How to Make a Crochet Kitty Hat – Free Crochet Pattern

Get ready to add some whimsical charm to your winter wardrobe with the Cozy Cuddles Crochet Kitty Hat pattern. Inspired by the viral TikTok trend of adorable kitty hats, this pattern puts a delightful twist on the classic design. Want to embrace your playful side and explore the world of dopamine dressing? Well you’re in luck because this hat is the perfect way to do just that! Crafted with warm yarn, featuring cute kitty ears, this hat not only keeps you cozy during the chilly months but also adds a touch of fun and personality to any outfit.

As someone who has always found solace and joy in the art of crafting, I am eager to share my passion with others. When I stumbled upon the adorable kitty hats going viral on TikTok, I knew I had to put my own spin on the trend. What sets the Cozy Cuddles hat apart is its unique stitches that create a fun texture. By incorporating these stitches, I aimed to elevate the hat from a simple accessory to a statement piece that’s sure to turn heads. Whether you’re strolling through the winter wonderland or sipping hot cocoa by the fire, this hat will keep you feeling snug and stylish!

Keep your hands warm & stylish with the matching Cozy Cuddles Fingerless Gloves!

An ad-free version of this crochet pattern with helpful graphs, a video stitch guide and extra images of the crocheting process can be purchased on my Pattern Store.

Redistribution and Selling

This pattern is copyrighted and for personal use only. Sharing or selling any part of, or information from this pattern, is prohibited. You cannot publish (wether its printed or online), reproduce, alter, swap or resell any part of this pattern or the pattern as whole.

You can sell finished products created using this pattern. You may not use my photos of the finished product to advertise your listing, this is to avoid confusion as our work might differ slightly. When selling online, please link back to my original pattern listing or tag me where possible.

Notes

• The hat is worked in one long rectangular panel from side to side and then joined to create the signature cat-like shape. Bottom rim of the hat is then added by crocheting directly onto the base of the hat.
• This pattern uses US terminology.
• This pattern is written in made to measure style, meaning there aren’t exact sizes or stitch numbers to follow. While stitches used to create the sample size are included, you should follow the measure-yourself style instructions and check the fit as you’re working on the piece. This allows you to create the hat in literally any size and achieve the perfect fit every time!
• This pattern is for adventurous beginners or advanced beginner level crocheters. While the shaping and construction of the hat are fairly simple for beginners to follow, it does use stitches that complete beginners might not be familiar with – the herringbone stitch and the waistcoat stitch. Even if you’re not familiar with the mentioned stitches, the pattern will go over how to work them, making it a perfect way to take on the adventure of practicing new stitches.
• You can use any yarn and a matching hook of your choice to create this hat. When choosing the yarn, remember that using thinner yarns creates thinner ribbing and therefore changes the texture slightly. If you wish to use thinner yarn, you can hold it double (hold two strands together and work with those two strands as you would with just one) and work with a bigger hook to create thicker ribbing. For example, the sample was created by holding a DK size yarn double.
• When creating the bow, you can either opt for a lacy texture (similar to the sample) by working with a thinner yarn and a bigger hook or create a more opaque and solid bow by crocheting with a hook that matches your chosen yarn’s label.

Materials

• Crochet hooks that match your yarn
• Scissors
• Tapestry needle
• Ribbon (optional)
• Yarn A – Your choice of yarn for the hat. I recommend choosing a chunkier yarn or holding a DK/weight #3 yarn double when wanting to mimick the texture of the sample hat exactly | My choice: Cygnet Pato DK in White
• Yarn B – Your choice of yarn for the bows. I recommend using a thinner yarn such as weight #1 or #2 yarn with a bigger (3 – 4mm) crochet hook when mimicking the lacy texture of the sample bows | My choice: James C Brett Baby 3 Ply in White

For reference, I used about 50g of Yarn A held double with a 6mm crochet hook for the base of the hat. For the bows, I used Yarn B with a 3,5mm crochet hook.

Gauge

As this is a made to measure style pattern, matching gauge is not necessary.

Good to Know

• This is an advanced beginner level crochet pattern.
• This pattern is written using US crochet terminology.
• Instructions are given as measurements compared to your body (ex. work until the hat fits around your head) to ensure perfect fit. If working the pattern for someone else, I recommend following average head size/hat measurements where measuring isn’t an option.
• When working with WC, going up a hook size can make working the stitch easier.
• If the brim of the hat makes the hat too small to fit, try loosening your tension for the WC stitch or go up a hook size or two. Alternatively, you can add extra stitches if necessary.

Stitches & Abbreviations

• CH – chain
• ST – stitch
• SL ST – slip stitch
• SC – single crochet
• HDC – half double crochet 
• DC – double crochet
• HBS – herringbone stitch 
• WC – waistcoat stitch 
• BLO – back loop only

How to Crochet the Herringbone Stitch

When practicing the herringbone stitch, start with any number of CH + 1, you’ll be working into the 2nd CH from the hook. You’ll start the row by doing a simple HDC as the first stitch. After that’s done, you’re ready to do the actual herringbone stitch.

Step 1. Pick up the leftmost loop of the HDC by pushing your hook through under it, keep it on your hook.
Step 2. Go through the next CH and pull up a loop as you would when doing a SC. You now have 3 loops on your hook.
Step 3. Yarn over and pull through all 3 loops on your hook. You have now completed the first stitch! This also creates a new leftmost loop for you to go under when working the next stitch.

You’ll notice this stitch creates diagonal lines moving across the row, mimicking the horizontal herringbone stitch in knitting.

How to Crochet the Waistcoat Stitch

Like any other stitch, the waistcoat stitch starts by CH your desired amount. You’ll then need to CH + 1 and work a row of SC across.

Since you already know how to SC, you also know how to do the waistcoat stitch! The difference is, instead of working into the hole beside the stitch like you do for SC, you will be working into the backwards V in between the legs of the stitch. Work a SC through the legs and thats it, that’s the waistcoat stitch!

You’ll notice the Vs will be placed inside each other as you add more rows, mimicking the stockinette stitch in knitting.

Cozy Cuddles Crochet Kitty Hat Pattern

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Base of the Crochet Kitty Hat

Using Yarn A and a matching hook, CH to create the length of the hat + CH1. You’ll be working into the 2nd CH from the hook. The sample has 24 CH + 1 for 25 CH total.

It’s important to note that you’re not chaining the total length of the hat but the length of the ribbed base section of the hat, the brim will be added on later.

Row 1. HDC, HBS across, CH1 and turn.
Row 2. BLO HDC, BLO HBS across, CH1 and turn.

When counting ST, you should have the same amount of ST total as you had CH in the beginning. This means you’ll have one less HBS per row than you had CH. For the sample, this means 1 HDC and 23 HBS per row for 24 ST total per row.

Repeat Row 2 until your rectangular panel is long enough to fit around your head comfortably. Because HBS ribbing doesn’t have as much stretch as regular SC ribbing, you don’t want it to be too tight or the hat will cause discomfort and potential headaches when worn. The sample has 48 rows in total.

You should now have a long rectangle where the height of the rectangle is the length of the hat and the width of the rectangle is the circumference of the hat.

Without fastening off, fold the rectangular panel in half with the right sides facing inwards.

This part of the pattern doesn’t have a decided right or wrong side as the two sides should be pretty much identical. You can pick your favourite side and count that as the right side.

Pinch the open sides of the hat together and turn so you‘re working alongside that side of the hat. SC across through both sides of the panel (through the beginning CH of the first row and BLO of the last row)to join. Once you get to the corner ST, 3SC into the corner and turn so you‘re working alongside the top of the hat. SC across through both sides of the panel to join and fasten off. Turn the hat inside out to reveal the right side of the hat and hide the seams on the inside.

You should have the same number of ST in the side seam as you had in the rows of the panel. The number of ST in the top seam should be half the number of the rows of the panel. The sample had 24 ST in the side seam and 20 ST in the top seam + extra SC in the corner ST. Although the longer seam has less stitches, this should not be an issue as long as the top seam ST aren‘t too tight. If the top of the hat is buckling or ruffling, you should undo the seam and try either making 2SC in each row to join or loosening your tension for that seam.

Brim of the Crochet Kitty Hat

With the right side (outside of the hat) facing towards you, attach yarn into the ST next to the side seam line on the bottom of the hat. Work a SC into the side of every row to create the first round, SL ST to join and CH1.

Round 1. SC around, SL ST to join and CH1. 
Round 2. WC around, SL ST to join and CH1.

When counting ST, you should have the same amount of ST per round as you had rows in the rectangular panel. The sample had 48 SC worked around the bottom of the hat and 48 ST per round in the brim.

Repeat Row 2 until you’re happy with the length of the brim and fasten off. The sample has 5 rows of WC. 

Note: If the brim makes the hat too tight to fit your head comfortably, it is most likely due to tight tension. Try going up a few hook sizes or add a few ST when working SC around the bottom of the hat.

Bows for the Crochet Kitty Hat

With Yarn B and a matching hook, CH to create double the desired length of the finished bow + CH2.You’ll be working into the 3rd CH from the hook. The sample has 30 CH + 2 for 32 CH total.

Row 1. DC across, CH2 and turn.

When counting ST, you should have the same amount of ST total as you had CH in the beginning. For the sample, this means 30DC per row.

Repeat Row 1 until you reach your desired height of the bow, fasten off by leaving a long end. The sample has 3 rows total per bow.

To create the final bow, you’ll want to locate the middle point of the rectangular panel and fold both sides inwards so the outer edges meet in the middle. You’re essentially folding the panel in half but moving the seam to the middle rather than leaving it on the side. Use the long end to sew the sides down so the folded panel keeps it’s shape. Wrap the long end of yarn around the middle of the bow a few times to create a neat looking middle section, pull the middle part of the panel tight to create a bow look and hide the seam all in one action. Sew through the middle using small stitches a few times to make sure the bow doesn’t unravel. You can now use the long end to sew the bow onto the hat.

When finding the right spot to sew the bow on, you’ll want to put the hat on and pinch one of the corners that form the cat ear shape, marking where the corner is completely empty. You’ll then want to find the middle spot on the curvature line that outlines where your head fills in the hat (the hat should hold it’s shape enough so you can roughly mark this out by just pinching the kitty ears together) and sew the bow in that spot. This will accentuate the cat-ear shape of the hat as well.

Make a 2nd bow and repeat on the other side. Weave in the ends and….

Congrats, you’ve done it! ❤