STITCH ROUND Crochet cat hat pattern for a mini cowboy-style pet hat
20 rounds shape a mini cowboy-style crochet cat hat with a contrast band.
- Skill
- Confident Beginner
- Rounds
- 13 rounds
- Yarn weight
- Worsted
- Hook
- 4 mm
- Time
- 3-5 hours
Confident Beginner
What the original page called it. Nothing here is graded a second time.
13 rounds
Each one gets its own line, with a box beside it to tick as you go.
Worsted
What the sample was made in. Any weight works — the size moves with it.
About this pattern
This project builds a miniature cowboy-style hat for a cat, worked entirely in single crochet so the fabric holds its shape without stuffing. The crown comes together over fourteen rounds, and the brim adds six more for twenty rounds total, each one a clear checkpoint before moving to the next. A separate hat band, crocheted flat and sewn on afterward, adds the contrasting trim that gives the finished piece its western look. Nothing here demands advanced skills, just steady single crochet and attention to stitch count.
The shaping happens through a steady run of increase rounds that widen the crown from a tight magic ring out to the brim, so each round changes the stitch count in a predictable pattern. Slow down around the plain single crochet rounds that sit between the increase rounds, since skipping or miscounting there throws off the brim's curve. Keeping the stitch marker moving at the start of every round makes it far easier to catch a missed increase before it compounds across later rounds.
The finished hat measures approximately 4 inches tall by 6 inches wide (10 cm by 15 cm), worked at a gauge of about 18 single crochet stitches by 20 rounds = 4 inches (10 cm), sized to fit a small to medium cat with a head circumference around 10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm). Measuring your cat's head before starting is recommended since cats vary greatly in size.
The suggested yarn is a soft medium-weight (Category 4) cotton or acrylic blend, which gives the brim enough structure while staying lightweight. Changing the main hat color or the contrasting band color is an easy way to create seasonal or themed versions of the hat.
Pet accessories should always be supervised during use. Remove the hat if your cat appears uncomfortable, stressed, or tries to chew the crochet fabric.
- Start the crown with a magic ring, then work increase rounds that steadily widen the fabric into a rounded dome shape.
- Continue into the second stretch of rounds, alternating plain rounds with increases to flare the brim outward.
- Wrap the finished band around the crown at the point where the brim begins to curve outward.
- Sew the band in place with small, secure stitches so it stays flush against the crown.
- Weave in any loose ends and check the brim's curve before calling the hat complete.
What goes wrong
- Hat curls too much Use a slightly larger hook or block the brim gently.
- Crown is too tight Increase the number of expansion rounds.
- Brim loses shape Try a firmer yarn or add an extra edging round.
- Stitches look uneven Maintain consistent tension throughout continuous rounds.
Yarn, hook and the rest
Copied from the source pattern's own materials list.
- Medium weight yarn in main hat color: approximately 70 yards (64 meters)
- Small amount of contrasting yarn for hat band: approximately 10 yards (9 meters)
- 4 mm crochet hook (US G-6)
- Yarn needle
- Scissors
- Stitch marker
Progress tracker
0 of the 13 rounds on this page are ticked.
The pattern, round by round
Kept in the order and the wording the source used. Tick a round as you finish it; the ticks stay on this device.
Main Pattern
Round 1
Make a magic ring. Work 6 sc into ring. (6 sts)
Round 2
Inc in each stitch around. (12 sts)
Round 3
(Sc in next stitch, inc in next stitch) repeat 6 times. (18 sts)
Round 4
(Sc in next 2 stitches, inc in next stitch) repeat 6 times. (24 sts)
Round 5
(Sc in next 3 stitches, inc in next stitch) repeat 6 times. (30 sts)
Round 6
(Sc in next 4 stitches, inc in next stitch) repeat 6 times. (36 sts)
Rounds 7–14
Sc in each stitch around. (36 sts each round)
Main Pattern
Round 15
Sc in next 5 stitches, inc in next stitch. Repeat around. (42 sts)
Round 16
Sc in next 6 stitches, inc in next stitch. Repeat around. (48 sts)
Round 17
Sc in each stitch around. (48 sts)
Round 18
Sc in next 7 stitches, inc in next stitch. Repeat around. (54 sts)
Round 19
Sc in each stitch around. (54 sts)
Round 20
Sl st around the edge for a neat finish. Fasten off and weave in ends.
Hat Band
With contrasting yarn, chain 36.
Single crochet into the second chain from hook and across. (35 sts)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.
Wrap the band around the crown between rounds 10 and 12.
Sew securely using small stitches.
Join
Step 1Shape the brim gently with your hands to create a slight cowboy hat curve.
Step 2Weave in all yarn ends securely.
Step 3Light blocking with steam or gentle moisture can help the brim hold its shape.
Step 4If desired, add a small crocheted bow, flower, or decorative strip. Avoid adding loose pieces that a pet could remove and chew.
Check your count
- Main Pattern · Round 2: 12 sts
- Main Pattern · Round 4: 24 sts
- Main Pattern · Round 6: 36 sts
- Main Pattern · Rounds 7–14: 36 sts
- Main Pattern · Round 15: 42 sts
- Main Pattern · Round 16: 48 sts
Finish
- Hand washing is recommended to preserve the shape of the crochet cat hat. Use mild soap and cool water, gently press out excess moisture, and reshape the brim while drying flat.
- Attach the contrasting hat band by sewing it securely around the crown where it was wrapped, keeping stitches small and even.
- Blocking is especially useful for this style because it helps create the structured cowboy silhouette. Avoid excessive heat that could damage acrylic fibers or change the size of the finished piece.
Bigger or smaller
- Larger
- a larger hat, add one or two additional increase rounds before working the sides.
- Smaller
- a smaller hat, stop increasing earlier and reduce the number of straight rounds.
- Taller
- To increase height, add extra single crochet rounds before the brim.
FAQs
Asked and answered
These answers came from whoever first published the pattern, kept word for word.
Will this hat actually stay on a cat's head?
The brim is shaped to curve snugly around the crown, and blocking helps it hold that shape, but comfort depends on the individual cat. Measuring the head circumference before starting is the best way to judge fit.
Can the hat band be made in the same yarn as the crown?
Yes, though the contrast color is what gives the finished piece its cowboy-style look. Using a different color for the band is optional, not required for the construction to work.
What happens if a round in the crown gets joined by mistake?
A join leaves a seam line and shifts where the stitch marker should sit for the next round. Unravel back to before the join and continue working in a continuous spiral instead.
Is blocking necessary for this pattern?
Blocking is what gives the brim its structured cowboy silhouette rather than a floppy edge. Hand washing and reshaping while flat, as described in the finishing steps, is enough to achieve this.