This crochet baby bear hat pattern makes the sweetest little beanie for a newborn photo shoot, a baby shower gift, or everyday cozy wear. The hat is worked top-down in simple half double crochet, finished with a stretchy ribbed brim that folds up neatly, and topped with two round bear ears. With three sizes from 0 to 12 months and six photo steps, even a confident beginner can finish it in one afternoon.
Materials for Your Crochet Baby Bear Hat Pattern
Gather these supplies before you start your crochet baby bear hat pattern:
- Soft baby DK / light worsted (#3) yarn in caramel tan — acrylic or cotton blend, approx. 120–180 yds depending on size
- 4.0 mm (US G-6) crochet hook
- Yarn needle
- Scissors
- Stitch markers
- Tape measure
Choose a yarn soft against newborn skin that holds its stitch definition. Lion Brand has several baby-friendly DK ranges in warm caramel shades. Making a gift set? Pair this hat with our crochet beanie pattern in the same yarn.
Step 1: Start the Crown
All three sizes start the same way, at the top of the crown. Make a magic ring, chain 2 (the chain never counts as a stitch), and work 10 half double crochet into the ring for round 1. Round 2 doubles every stitch to 20. Round 3 works (1 hdc, 2 hdc in the next stitch) ten times for 30, round 4 works (hdc in 2 stitches, 2 hdc) for 40, and round 5 works (hdc in 3 stitches, 2 hdc) for 50. Making the 0–3 month size? Stop there. For 3–6 months, add round 6 — (hdc in 4 stitches, 2 hdc) — for 60. For 6–12 months, add round 7 — (hdc in 5 stitches, 2 hdc) — for 70. Mark the first stitch of every round so your counts stay honest.
Step 2: Work the Hat Body Even
With the crown at its full width, the body is beautifully mindless: one half double crochet in every stitch, round after round, joining each round with a slip stitch and chaining 2 to start the next. Keep going until the hat measures 4.5 inches from the center of the crown for 0–3 months, 5 inches for 3–6 months, or 5.5 inches for 6–12 months. Measure from the crown center, not the edge, for an accurate finished height.
Step 3: Crochet the Ribbed Brim Band
The folded brim makes this baby bear hat look professionally finished, and it is worked flat as a separate strip. Chain 9, then single crochet in the second chain from the hook and in each chain across — 8 stitches. Chain 1 and turn. From here on, work every row in the back loop only; that one small change creates the deep, stretchy ribs. Repeat until the band has 50 rows for 0–3 months, 60 rows for 3–6 months, or 70 rows for 6–12 months — one row of band for every stitch around the hat body. If the band pulls the edge in, add one extra row.
Step 4: Attach and Fold the Brim
Bring the two short ends of the band together and seam them with a yarn needle to form a ring. With the hat inside out, pin the band around the bottom edge so each row lines up with one body stitch, and whipstitch it in place all the way around. Turn the hat right side out and fold the band upward. The fold hides the seaming, adds warmth over baby’s ears, and sets the finished height — 5.5 inches for 0–3 months, 6 inches for 3–6 months, and 6.5 inches for 6–12 months.
Step 5: Make the Two Bear Ears
The ears are quick flat circles in single crochet, the same for every size. Round 1: 6 single crochet in a magic ring. Round 2: 2 single crochet in every stitch, 12 total. Round 3: (1 sc, 2 sc in the next stitch) six times, 18 total. Round 4: (sc in 2 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch) six times, 24 total. Fasten off and leave a long tail — at least 12 inches — for sewing. Make two. Worked flat rather than stuffed, the ears fold slightly as they are sewn, giving them a natural, perky shape.
Step 6: Sew the Ears On and Finish
Pin the first ear to one side of the crown, centered over roughly rounds 3 to 5, then pin the second as its mirror image. Check from the front first: the ears should sit at about the 10 o’clock and 2 o’clock positions, evenly spaced. Whipstitch each ear securely around the bottom two-thirds of the circle, so the top stays free and rounded. Weave in every end, fold the brim up one last time, and your crochet baby bear hat is finished — most crocheters complete it in about 2 hours.
Sizes and Finished Measurements
This crochet baby bear hat pattern is written for three baby sizes. At a gauge of 16 hdc × 12 rows = 4 inches (10 cm):
| Size | Finished circumference | Finished height |
|---|---|---|
| 0–3 months | 12 in (30.5 cm) | 5.5 in (14 cm) |
| 3–6 months | 14 in (35.5 cm) | 6 in (15 cm) |
| 6–12 months | 16 in (40.5 cm) | 6.5 in (16.5 cm) |
Babies grow fast, so if you are between sizes — or gifting ahead — make the larger size.
3 Tips for a Perfect Baby Bear Hat
1. Check the crown circle before you build the body. After the final increase round, the circle should measure about 3.8 inches across for 0–3 months, 4.5 inches for 3–6 months, or 5.1 inches for 6–12 months.
2. Count brim rows against hat stitches. The band needs one row per body stitch — 50, 60, or 70. Clip a marker into the band every 10 rows so you never recount the strip.
3. Pin both ears before sewing either one. Ears drift as you stitch. Pin the pair, check symmetry at arm’s length, then pick up your needle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this crochet baby bear hat pattern good for beginners?
Yes. The body is half double crochet in joined rounds, the brim is back-loop single crochet worked flat, and the ears are simple increasing circles. If you can make a magic ring and count stitches, you can make this hat.
How much yarn do I need?
About 120 yds for the 0–3 month size and up to 180 yds for 6–12 months of DK / light worsted (#3) yarn, ears and brim included.
Can I use worsted (#4) yarn instead?
You can, but the hat comes out larger at the same counts. Follow the finished measurements instead, stopping the crown at the listed diameter, or go down a hook size.
How do I wash the finished hat?
Follow the yarn label — most baby acrylic and cotton blends machine wash gently and dry flat.
Conclusion
This crochet baby bear hat pattern gives you a soft, photo-ready beanie with a folded ribbed brim and the two perkiest little ears — in three sizes. Make the tiny size for a newborn shoot, the biggest for a first-birthday gift, and grab the free printable PDF from the download button in this post. Happy crocheting!
