st around. Join. (48 sts)
Round 11: With orange yarn, ch 2, dc in each st around. Join with black yarn. (48 sts)
Round 12: With black yarn, ch 2, dc in each st around. Join with orange yarn. (48 sts)
Rounds 13–14: With orange yarn, ch 2, dc in each st around. Join. (48 sts)

Fasten off and weave in the ends.

Toddler

Round 6: With black yarn, ch 2, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 11 sts; repeat from * around. Join with orange yarn. (52 sts)
Round 7: With orange yarn, ch 2, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 12 sts; repeat from * around. Join. (56 sts)
Round 8: With orange yarn, ch 2, dc in each st around. Join with black yarn. (56 sts)
Round 9: With black yarn, ch 2, dc in each st around. Join with orange yarn. (56 sts)
Round 10: With orange yarn, ch 2, dc in each st around. Join. (56 sts)
Round 11: With orange yarn, ch 2, dc in each st around. Join with black yarn. (56 sts)
Round 12: With black yarn, ch 2, dc in each st around. Join with orange yarn. (56 sts)
Round 13: With orange yarn, ch 2, dc in each st around. Join. (56 sts)
Round 14: With orange yarn, ch 2, dc in each st around. Join with black yarn. (56 sts)
Round 15: With black yarn, ch 2, dc in each st around. Join with orange yarn. (56 sts)
Rounds 16–17: With orange yarn, ch 2, dc in each st around. Join. (56 sts)

Fasten off and weave in the ends.

Child

Round 6: With black yarn, ch 2, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 11 sts; repeat from * around. Join with orange yarn. (52 sts)
Round 7: With orange yarn, ch 2, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 12 sts; repeat from * around. Join. (56 sts)
Round 8: With orange yarn, ch 2, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 13 sts; repeat from * around. Join with black yarn. (60 sts)
Round 9: With black yarn, ch 2, dc in each st around. Join with orange yarn. (60 sts)
Round 10: With orange yarn, ch 2, dc in each st around. Join. (60 sts)
Round 11: With orange yarn, ch 2, dc in each st around. Join with black yarn. (60 sts)
Round 12: With black yarn, ch 2, dc in each st around. Join with orange yarn. (60 sts)
Round 13: With orange yarn, ch 2, dc in each st around. Join. (60 sts)
Round 14: With orange yarn, ch 2, dc in each st around. Join with black yarn. (60 sts)
Round 15: With black yarn, ch 2, dc in each st around. Join with orange yarn. (60 sts)
Round 16: With orange yarn, ch 2, dc in each st around. Join. (60 sts)
Round 17: With orange yarn, ch 2, dc in each st around. Join with black yarn. (60 sts)
Round 18: With black yarn, ch 2, dc in each st around. Join. (60 sts)

Fasten off and weave in the ends.

Adult

Round 6: With black yarn, ch 2, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 11 sts; repeat from * around. Join with orange yarn. (52 sts)
Round 7: With orange yarn, ch 2, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 12 sts; repeat from * around. Join. (56 sts)
Round 8: With orange yarn, ch 2, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 13 sts; repeat from * around. Join with black yarn. (60 sts)
Round 9: With black yarn, ch 2, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 14 sts; repeat from * around. Join with orange yarn. (64 sts)
Round 10: With orange yarn, ch 2, dc in each st around. Join. (64 sts)
Round 11: With orange yarn, ch 2, dc in each st around. Join with black yarn. (64 sts)
Round 12: With black yarn, ch 2, dc in each st around. Join with orange yarn. (64 sts)
Round 13: With orange yarn, ch 2, dc in each st around. Join. (64 sts)
Round 14: With orange yarn, ch 2, dc in each st around. Join with black yarn. (64 sts)
Round 15: With black yarn, ch 2, dc in each st around. Join with orange yarn. (64 sts)
Round 16: With orange yarn, ch 2, dc in each st around. Join. (64 sts)
Round 17: With orange yarn, ch 2, dc in each st around. Join with black yarn. (64 sts)
Round 18: With black yarn, ch 2, dc in each st around. Join with orange yarn. (64 sts)
Round 19: With orange yarn, ch 2, dc in each st around. Join. (64 sts)

Fasten off and weave in the ends.

Tiger snout

Use the H-8 (5 mm) crochet hook and white yarn.

Round 1: Make a magic circle. Ch 2, work 11 hdc into the ring. Join with a sl st to the first hdc. (11 sts)
Round 2: Ch 2, work 2 hdc in each st around. Join. (22 sts)
Round 3: Ch 2, *2 hdc in next st, hdc in next st; repeat from * around. Join. (33 sts)
Round 4: Ch 2, *2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 2 sts; repeat from * around. Join. (44 sts)

Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Position the snout in the center of the front of the hat and sew it securely in place using the long white yarn tail.

Tiger nose

Use the H-8 (5 mm) crochet hook and black yarn.

Row 1: Ch 10, hdc in 3rd ch from hook and in each remaining ch. Turn. (8 sts)
Row 2: Ch 2, hdc2tog, hdc in next st, hdc2tog, hdc in next st, hdc2tog. Turn. (5 sts)
Row 3: Ch 2, hdc2tog, hdc in next st, hdc2tog. Turn. (3 sts)
Row 4: Ch 2, hdc3tog. (1 st)

Ch 1 and sc evenly around the entire nose. Join with a sl st to the first sc.

Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Position the nose at the top center of the snout and sew it securely in place using the long black yarn tail.

Tiger eyes

Make 2 using the H-8 (5 mm) crochet hook and black yarn.

Round 1: Make a magic circle. Ch 2, work 9 hdc into the ring. Join with a sl st to the first hdc. (9 sts)

Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Using a small piece of white yarn and a yarn needle, stitch a small highlight onto each eye. Secure the white yarn on the back and weave in the ends.

Position the eyes above the snout and sew them securely to the hat using the long black yarn tails.

Tiger ears

Make 2 outer ears and 2 inner ears.

Outer ears

Use the H-8 (5 mm) crochet hook and orange yarn.

Row 1: Ch 10, hdc in 3rd ch from hook and in each remaining ch. Turn. (8 sts)
Rows 2–5: Ch 2, hdc in each st across. Turn. (8 sts)
Row 6: Ch 2, hdc2tog, hdc in next st, hdc2tog, hdc in next st, hdc2tog. Turn. (5 sts)
Row 7: Ch 2, hdc2tog, hdc in next st, hdc2tog. (3 sts)

Ch 1 and sc evenly around the entire outer ear. Join with a sl st to the first sc.

Fasten off, leaving a long orange yarn tail for sewing the finished ear to the hat.

Inner ears

Use the H-8 (5 mm) crochet hook and white yarn.

Row 1: Ch 8, hdc in 3rd ch from hook and in each remaining ch. Turn. (6 sts)
Rows 2–4: Ch 2, hdc in each st across. Turn. (6 sts)
Row 5: Ch 2, hdc2tog 3 times. (3 sts)

Ch 1 and sc evenly around the entire inner ear. Join with a sl st to the first sc.

Fasten off, leaving a long white yarn tail for sewing.

Position one white inner ear on the front of each orange outer ear. Using the long white yarn tail, sew through the sc border of the inner ear and the front loops only of the sc border of the outer ear. This helps keep the white sewing yarn less visible from the back.

Position the finished ears near the top of the hat. Using the long orange yarn tails, sew the ears securely to the hat.

Add the smile and whiskers

Using black yarn and a yarn needle, stitch a smile below the nose.

Add whiskers on both sides of the snout with black yarn.

Fasten off securely on the inside of the hat and weave in the ends.

Finishing

Make sure all of the tiger details are securely attached to the hat.

Weave in all remaining yarn ends and trim any excess yarn.

Printable PDF version

If you prefer an easy, print-friendly version of this crochet tiger hat pattern, a printable PDF is available in my Etsy shop.

Orange and black striped crochet tiger hat with ears, black nose, white muzzle, and embroidered whiskers.

More free crochet animal hats

Looking for more animal-themed hats? Browse my safari animal crochet hat patterns for lions, monkeys, giraffes, zebras, tigers, and other playful safari designs.

You may also like my crochet lion hat pattern, crochet hippo hat pattern, crochet monkey hat pattern, and my crochet zebra hat pattern, both available in four sizes from baby through adult.

For even more ideas, explore my full collection of crochet animal hat patterns or browse all of my crochet hat patterns for babies, kids, and adults.

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

Orange and black striped crochet tiger hat with round ears, black eyes, a white muzzle, black nose, whiskers, and a stitched smile beneath text reading “Free Tiger Hat Crochet Pattern.”