It’s difficult to sum up the amazingness of cats and boil that down to its fabulous and fashionable essence, but these crochet cat ear beanie patterns manage to do just that! Today, we’re unraveling the magic behind these purrfect creations, exploring the ins and outs of their construction, and showcasing 25 fantastic and free crochet cat ear hats so you can make one for yourself.
Now, when it comes to crafting these kitty-inspired beanies, there are two main construction methods: worked flat and worked in the round. Crochet cat ear beanie patterns where the body of the hat is worked flat and with basic stitches are an especially great beginner project, as they are usually as ridiculously easy as crocheting a rectangle and sewing two seams. On the flip side, working in the round can be a little more challenging but it doesn’t hurt that this method doesn’t require any sewing.
As for yarn, there is no one best yarn for these design patterns. The options are as vast as a cat’s curiosity. Picture this: soft, squishy yarn in shades of midnight black, cozy cream, or playful pastels. Go for something plush and cuddly for a maximum comfort finished beanie, or opt for a sparkly yarn to make those ears truly stand out. You will soon see that the crochet cat ear beanie patterns we are featuring today call for yarns of all different sizes, weights, and colors, including lots of unique designs!
Now, let’s talk occasions. Whether you’re a cat lover prowling around a cozy cafe or just lounging at home binge-watching cat videos (no judgment here), a cat ear beanie is your go-to fun hat accessory for adding a touch of whimsy to any outfit. These crochet cat ear beanie patterns are also certain to come in handy for those last-minute occasions where you need a costume. There’s really no wrong time to rock this feline fashion statement!
So, what are you waiting for? These crochet cat ear beanie patterns are ready to make a statement whenever you are. All you have to do now is scroll down and prepare to be inspired with your next new free pattern. The world is your yarn basket!
Black Cat Slouch Hat
If you are having trouble deciding what color to make your cat hat in, well, you really can’t go wrong with classic black! This pattern calls for foundation single crochet stitches as well as half double crochet stitches worked through the back loops only. It is crocheted flat in back and forth rows and then seamed. Shown here with the brim folded up, you can unfold it for a slouchier fit.
Designer: Persia Lou
Yarn: Premier Yarns Isaac Mizrahi Craft Carlyle (Super Bulky Weight #6)
Click here for the free crochet pattern!
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Kitty Ear Beanie
Bulky weight yarn makes this purr-fect project work up in a hurry. For this design, you’ll be using half double and double crochet stitches along with front and back post stitches. The pattern is worked flat and the bulky yarn makes each stitch more distinct – both big plusses if you are a beginner crocheter. Black yarn can be trickier to see though, so maybe opt for a lighter shade to set yourself up for success.
Designer: Cayla Mullins
Yarn: Bulky Weight #5
Click here for the free crochet pattern!
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Meow! Beanie
Here’s the first one of our featured crochet cat ear beanie patterns that is worked in the round. The pattern starts with a ring of foundation double crochet stitches, so the brim of the hat is much stretchier than if you started with regular chain stitches. The rest of the hat is all double crochet stitches worked through the back loops only.
Designer: Olive + Brook
Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver (Aran Weight #4)
Click here for the free crochet pattern!
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Black Cat Hat
This rectangular hat design has you work the ribbed brim at the same time as the rest of the hat. You’ll be working in rows for this design and using UK double crochet stitches (US single crochet stitches) with some stitches worked through the back loops only to create the ribbed brim. A thinner weight of yarn keeps this look lightweight.
Designer: Love, Aly
Yarn: Sirdar Ella DK (DK Weight #3)
Click here for the free crochet pattern!
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Ribbed Cat Ear Beanie
Next we’re going green with this ribbed cat ear beanie design. Half double crochet stitches worked through the back loops only create the ribbed texture and make the hat extra stretchy too. The pattern is worked flat in back and forth rows, then it is seamed. Both written and video tutorials are available for free.
Designer: VivCrochets
Yarn: Big Twist Renewal (DK Weight #3)
Click here for the free crochet pattern!
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Cat Beanie
The next one of our crochet cat ear beanie patterns is worked from the top down in turned rounds of double crochet stitches. This constructions style is ideal for incorporating multiple colors, like the example shown. The design features a folded brim that helps keep the hat snug on your head. I love the two shades of blue shown because it reminds me of the Cheshire cat from the live action Alice in Wonderland.
Designer: ABoC Studio
Yarn: Aran Weight #4
Click here for the free crochet pattern!
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Colour Dance Beanie and Scarf
Using a self striping yarn is a fun way to incorporate multiple colors into your project without having to decide what colors look good together or manually change between colors. This striped beanie pattern uses half double crochet stitches in the back loops only for the beanie. Alternating front and back loop half double crochet stitches are used to make the matching scarf.
Designer: Yarn Over with Natasha Smuts
Yarn: Elle (Saprotex) Traditional Aran KNIT (Aran Weight #4)
Click here for the free crochet pattern!
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Another Cat Ear Beanie
Pink cat hats have been popularized by women’s rights activists and can often be seen at rallys and protests for these causes. Half double and double crochet stitches are joined by front and back post double crochet stitches to create the ribbed brim as well as camel stitches to create the horizontal ridges of texture. The pattern is worked from the bottom up in the round.
Designer: Olive + Brook
Yarn: Premier Yarns Everyday Worsted Prints (Aran Weight #4)
Click here for the free crochet pattern!
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Kitty Cat Beanie
A touch of metallic thread in the black yarn used for this design makes it feel extra special and cute. The pattern is worked flat using foundation single crochet stitches and double crochet stitches worked through the back loops only. Equal parts quirky and cute, this design is just my style and I love a folded brim for a stay put fit.
Designer: Sewrella
Yarn: Lion Brand Vanna’s Glamour (Sport Weight #2)
Click here for the free crochet pattern!
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Cat Hat
Amp up the feline factor of any of these crochet cat ear beanie patterns by stitching on a nose and whiskers. Regular single and half double crochet stitches are joined by linked half double crochet stitches with some stitches worked into the back loops or the 3rd loops only. A bit of simple sewing is used to shape the cat ears and make them really stand out.
Designer: With Alex
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft Solids (Aran Weight #4)
Click here for the free crochet pattern!
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Messy Bun Cat Hat
Messy bun beanies are a great option for bad hair days and for those days when you just can’t be bothered to do your hair. This pattern is worked using two strands of yarn held together. It starts with foundation half double crochet stitches and then continues with alternating rows of half double crochet stitches in the back loops only and half double crochet stitches in the front loops only.
Designer: Rebecca Renea
Yarn: Loops & Threads Impeccable (Aran Weight #4)
Click here for the free crochet pattern!
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Kayla’s Kitty Cat Hat
Do you know the trick for working with three strands of yarn from a single skein? Well, I’ll tell you that the trick isn’t to roll the skein into 3 separate balls. This triple stranded beanie design will teach you a better way! You’ll start with rows of single crochets in the back loops only to create the ribbed brim and then you’ll switch to working in rounds of single and half double crochet stitches.
Designer: KMT Creations
Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver (Aran Weight #4)
Click here for the free crochet pattern!
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Halloween Cat Beanie
One main difference between crochet cat ear beanie patterns is how the designer chose to do the brim. This pattern is worked in rows of half double crochet stitches and yarn over slip stitches. Yarn over slip stitches are easier to work into than regular slip stitches and they make a really nice looking ribbed brim that rivals the best knit brims.
Designer: Dabbles & Babbles
Yarn: Berroco Ginkgo (Worsted Weight #4)
Click here for the free crochet pattern!
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Perky Pussy Cat Hat
Incorporating stripes into your cat ear beanie is a great way to use up partial skeins of yarn leftover from other projects (and to avoid a trip to the craft store to buy more yarn). This pink and purple striped pattern is worked in continuous rounds of single and half double crochet stitches from the tips of the ears down to the brim.
Designer: Krazy Kabbage
Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver (Aran Weight #4)
Click here for the free crochet pattern!
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Meow! Kitty Beanie
Make a statement with this cat ear beanie complete with the word “meow” on it. For this design, you’ll be crocheting in the round using a variation of single crochet called the knit stitch (a.k.a. the waistcoat stitch) and the tapestry crochet colorwork technique. The cat ears themselves are worked separately and then sewn on.
Designer: Stardust Gold Crochet
Yarn: Lion Brand Heartland (Aran Weight #4)
Click here for the free crochet pattern!
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Pumpkin Cat Hat
Cats and Halloween go together like peanut butter and jelly, so it just makes sense to throw a third seasonal thing in there: pumpkins! The pattern is worked in the round from the top down with single, half double, and double crochet stitches. You will also use front and back post double crochet stitches to make the ribbed brim. The cat ears, pumpkin stem, and curly vine are all worked separately and then attached for a unified design.
Designer: SnugglyFoxDesigns
Yarn: Hobby Lobby I Love This Yarn! Solids (Aran Weight #4)
Click here for the free crochet pattern!
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Cat Ear Beanie
The bold green and gray stripes combined with the chunky yarn and larger mm hook in this next design give it an alternative flair that’s really trendy right now and you know that following the trends is important if you are thinking about selling the cat hats that you create. The pattern calls for double crochet and front post single crochet stitches. There is a helpful video tutorial if you get stuck.
Designer: Zamiguz
Yarn: Lion Brand Hue + Me (Bulky Weight #5)
Click here for the free crochet pattern!
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Granny Square Cat Ear Beanie
I’m basically obsessed with any project that involves granny squares, and this adorable cat hat is certainly no exception. The neat thing about this design is that it is actually 3 designs in one. The one pictured uses 6 granny squares, but there is also one version with 8 granny squares and another version with just 2 big granny squares. I do love having options!
Designer: VivCrochets
Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver (Aran Weight #4)
Click here for the free crochet pattern!
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Cattitude Cat Ear Hat
If you’re going to go for a textured stitch pattern, then working with a bulkier weight of natural fiber or acrylic yarn and a larger mm crochet hook can really increase the stitch definition to make it even more fabulous, as is the case with the next one of our crochet cat ear beanie patterns. The pattern calls for single and half double crochet stitches with an optional foundation single crochet start that will give your beanie more stretch making it a good option for smart sizing.
Designer: Simply Hooked by Janet
Yarn: Loops & Threads Charisma (Bulky Weight #5)
Click here for the free crochet pattern!
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Tunisian Ridged Cat Hat
Where are my tunisian crocheters at? You can get in on the cat hat fun too with this fabulous pattern. For this design, you’ll be using tunisian simple, purl, and slip stitches as well as regular single crochet stitches. The pattern is worked flat in back and forth rows. A little bit of sewing is needed to put the hat together and define the cat ears on the top of the hat.
Designer: Cullison Design Studio
Yarn: James C. Brett Rustic Aran Tweed (Aran Weight #4)
Click here for the free crochet pattern!
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Cat Hat
This is your basic beanie pattern with a pair of kitty ears sewn on top of your hat. The pattern is crocheted from the top down in the round using single and double crochet stitches. If you are used to crocheting hats like this, then you will feel right at home working this pattern. You could also just crochet the ears and sew them onto a store bought hat if you are in a time crunch.
Designer: Mud Paper Scissors
Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver (Aran Weight #4)
Click here for the free crochet pattern!
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The Binx Kitty Hat
This next design on our list of free crochet cat hat patterns is named after the cat in the Hocus Pocus movies. I named my own kitty Binx as well, so I definitely approve of this naming decision! Foundation half double crochet stitches transition to the interesting texture of crossed half double crochet stitches for this cute cat beanie design worked flat.
Designer: Cactus and Lace Designs
Yarn: Lion Brand Basic Stitch Anti-Pilling (Aran Weight #4)
Click here for the free crochet pattern!
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Meow xD Kitty Hat
Our next design has lots of unique features including bold green and gingham. The pattern calls for single crochet stitches worked through the back loops only. Switching between 3 shades of yarn creates the adorable gingham design. As an added detail, a length of chain stitches made from the remaining yarn is tied into an adorable little bow and sewn onto the front of the beanie.
Designer: Madefully Crochet
Yarn: Stylecraft Special Double Knit (DK Weight #3)
Click here for the free crochet pattern!
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Kitty Cat Hat
It doesn’t get much more whimsical than a cute crochet hat made with bright pink yarn. Make it a cat version and you’re sure to be feeing feline fabulous when you step out in this eye-catching design. The pattern is made using basic crochet skills and worked in rows using regular and extended half double crochet stitches. Extended stitches combine a chain stitch with a regular stitch to make the stitch a little taller.
Designer: Blackstone Designs
Yarn: Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice (Aran Weight #4)
Click here for the free crochet pattern!
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Hello Kitty Hat
Sometimes you don’t want to wear a generic cat hat, you want to be one of the most popular cat characters in the world – Hello Kitty! This hat is crocheted in the round from the top down starting with a magic ring and using half double crochet stitches. Ear flaps, adorable cat ears, and face details are made separately using single crochet stitches and then they are attached to the hat.
Designer: Crochet in Color Blog
Yarn: Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice Baby (Aran Weight #4)
Click here for the free crochet pattern!
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Final Thoughts on Crochet Cat Ear Beanie Patterns
Whether you opt for the ‘worked flat’ approach or the ‘worked in the round’ technique, one thing’s for sure: these furry felines inspired creations are bound to bring joy and charm wherever they go. Will you be making a crochet beanie for yourself or a friend? Bonus points if it’s a finished hat for a tiny human with a smaller head, they’re extra adorable!
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I’ll see you next week for another free crochet pattern round-up. Make sure to follow the blog so you never miss a post. <3
Happy Hooking!