Plaid Crochet Woodland Animal Hats – Free Crochet Pattern

These cute crochet woodland animal hats feature a cute plaid and gingham color scheme! They are worked from the bottom up and forming the ears is simply done by closing the top flat and cinching the ears a bit. The pattern includes sizing for the whole family

One of my favorite patterns from Plaid Week this year was my Plaid Fox Hat. It was a vision that came together beautifully and I was so happy with how the pattern turned out. When I shared in on Facebook, I had a few people throw out ideas for other animals. I loved the idea of a whole woodland animal set, so I got to work designing other Plaid Woodland Animal Hats. The Raccoon and Deer were simple enough, but the Bear was a bit tricky. Bears have roundish ears so I had to do a bit of experimenting. Luckily, and idea of how to make the ears round came to me, and it worked out beautifully!

This post is going to be image heavy because my darling children were so sweet during our photo session. Those faces melt my heart! I really wanted to share all of them, but I forced myself to narrow it down.

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PLAID CROCHET WOODLAND ANIMAL HATS – FREE CROCHET PATTERN 

Please remember: You are free to use this pattern to make and sell, but do not republish or distribute this pattern in any way. DO NOT use my photos in your listings. Please do share my blog links! It’s a quick and FREE way of supporting Whistle and Ivy and more free crochet patterns in the future. 
PLEASE read my Disclaimer before working my free patterns! 

What you need: (affiliate links)
– H, I J Hooks
– Red Heart with Love – 
For Fox: Aran, Pewter, Tigerlily Mango
For Raccoon: Pewter, Black White
For Deer: Aran, Taupe, Chocolate
For Bear: Black, Taupe, Chocolate 
Small amount of pink for ears 
– Darning Needle  

Abbreviations: US Terms
Ch – chain
Sc – single crochet
Hdc – half double crochet
Dc – Double Crochet
Dc2tog – Dc decrease
Sc2tog – Sc decrease 
Fpdc – front post dc
Bpdc – back post dc
Sl st – Slip Stitch
St – stitch

 

Raccoon/Fox/ Deer

To make the different animals,  you can change colors. 
For raccoon use black, gray and white. 
For deear, use dark brown, light brown and cream
For fox use dark orange, light orange and cream. 

CHILD/TODDLER  

(Worked from the bottom up, but you will add the ribbed brim last)
Use J Hook for Child  (18″ circumference
Use H hook for Toddler  (16.5″ circumference)
1. Using brim color : 65 st sc foundation. Join with a sl st forming a circle. Working in joined rounds. 
2. Using your Mid color: Ch 2. Dc in same st. Dc in next st. (Counts as the first plaid block)Work the Plaid Stitch alternating between Dark and Mid. (65 sts)
3. Ch 2. Dc in same st. Dc in next st. Work Plaid stitch, alternating between Light and Mid. Join with a sl st. (65 sts)
4. – 11. Ch 2. Dc in same st. Dc in next st. Work Plaid Stitch. Join with a sl st. (65 sts)
Clip ends. 
 
Using the tail from the beginning sc foundation, sew up the bottom of where the stitches meet.  

Brim:
Turn hat upside down with seam facing you. Count 8 to the left, start in the 9th st. 
1. Ch 2. Dc 50. Turn.  (50 sts)
2. – 5. Ch 2. Alternate Fpdc and bpdc across. Turn. (50 sts)

FORM THE EARS:
To form the ears, thread your darning needle with a length of yarn. With pins, mark 2.5 inches in from the top corner, and 2.5 inches down from the top corner. Sew a loose running stitch from the top pin to the bottom/side pin. Pull the ends and cinch the ear tight. Taking care that it stays tight and cinched, weave in both ends securing the air. Clip ends. 

Flatten hat so the the seam is in front and front flap is in the exact middle. With the back of the hat still facing you, sl st all across the top, closing the hat. 
To form the ears, thread your darning needle with a length of yarn. With pins, mark 2.5 inches in from the top corner, and 2.5 inches down from the top corner.

Sew a loose running stitch from the top pin to the bottom/side pin.

Pull the ends and cinch the ear tight. Taking care that it stays tight and cinched, weave in both ends. Clip ends. 

Inside Ears: (pink for deer, black for raccoon, cream for fox) 
With H Hook
 Magic Ring
1. Ch 2. *Dc. Sc. Dc. ch 2.* work 3 times. Join with first dc.
Pull ring tight. Break yarn. Leave a long tail if you are sewing it on. Weave in ends if you are gluing it on.  

Attach the inside ears to the ears on the hat. You can either sew it in place or attach it with hot glue. If using hot glue, be sure to apply glue as close to the edge as possible as an unglued edge can curl up over time. 

Antlers: (for Deer Hat)
Main Beam:
Magic Ring
1. Ch 1. Sc 7 into the ring. Join with a sl st. (7 sts)
2. – 7. Ch 1. Sc in each st around. Join with a sl st. 
(Work 2 more rows for adult hat)
Stuff firmly with Polyfil. 
 
Second Point: 
Magic Ring
Ch 1. Sc 5 into ring. Join with a sl st. (5 sts)
2. – 4. Ch 1. Sc in each st around. Join with a sl st. (5 sts)
(Work one more row for adult hat)
Stuff firmly with Polyfil. Sew onto Main Beam. 
Sew Antlers onto the hat on the row before the seam at the top, and inside from the ears. 

Finish the hat by making the tassels. Cut 9 lengths of yarn about 25″ long. Pull them through the corners of the ear flaps halfway, so 18 strands hang down. Twist the strands in a braid and secure with a knot. Clip ends. 

 

Bear:

CHILD/TODDLER:
Use J Hook for Child  (18″ circumference
Use H hook for Toddler  (16.5″ circumference)
(Worked from the bottom up, but you will add the ribbed brim last)

1. Using brim color 65 st sc foundation. Join with a sl st forming a circle. Working in joined rounds. Break foundation yarn. 
2. Join Mid. Ch 2. Dc in same st. Dc in next st. (counts as first plaid block)Work the Plaid Stitch alternating between Dark and Mid. (65 sts)
3. Ch 2. Dc in same st. Dc in next st. Work Plaid stitch, alternating between Light and Mid.  Join with a sl st. (65 sts)
4. – 9. Ch 2. Dc in same st. Dc in next st. Work Plaid Stitch. Join with a sl st. (65 sts)
10. Ch 2. Dc in same st. Dc in next st (counts as first dc block. Work Plaid Stitch for 10 Dc sts. Dc2tog 3 times. Work plaid st for 28 sts. Dc2tog 3 times. Plaid st in remaining stitches. (59 sts)
11. Ch 2. Dc in same st. Sc in next st (counts as first dc block. Work Plaid Stitch for 9 Dc sts. Dc2tog 3 times. Dc 25. Dc2tog 3 times. Work plaid st across remaining sts. (53 sts)
12. Using only Chocolate: Ch 1. Sc 7. Dc 4. Sc3tog. Dc 4. Sc 17. Dc 4. Sc3tog. Dc 4. Sc 7. Join with sl st. (49 sts)
Clip ends. 
(For help working the plaid decreases, please see the video above!)

Brim:
Turn hat upside down with seam facing you. Count 8 to the left, start in the 9th st. 
1. Ch 2. Dc 50. Turn.  (50 sts)
2. – 5. Ch 2. Alternate Fpdc and bpdc across. Turn. (50 sts)

To form the ears:  Measure  2.5″ for toddler/child down from the top of the Chocolate sc in row 10, and the same measurement in from the side (see the Fox Hat for reference). Sew a loose running stitch with a darning needle and some yarn. Pull the ends and cinch the ear tight. Taking care that it stays tight and cinched, weave in both ends, securing the ear. Clip ends. 

Didn’t they turn out adorable? I think the crochet deer hat is my favorite, but the crochet bear hat is so cute too. I am so happy with how the ears turned out.
Which crochet woodland animal hat is going on your project list this weekend? 

 

xoxo,