Crochet panda hat pattern
Looking for a cute animal hat that’s simple and fun to make? This crochet panda hat pattern is a beginner-friendly project with classic panda coloring, sweet face details, and a cozy fit. It’s a great choice for gifts, dress-up, photos, or everyday wear.
Quick answer
This crochet panda hat pattern is a beginner-friendly hat worked from the top down in the round using worsted weight yarn (#4) and an I-9 (5.5 mm) crochet hook for the hat. It includes toddler, child, and adult sizes and is finished with separate panda face pieces for an adorable final look.
Best for: Beginners
Style: Top-down animal hat with sewn-on panda details
Includes: 3 sizes, written instructions, gauge, and finishing notes
Why you’ll love this pattern
- Cute and classic — the panda design is sweet, simple, and easy to recognize
- Beginner-friendly — basic stitches and easy rounds keep it approachable
- Sizes for older kids and adults — toddler, child, and adult sizes are included
- Fun to finish — the face pieces are added at the end for a polished look
- Great for gifts — perfect for dress-up, photos, and handmade presents
How this hat is constructed
This hat is worked from the top down in the round, starting at the crown and continuing into the body of the hat. Once the main hat is finished, the panda face pieces are crocheted separately and sewn on at the end. This keeps the hat itself simple to make and lets you place the details where they look best.
Crochet panda hat pattern details
Here’s a quick overview of the materials, sizing, gauge, and pattern notes before you begin.
Skill level
Beginner
Materials needed
- Crochet hook sizes:
I-9 5.5 mm (hat) or size needed for gauge
G-6 4 mm (face parts) - Yarn: Worsted weight yarn #4 in black and white.
- Yarn needle: Use this to weave in your ends.
- Scissors: Use scissors to fasten off your yarn.
- Stitch marker(s): Optional. Use these to help keep track of your stitches.
Finished size
This panda hat pattern includes three sizes.
- 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 (20 cm) tall
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.
Gauge
14 stitches and 9 rounds = 4 inches
Crochet abbreviations
- dc = double crochet stitch
- sc = single crochet stitch
- hdc = half double crochet stitch
- ch/chs = chain/chains
- st/sts = stitch/stitches
- sl st = slip stitch
- rnd/rnds = round/rounds
- rem = remaining
Pattern notes
- The chain at the beginning of each round does not count as your first stitch.
- Join each round with a slip stitch to the first stitch made in that round.
- Repeat instructions between the asterisks (*) for the rest of the round.
- You are crocheting in the round from the top of the hat down.
- The pattern is written in US crochet terms.
- Rounds 1-7 are the same for all sizes.
Crochet panda hat pattern instructions
Rounds 1-7 are the same for all sizes.
Rnd 1: Magic circle, ch 2, 11 dc, join with sl st to the top of the first dc (11 stitches)
Rnd 2: Ch 2, 2 dc in each st, join (22 stitches)
Rnd 3: Ch 2, *2 dc, dc in next st*, join (33 stitches)
Rnd 4: Ch 2, *2 dc, dc in next 2 sts*, join (44 stitches)
Rnd 5: Ch 2, *2 dc, dc in next 10 sts*, join (48 stitches)
Rnd 6: Ch 2, *2 dc, dc in next 11 sts*, join (52 stitches)
Rnd 7: Ch 2, *2 dc, dc in next 12 sts*, join (56 stitches)
Toddler size
Rnds 8–16: Ch 2, dc in each st, join (56 stitches)
Rnd 17: Ch 1, sc in each st, join and fasten off (56 stitches)
Child size
Rnd 8: Ch 2, *2 dc, dc in next 13 sts*, join (60 stitches)
Rnds 9–17: Ch 2, dc in each st, join (60 stitches)
Rnd 18: Ch 1, sc in each st, join and fasten off (60 stitches)
Adult size
Rnd 8: Ch 2, *2 dc, dc in next 13 sts*, join (60 stitches)
Rnd 9: Ch 2, *2 dc, dc in next 13 sts*, join (64 stitches)
Rnds 10–19: Ch 2, dc in each st, join (64 stitches)
Rnd 20: Ch 1, sc in each st, join and fasten off (64 stitches)
Adding the panda face
The patterns are the same for all sizes unless stated otherwise.
Ears
Rnd 1: Magic circle, Ch 2, 8 hdc, (8 stitches)
Rnd 2: Ch 2, 2 hdc in each st, join (16 stitches)
Rnd 3: Ch 2, *2 hdc, hdc in next st*, join (24 stitches)
Rnd 4: Ch 2, [2 hdc, hdc in next 2 sts] x 6 times, sc in rem 6 sts, join (33 stitches)
Sew the ears to the hat.
Eye patches
Rnd 1: Ch 7, 2 hdc in 3rd ch from hook, hdc in 3 chs, 2 hdc in last ch, continue in the round to work in the backside of the chs, 2 hdc, hdc in 3 backside chs, 2 hdc, join (14 stitches)
Rnd 2: Ch 2, 2 hdc in 2 sts, hdc in 3 sts, 2 hdc in 4 sts, hdc in 3 sts, 2 hdc in last 2 sts, join (22 stitches)
Rnd 3: Ch 2, 2 hdc in 3 sts, hdc in 5 sts, 2 hdc in 6 sts, hdc in 5 sts, 2 hdc in last 3 sts, join and fasten off (34 stitches)
Eyes
Start with black yarn.
Rnd 1: Magic circle, ch 1, 4 sc, join (4 stitches)
Switch to white yarn.
Rnd 2: Ch 2, 2 hdc in each st, join (8 stitches)
Sew the eyes to the patches. Then, sew the patches to the hat.
Nose
Rnd 1: Magic circle, ch 2, 6 hdc, join (6 stitches)
Rnd 2: Ch 2, 2 hdc in 4 sts, leave the 2 rem sts unworked (these sts are the bottom of the nose), fasten off (8 stitches)
Sew the nose to the hat.
Smile instructions
Use black yarn to stitch a smile on the hat.
Finishing the hat
Fasten off and then weave in the ends.
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.
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Happy crocheting! 🧶
— Melissa