Landscape featured image showing a tan crochet puppy hat with brown ears, white-and-black eyes, one brown eye patch, black nose, stitched smile, and braided ties beside text reading “Cute Crochet Dog Hat Pattern.”

Crochet dog hat pattern

Looking for a cute crochet dog hat pattern for a dog lover? This cozy animal hat comes in toddler, child, and adult sizes and features warm earflaps, braided ties, floppy dog ears, an eye patch, and a playful dog face.

The hat is worked top down in joined rounds with worsted weight yarn, then the earflaps and face pieces are added for the finishing details. It’s a fun choice for winter wear, themed photos, costumes, or handmade gifts.

Looking for more cute designs? Explore my full collection of crochet animal hat patterns.

Quick answer
This crochet dog hat pattern is worked top down in joined rounds using worsted weight yarn and an I-9 (5.5 mm) hook. It includes toddler, child, and adult sizes with earflaps, braided ties, floppy dog ears, an eye patch, eyes, nose, smile, and whisker details.

Skill level: Advanced beginner
Sizes: Toddler, child, adult
Yarn weight: Worsted weight #4
Hook sizes: I-9 (5.5 mm) and H-8 (5 mm)
Construction: Top down in joined rounds
Features: Earflaps, braids, dog ears, eye patch, face details

Why you’ll love this crochet dog hat

  • So cute for photos — the dog face details make it extra memorable
  • Warm and practical — earflaps and braids help keep ears cozy
  • Great for gifting — perfect for dog lovers and winter birthdays
  • Easy stitches, fun finish — simple rounds, then playful add-ons

How this crochet dog hat is made

This dog hat is crocheted from the top down in joined rounds. After the main hat is complete, you’ll add the earflaps and braided ties, then crochet and sew on the dog ears, eye patch, eyes, and nose. Finish the face with a stitched smile and whisker spots.

Crochet dog hat pattern details

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

Skill level

Advanced beginner — Uses basic stitches in the round plus simple decreases, edge single crochet, and sewing on appliqués.

Materials needed

  • I-9 (5.5 mm) crochet hook (hat)
  • H-8 (5 mm) crochet hook (ears, eyes, and nose)
  • Worsted weight yarn (#4) in brown, dark brown, black, and white
  • Yarn needle
  • Scissors
  • Stitch markers (optional)

Finished size

This crochet dog hat pattern includes toddler, child, and adult sizes.

  • 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.

Gauge

15 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

  • Rounds 1–8 are the same for all sizes.
  • 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.

Quick links

Rounds 1–8
Toddler size
Child size
Adult size
Adding the earflaps
Adding the braids
Dog ears
Eye patch
Dog eyes
Dog nose
Smile and whiskers
Finishing

Crochet dog hat pattern instructions

Rounds 1–8 are the same for all three sizes.

Rounds 1–8

Round 1: Magic circle, ch 2, 11 dc, join (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)
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)

Toddler size

Round 9: Ch 2, dc in each st, join (60 stitches)
Rounds 10–18: Repeat round 9 (60 stitches)

Child size

Round 9: Ch 2, *2 dc, dc in next 14 sts*, join (64 stitches)
Round 10: Ch 2, dc in each st, join (64 stitches)
Rounds 11–19: Repeat round 10 (64 stitches)

Adult size

Round 9: Ch 2, *2 dc, dc in next 14 sts*, join (64 stitches)
Round 10: Ch 2, *2 dc, dc in next 15 sts*, join (68 stitches)
Round 11: Ch 2, dc in each st, join (68 stitches)
Rounds 12–21: Repeat round 11 (68 stitches)

Adding the earflaps

Start the first earflap where you ended the last round of the hat. Use the stitch counts below to leave space between the earflaps.

Toddler — leave 18 stitches in the front and 14 stitches in the back.
Child — leave 20 stitches in the front and 16 stitches in the back.
Adult — leave 22 stitches in the front and 18 stitches in the back.

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: sc2tog (1 stitch)

Adding the braids

Cut fifteen 30-inch (76 cm) strands of yarn for each braid.

  1. Fold the strands in half and pass the folded loop through the bottom of the earflap.
  2. Pass the strand ends through the loop and pull tight to form a knot.
  3. Divide into three sections and braid.

Dog ears

Make 2 outer ears in brown and 2 inner ears in light brown.
Row 1: Ch 10, hdc in 3rd ch from the hook and each rem ch, turn (8 stitches)
Rows 2–6: Ch 2, hdc in each st, turn (8 stitches)
Row 7: Ch 2, hdc2tog, hdc in 4 sts, hdc2tog (6 stitches)
Row 8: Ch 2, hdc2tog, hdc in 2 sts, hdc2tog (4 stitches)
Row 9: Ch 2, hdc2tog, hdc2tog (2 stitches)
Row 10: Ch 2, hdc2tog and continue to sc around each ear. 

Use a yarn needle to sew the inner and outer ears together through the single crochet borders. Work through the back loops of the inner ear and the front loops of the outer ear. Then, sew the ears onto the hat.

Eye patch

Round 1: Magic circle, ch 2, 9 hdc, join (9 stitches)
Round 2: Ch 2, 2 hdc in each st, join (18 stitches)
Round 3: Ch 2, *2 hdc, hdc in next st*, join (27 stitches)
Round 4: (do not chain) sc, hdc, dc, tc in next 3 sts, dc, hdc, loosely sc in rem 19 sts, join (27 stitches)

Fasten off and sew to the hat.

Dog eyes

Start with black yarn.
Round 1: Magic circle, ch 2, 9 hdc, join (9 stitches)
Switch to white yarn.
Round 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each st, join (18 stitches)

Use white yarn to add a “twinkle” to each eye.

Pin the eyes in place before sewing so you can check spacing and make sure the face looks centered. Then, sew the eyes to the hat.

Dog nose

Row 1: Ch 6, sc in 2nd ch from the hook and each rem ch, turn (5 stitches)
Row 2: Ch 1, sc in each st, turn (5 stitches)
Row 3: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next st, sc2tog, turn (3 stitches)
Row 4: Ch 1, sc in each st, turn (3 stitches)
Row 5: Ch 1, sc3tog and continue to sc around the nose. 

Sew the nose to the hat.

Smile and whiskers

Use black yarn to stitch a smile and whisker spots on the hat.

Finishing the hat

Fasten off and weave in all yarn ends.

Finished crochet dog hat pattern with earflaps, braided ties, and a cute dog face on a white background.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use a different yarn weight?
Yes, but the size will change. If you switch yarn weight, make a quick gauge swatch and measure as you go so the hat matches your target head circumference.

Does this crochet dog hat have ear holes?
No. This pattern is for a human hat with earflaps and braided ties. The dog ears are decorative pieces sewn onto the hat.

What sizes are included in this crochet dog hat pattern?
The pattern includes toddler, child, and adult sizes.

Do I have to use a magic circle?
No. Instead, chain 4, work 11 dc in the 4th chain from the hook, then join.

How do I keep the dog face centered?
Place the eye patch and nose first, then add the eyes. Pin pieces before sewing so you can step back and check spacing.

Can I sell finished hats made from this pattern?
Yes. You may sell finished hats you make from this pattern. Please do not copy, redistribute, or sell the written pattern.

What’s the best way to wash the finished hat?
Follow your yarn label. In general, gentle cycle or hand wash and lay flat to dry helps keep the face pieces looking neat.

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📌 Don’t forget to pin this pattern for later!
Happy crocheting! 🧶
— Melissa