Pete the Cat Costume Hat: Free Crochet Pattern

Quick Snapshot

• Skill Level: Intermediate
• Time: 4 hours
• Yarn: Worsted weight in royal blue, white, yellow, black, and red

Pete the Cat is a beloved children’s book character, and this crochet hat brings him to life. It’s a beanie-style hat with cat ears, oversized eyes, and Pete’s signature four groovy buttons.

Materials

• Worsted weight yarn: Royal Blue (200 yds), White (30 yds), Yellow (20 yds), Black (10 yds), Red (scrap)
• Size H/5.0mm crochet hook
• Polyester fiberfill (for ears)
• Yarn needle, scissors

Step-by-Step

The Beanie Base

1. Magic ring: With blue, 8 hdc into ring. Join. (8 sts)
2. Round 2: Ch 1, 2 hdc in each st. (16 sts)
3. Round 3: Ch 1, hdc, 2 hdc around. (24 sts)
4. Round 4: Ch 1, hdc 2, 2 hdc around. (32 sts)
5. Continue increasing until the circle matches crown diameter (approx 6.5 inches for a child).
6. Work even in hdc rounds until hat reaches ear level (about 5.5 inches from crown).
7. Fasten off.

Cat Ears (Make 2)

8. Magic ring: 4 sc into ring. (4 sts)
9. Round 2: Sc, 2 sc around. (6 sts)
10. Round 3: Sc 2, 2 sc around. (8 sts)
11. Continue increasing by 2 sts per round until ear measures 3 inches tall.
12. Fasten off, leave tail. Stuff lightly. Sew to sides of beanie.

Face Details

13. Eyes (Make 2): With white, magic ring, 8 hdc. Join. Fasten off. With black, embroider pupil. With yellow, surface crochet an iris ring around the pupil.
14. Nose: With yellow, ch 4. Sc in 2nd ch, hdc, dc. Fasten off. Sew to center face.
15. Buttons: Sew 4 red buttons down the front of the hat or crochet small red circles and sew them vertically on one side.

This hat fits most children ages 3–8. Adjust hook size up for larger heads.

From Character Hats to Full Amigurumi

Character accessories like this Pete the Cat hat are the perfect gateway into the world of amigurumi. If you enjoyed shaping these ears, embroidering the face, and watching a beloved character come to life, you already have the skills to tackle a complete crochet cat amigurumi. Full amigurumi projects build on the same techniques—working in the round, increasing and decreasing, and assembling seamed parts—just on a smaller, rounder scale.

Many crafters start with character hats or plushie accessories and quickly realize they’re ready to dive into three-dimensional projects. A sitting or standing cat amigurumi uses the same foundational stitches you already know, and the payoff is a huggable toy that kids (and adults) adore. When you’re ready to make that leap, our cat amigurumi free pattern generator can turn any feline photo into a complete, step-by-step crochet pattern—no guesswork needed.

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