crochetguideKnow these stitches: magic ring, single crochet, crochet increase, chain, slip stitch
Materials and yarn planning
Yarns we’ve reviewed that suit it: Lion Brand Basic Stitch Anti-Pilling yarn, Lion Brand Heartland yarn, Lion Brand Wool-Ease worsted yarn. For the hook, choose by size and handle.
Yarn estimate: the 722 stitches at about 4 cm of medium yarn each come to about 30 m. One 50 g ball is plenty.
This pattern has about 722 stitches. For a closer figure in your own yarn, weigh what you have made once a good part is done, divide by the stitches made so far, multiply by 722 and divide by the ball weight on the label. Taller stitches use more yarn than short ones, so allow a margin.
Finished size and gauge
Measure around your dog’s head over the forehead, just above the eyes, and round the back of the skull below the ears. Take off about 2 cm so the hat stays put. Example: a 36 cm head gives 34 cm, which at 14 single crochets per 10 cm is about 48 stitches. The crown grows by 6 stitches a round, so round to a multiple of 6: a 28 cm head needs 36 stitches, a 46 cm head 60. Then measure the base of one ear from front to back: each ear hole is that length in chains, about 8 for 5.5 cm. The size table below works out the crown for your dog’s head from your swatch. For another count, the ear-hole round is a quarter of the stitches less half a hole (round it down), a hole, half the stitches less one hole, the second hole, then the rest: 5 + 8 + 10 + 8 + 5 for 36 stitches. Dogs’ heads and ears vary more than people’s, so try the hat on as you go. These are calculations from the counts, not a measured sample.
Sizes from your swatch
Example: 14 single crochets in 10 cm, the gauge the steps are written for. Type your own swatch over it to see your counts.
| Dog’s head | Crown, around | Stitches | Crown rounds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 cm | 23 cm (9 in) | 30 | 5 |
| 30 cm | 28 cm (11 in) | 42 | 7 |
| 35 cm | 33 cm (13 in) | 48 | 8 |
| 40 cm | 38 cm (15 in) | 54 | 9 |
| 45 cm | 43 cm (17 in) | 60 | 10 |
| 50 cm | 48 cm (19 in) | 66 | 11 |
| 55 cm | 53 cm (20.75 in) | 72 | 12 |
Counts are rounded to whole stitches and rounds and to the pattern’s repeat. Check the first rows against your swatch.
The gauge calculator compares your swatch with the pattern. A stitch name you do not know is in the abbreviation chart; a UK pattern’s names are in the US/UK term reference.
The pattern
Count rows for this patternCrown
- Round 1: make a magic ring, chain 1 and work 6 single crochets in it. Pull the ring closed and join with a slip stitch to the first single crochet (6 stitches).
- Round 2: chain 1 (it does not count), 2 single crochets in each stitch, join (12 stitches).
- Round 3: chain 1, [single crochet in the next stitch, 2 single crochets in the next stitch] 6 times, join (18 stitches).
- Round 4: chain 1, [single crochet in the next 2 stitches, 2 single crochets in the next stitch] 6 times, join (24 stitches).
- Round 5: chain 1, [single crochet in the next 3 stitches, 2 single crochets in the next stitch] 6 times, join (30 stitches).
- Round 6: chain 1, [single crochet in the next 4 stitches, 2 single crochets in the next stitch] 6 times, join (36 stitches).
- Round 7: chain 1, [single crochet in the next 5 stitches, 2 single crochets in the next stitch] 6 times, join (42 stitches).
- Round 8: chain 1, [single crochet in the next 6 stitches, 2 single crochets in the next stitch] 6 times, join (48 stitches).
Sides and ear holes
- Rounds 9–11: chain 1, single crochet in each stitch, join (48 stitches).
- Try the hat on your dog with the joins at the middle of the back of the head. The ears should sit just below the edge, one at each side; if they sit higher, undo the last round.
- Round 12, the ear holes: chain 1, single crochet in the next 8 stitches, chain 8 and skip the next 8 stitches, single crochet in the next 16 stitches, chain 8 and skip the next 8 stitches, single crochet in the last 8 stitches, join (8 + 8 + 16 + 8 + 8 = 48).
- Round 13: chain 1, single crochet in each stitch and in each chain, join (48 stitches).
- Rounds 14–16: chain 1, single crochet in each stitch, join (48 stitches). Fasten off.
Ties
- Join the yarn in the last round, below the middle of one ear hole: the 12th stitch from the back join. Chain 31, slip stitch in the second chain from the hook and in each chain back to the hat: 30 slip stitches. Fasten off.
- Make the second tie the same below the other ear hole, the 37th stitch. Weave in all the ends.
- Ease the ears through the holes and tie the ties loosely under the chin, with room for two fingers. Stay with your dog while it wears the hat, and take it off if your dog paws at it.
Check the work
The crown grows by 6 a round to 48. The ear-hole round is 8 + 8 + 16 + 8 + 8 = 48, so each hole is centered at the side and the rounds below it have 48 stitches again.
- If the ears sit in front of the holes or behind them, move both holes: work more stitches before the first and fewer after the second, or the other way round, keeping the total.
- If the hat slides back, the crown is too big: undo it to the last increase round that fits and work the sides from there.
- If an ear hole is tight, chain 2 more and skip 2 more stitches for it, and take the same from the front stitches.
Updated . Stitch counts checked row by row; we haven’t crocheted a sample of this one yet. How the patterns are checked. Keep your yarn label, hook and swatch on the printable project worksheet.