15+ Crochet Hat for Cat Pattern Free – Plus Our Frog Hat Pattern
Let’s be honest — your cat probably won’t thank you for this. But a tiny crochet hat for cat pattern free, worn for approximately eleven seconds before it gets shaken off (if you’re lucky), is worth it for the photo alone.
This roundup covers crochet hat for cat pattern free in a few different styles — simple beanies, ear-hole designs, and character hats. Our own Frog Hat pattern is below, fully written out with photos, completely free. Check our crochet abbreviations guide and Magic Circle guide before you start if you’re newer to amigurumi-style crochet — you’ll use both here.
Crochet Frog Hat for Cat Pattern Free — Patterns Here Original
This one has real personality — round eyes, blushing cheeks, and a customizable smile, all on a ruffled beanie base that stays put without sliding over your cat’s eyes.
Finished size: designed for an average adult cat; see the fitting note in the Ear Openings step to adjust for your cat’s size.
Materials
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Yarn notes: cotton is worth the small extra cost here — it’s soft against your cat’s fur and won’t irritate skin the way some acrylics can. You only need a small amount of black and pink, so leftover scraps work fine for those.
Abbreviations (US Terms)
Check our complete guide about abbreviations (US & UK terms).
- MR — magic ring
- ch — chain
- sl st — slip stitch
- sc — single crochet
- hdc — half double crochet
- inc — increase (2 sts in same stitch)
- st(s) — stitch(es)
- FLO — front loop only
New to the magic ring start? Our Magic Circle guide walks through it step by step.
Frog Hat Pattern
Round 1: MR, 9 hdc into the ring. Join with sl st. (9 sts)
Round 2 — Ear Openings: Work a few hdc evenly around, then chain 6-8 stitches (enough to comfortably span over one ear), skip the same number of stitches on the base, and continue working evenly. Repeat on the opposite side to create the second ear opening.
Pattern note: cat ears vary a lot in size, so this round is meant to be adjusted rather than followed to an exact count. Hold the hat up against your cat (or measure against an existing hat/collar) to check the opening size before continuing — lengthen or shorten the chain as needed. This is completely normal for pet-sized patterns and won’t affect the rest of the hat.
Round 3: Join with sl st, ch 1. Work hdc evenly in every stitch all the way around, including into the chain spaces from Round 2 (about 6 hdc into each chain space to fill it in smoothly). Join with sl st.
Ruffle Brim: Ch 1. Work sc in the front loop only of every stitch, all the way around, continuing in a seamless spiral (don’t join each round — just keep working around). This front-loop technique is what creates the ruffled edge. Work 2-3 rounds this way, or until the ruffle looks full enough for your taste. Don’t pull your stitches too tight or the ruffle will lose its wave. Fasten off and weave in the end securely.
Frog Eyes (make 2)
Round 1: With black yarn, MR, 9 dc into the ring. Pull tight to close, sl st into the first dc. Fasten off, leaving a short tail.
Round 2: Attach green yarn into any stitch of Round 1. Work 1 sc into that same stitch, then inc (2 sc) into the very next stitch, then continue working inc (2 sc) into each remaining stitch around (9 total). Join with sl st. Fasten off, leaving a long tail for attaching to the hat later.
Make a second eye the same way.
Cheeks (make 2)
MR, ch 1, 9 hdc into the ring. Join with sl st, leaving a tail for sewing. Make a second cheek the same way. You can make these smaller or larger by adjusting the stitch count — fewer stitches for smaller cheeks, more for bigger ones.
Mouth
Freehand this part with black yarn and a needle — there’s no fixed pattern here, which means you can make your frog smiling, surprised, or however you like. Thread black yarn onto your needle, secure it at the back of the hat, and stitch a simple line (straight down, then a curve or diagonal outward on each side) directly onto the hat front to form a smile. Weave in and secure when you’re happy with the shape.
Assembly
- Decide which side of the hat is the front (the side with the wider gap between ear openings usually reads as the front).
- Position both eyes side by side near the top-front of the hat, just above where the ear openings begin.
- Using the long tail left on each eye, sew them onto the hat with a whip stitch, going back and forth a few times through the same points to secure firmly. Sew through the surface of the hat only — sewing too deep will pull the eyes in and make them look strained.
- Position and sew the cheeks below and slightly outside each eye.
- Add the mouth between the cheeks, using the freehand technique above.
- Weave in all remaining ends, and you’re done!
🔰 Simple & Beginner
1. Crochet Hat for Cats — Shooting Star Crafts (Free)
A quick, simple adult cat hat using minimal yarn — a great first project if you’re new to crocheting for pets.
→ Free pattern at Shooting Star Crafts
2. Cat Bunny Hat — Ribblr, by Dreampls (Free)
Intermediate crochet bunny beanie with an interactive digital format — highly rated by makers who’ve tried it.
→ Free pattern at Ribblr
🐱 With Ears & Character
3. Classic Crochet Hat for Cat — Crochet by Mery (Free)
Chunky ribbed texture with cute cat ears built in — a step up in style from a basic beanie.
→ Free pattern at Crochet By Mery
4. Cat Hat — Ribblr, by the hoppy phrog (Free, Intermediate)
An adjustable animal-style hat design — the creator notes you can tweak the stitch count for different pets.
→ Free pattern at Ribblr
🎃 Seasonal & Holiday
5. Cat / Small Dog Turkey Hat — OkieGirlBling’n’Things (Free)
A Thanksgiving-ready design with a turkey beak and feathers, sized for cats and small dogs alike.
→ Free pattern at OkieGirlBling’n’Things
6. Cat / Small Dog Elf Hat — OkieGirlBling’n’Things (Free)
A striped Christmas elf design with a pom-pom tip, from the same creator as the Turkey Hat above.
→ Free pattern at OkieGirlBling’n’Things
7. Crochet Pumpkin Hat for Cats — Shooting Star Crafts (Free)
A fall-themed hat with a textured front-post/back-post stitch pumpkin body and a leafy stem on top.
→ Free pattern at Shooting Star Crafts
8. Crochet Bunny Hat for Cats — Shooting Star Crafts (Free)
An Easter-ready design with floppy ears — great for spring photos.
→ Free pattern at Shooting Star Crafts
🦕 Costume & Character
9. Crochet Dinosaur Cat Hat — Shooting Star Crafts (Free)
Same easy hat base as the Bunny Hat above, with a row of sewn-on spikes down the back for a dino look.
→ Free pattern at Shooting Star Crafts
10. Cowboy Cat Hat — Rhubarb & Thyme (Free, Ravelry)
A one-piece cowboy hat with optional strings, worked in DK weight yarn — a great beginner project for wearables.
→ Free pattern at Ravelry
11. Crochet Flower Hat for Pets — Sir Purl Grey (Free)
A six-petal flower design that fits cats, dogs, or anything with a head — a fun stash-buster project.
→ Free pattern at Sir Purl Grey
🧵 Different Technique
12. Crochet Cat Hat Strawberry — Kukkacrochet By Putri (Free, Video Tutorial)
A cute strawberry crochet hat for cat pattern free hat styles from one designer, released together as a free pattern set.
→ Free pattern at YouTube
13. Pet Hat (Rectangular-Top Method) — Ivy Lo (Free, Video Tutorial)
Worth trying if you’ve only ever made circular-top hats — this one starts from a rectangle instead, which gives a snugger, better fit for smaller heads and skips the sewing step entirely.
→ Free video pattern
14. Figaro Frog Cat Hat — Catventurous Crochet (Free Video Tutorial)
Another frog-themed cat hat, worked top-down with a free step-by-step video walkthrough. Note: the video is free to follow along, but the accompanying written PDF pattern is sold separately by the designer.
→ Free video tutorial on YouTube
Tips for Crocheting Hats Your Cat Might Actually Tolerate
Measure before committing to a size. Every cat’s head is a different size and shape — measure around the widest part of the head before starting, and adjust your starting round count if needed.
Keep ear openings generous. A too-tight opening is the #1 reason cats immediately claw a hat off. When in doubt, size up.
Cotton over fuzzy yarns. Cats groom constantly, and loose fluffy fibers can end up ingested. Smooth cotton is safer and easier to clean.
Never leave a hatted cat unsupervised. This applies to any pet accessory — supervise wear time and remove if your cat seems distressed.
Photo session first, extended wear never. Most cats will only tolerate a hat briefly. Get your photos, then let them go back to judging you in peace.
FAQs
What size hook should I use for a crochet hat for cat pattern free? Most cat hat patterns use a 4.5mm to 5mm hook with worsted weight yarn, which gives a snug but stretchy fit. Our Frog Hat pattern uses 4.5mm.
Will my cat actually keep the hat on? Realistically, for a few minutes at most. Ear-hole designs (like our Frog Hat) tend to stay on longer than hats without them, since the ears help anchor it in place.
What yarn is safest for a cat hat? Cotton is the safest choice — it’s smooth, doesn’t shed fibers your cat could ingest while grooming, and washes easily.
Can I make this crochet hat for cat pattern free for a dog instead? Small dog breeds with a similar head shape can sometimes wear cat-sized hats, though you may need to adjust the ear opening placement or size depending on ear shape.
Can I sell items made from the Frog Hat pattern? Yes. Please credit Patterns Here as the pattern source when posting online.