Free crochet cat ears hat pattern – aka sack hat

Sharing is caring!

Have you seen the trend on TikTok yet? Teens (and adults too) are crazy about this crochet cat ears hat, aka crochet sack hat. With this easy pattern, you can make your own beanie wit cat ears built into it. You’ve read that right!

You don’t have to crochet separate pieces and then sew them on together. It’s so easy to make, even if you have never crocheted a hat before.

I’ve included a lot of step-by-step pictures to make it even easier to crochet. Read through to find out what you need, the available sizes, and for the pattern.

This website is reader supported and contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Find my affiliate disclosure here.

Purchase an ad free PDF download for this pattern

Best yarn for a crochet cat ears hat

The best yarn for this crochet kitty ear hat is bulky (#5) weight. It builds up super quick. For the samples in this pattern, I used a 20% wool / 80% acrylic blend yarn called Hue and Me by Lion Brand. 

The color palette for this line of yarn is so beautiful and trendy. You will find it for sale in the US in 4.4 oz (125 g) skeins and the yardage in each skein is 137 yds (125 m). I’ve also used it for this classic granny square blanket.

• For the adult large size, the total amount was 4.34 oz (123 g), or 135 yds (123 m). Color 1 was Arrowwood, I used approximately 2.34 oz (66 g). Color 2 was Harbor, I used approximately 2 oz (57 g).
• For the small adult / teen size, the total amount was 3.62 oz (103 g), or 106 yds (97 m). Color 1 was Agave, I used approximately 1.96 oz (56 g). Color 2 was Haze, I used approximately 1.66 oz (47 g).

Tips and tricks for crocheting a kitty ears hat 

• To make sure your hat fits well, it’s important that gauge is met. Before you start, crochet a swatch, and adjust your tension or switch to a different hook size as needed. 
• The pictures in this pattern are for a slouchy hat, or to be worn to “hug” your head and cover your ears completely. But if you want it with a tighter fitting, I’ve included the instructions to make it with less rounds as well. 
• The hat will look larger before you make the brim. That’s totally normal if you are as close as possible of gauge. The brim has the right amount of stretch to make it fit right. 
• This is totally optional, but if you are crocheting the shorter version of the hat, consider sewing the corners on top to shape them better into “cat ears”.
• Remember: If you decide to change the way you make the brim, with a different ribbing technique, it may be possible that the size of the finished hat will change.

How to wear a crochet cat ears hat

Since you have two options to make this hat, you can add more rounds to the body of the hat to make it slouchy. Or you can make it shorter and wear it at a regular fit. However, if you make it slouchy, you can wear it with a folded brim as well.

How big should a crochet cat ears hat be?

The small size, which is teen/small adult, fits heads size 21”-22” (53-56 cm). As for the larger one, which is adult large, fits head size 23”-24” (58-61 cm).

I haven’t included instructions for smaller sizes. But if you would rather make it smaller, crochet the amount of chain stitches you think will fit.

Then, follow the instructions in the pattern. It’s not hard to customize it to a different size.

How to crochet a fpsc ribbed brim for a hat?

• Make as many chains as you want for the width of the brim, plus 1. For this crochet cat ears pattern we are using 6 + 1.
• Row1: sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next 4 chs, insert hook in next ch, yo, pull up a loop, do not complete the sc st yet, insert the hook in same dc st where you started the brim chs, in the edge of the hat, yo, pull up a loop through all the loops on the hook to complete the sc st, sl st in next dc st in the edge of the hat, turn [6] 
• Row2: fpsc in next 5 sc sts, sc in last st, ch 1, turn [6]
• Row3: fpsc in next 5 sc sts, insert the hook in last sc st, yo, pull up a loop, do not complete the sc st yet, insert the hook in next dc st in the edge of the hat, yo, pull through all the loops in hook to complete the sc st, sl st in next dc st in the edge of the hat, turn [6]
• Repeat Row2-3 across. You will know you reached the last row for the brim when you slip stitch in the last dc in the edge of the hat. And there are no more rows to crochet. 
• FO. Cute the yarn. Leave a tail about 15 in (38 cm) long. 
• Sew the ends of the brim to join (see the step by step below for more details and pictures)

Quick video tutorial for the brim

Here is a quick video tutorial to demonstrate how to crochet the ribbed brim for this hat.

Supplies you need for a crochet cat ears hat

• Bulky yarn 135 yds (123 m) for adult large, or 106 yds (97 m) for teen/small adult
• 6 mm (US J) hook
• Scissors 
• Yarn needle
• Measuring tape or rule

Pattern notes and instructions

Here you have the notes and instructions for the cat ears hat pattern. Read carefully through all notes and information so you can reach the best result. By the way, you have two sizes available (see sizing information below)

• The pattern was written using crochet US terminology.
• Pattern level of difficulty: Easy.
• The skills you will need are: chains, double crochet, front post single crochet (fpsc – written instructions included), color change (written instructions included), fasten off, and weave in ends.
• This hat is made from the top down to the brim.
• For reference, the mannequin-display pictured here measures 20 in (51 cm) around and is wearing sizes adult large and adult small/teen in the pictures.
• The pattern step by step pictures for this crochet cat ears hat are for size Adult Large.
• The round numbers for the larger size will be written thus { } and the round stitch count thus [ ].
• Ch 3 at the beginning of rounds count as a st .
• Ch 1 on brim doesn’t count as a st

A note on Gauge 

Please don’t skip this step, you will make sure your crochet cat ear beanie fits. Crochet a swatch to have these measurements: 9 dc x 5 rows = 4” (without blocking). 

Gauge swatch pattern:

• Ch 20
• Row1: dc in 4th ch from hook, dc in every remaining ch, ch 3, turn [18]
• Row2-5: dc across, ch 3, turn [18]
• Lay the swatch flat, measure it.

While you are scrolling for the pattern, you may also like to take a look at these patterns and tutorials:

• 
  Crochet Frankenstein Free Pattern
• 
  Free No-Sew Crochet Whale Pattern
• 
  Free Crochet Bandana Pattern

Stitch abbreviations

• C2: Color 2
• Approx.: approximately
• ch(s): chain(s)
• dc: double crochet
• fpsc: front post single crochet 
• FO: fasten off
• rep: repeat
• st(s): stich(es)
• sl st: slip st
• ( ) repeat instructions within parentheses as many times as directed
• [ ] stitch count in a row/round 
• * Repeat the instructions after the asterisk as instructed

Special Stitch Instructions

fpsc = front post single crochet, for the crochet cat ears hat ribbed brim.

A “front loop single crochet” is when you do a single crochet. But instead of inserting the hook in next stitch as normal, you do the stitch around the post of next stitch. 

Here is how to do it:

• From the front of the work. Insert your hook to the back of the work.
• Then, back to the front, around the post of next st.
• Next, yarn over and pull up 1 loop.
• Lastly, yarn over again and pull through to complete the sc stitch.

Color change for the crochet cat ears hat

Switch to yarn C2 on row 2 and keep switching colors in every round if you are using different colors of yarn. 

For that, there is no need to cut the yarn, just drop it and pick it back up when it’s time to change colors again. 

Here is how you do it:

• Complete the round with the current color by joining with a sl st to the first dc. 
• Keep the hook in the last loop of current yarn, then grab the new yarn and pull up a loop. 
• Drop the other yarn at the back of your work, and pull it to tighten the sl st. 
• Ch 3 with the new yarn and complete the round as instructed in the pattern. Repeat these instructions for every color change.

There you have the pattern for the TikTok trend crochet cat ears hat. This would make a special gift for a teen (or for an adult too, why not?) in your life. Maybe you would wear it because you are a cat person.

Or simply because it’s trendy and you like going with the flow on the latest fashion trends. No matter what it is for, I hope you enjoy making it.

More free patterns

• Men’s classic crochet beanie pattern
• Oversized crochet scarf pattern
• Beginner crochet ribbed beanie pattern
• Easy rectangle shawl crochet pattern
• Bucket hat crochet pattern

Have you made this?

Drop a comment below to let me know or if you have any questions. Or maybe you would like to say “hi”. Another way to reach out to me is by joining my community group on Facebook. 

If you use any of my patterns or tutorials for a project, please tag me @zamiguz or use the hashtag #zamiguzmakers. I would love to see what you make.

Let’s stay in touch, sign up to my newsletter here, so you never miss a pattern or tutorial. I can’t to wait to see you there.

Pint pattern to your Pinterest now and make the crochet cat ears hat later.

Sharing is caring!