Those little bear ear baby hats look complicated, right? All that texture, the cute ears, the perfect pompom on top. I get it. When I first saw hats like this, I assumed they required some kind of advanced wizardry I hadn’t unlocked yet.
Here’s the truth: if you can single crochet and double crochet, you can absolutely make this hat. The ribbed brim is just single crochet worked in the back loop only. The fancy textured body is a simple two-stitch repeat. And those adorable ears? They’re tiny flat circles that you fold in half and sew on. That’s it. No magic required.
Whether you’re an intermediate crocheter looking for a satisfying weekend project or a confident beginner ready to stretch your skills, this Christmas bear ear baby hat pattern will meet you where you are. I’ll walk you through every single step, explain the stitches in plain English, and give you all the checkpoint moments so you know you’re on track. Let’s make something ridiculously cute together.
Why This Bear Ear Baby Hat Pattern Works
This cozy baby beanie brings together everything you want in a holiday project. It’s quick enough to finish in an afternoon or two, impressive enough to gift with pride, and soft enough for the most sensitive baby skin. The construction is smart and logical, moving from the bottom brim upward, closing at the crown, then adding the ears and pompom as separate pieces.
The waffle stitch pattern creates that gorgeous textured grid you see on the hat body. It looks intricate, but it’s really just alternating between two types of stitches worked around the posts of the row below. Once you get the rhythm, your hands will do the work while your brain relaxes.
Available in three classic holiday colorways, this pattern works beautifully in cream, cranberry red, or forest green. Make one of each for the perfect baby gift set, or choose the color that matches your holiday aesthetic.
Materials You’ll Need
Before you start crocheting, gather these supplies:
Yarn: Bulky weight yarn, weight category 5 or 6. Chenille or velvet-style yarn works best for achieving that soft, plush texture. You’ll need approximately 80 to 100 yards (73 to 91 meters) per hat.
Hook: US Size J-10 / 6.0 mm crochet hook, or whatever size you need to match the gauge.
Notions:
Yarn Suggestions That Work Beautifully
Bernat Blanket Yarn is my top pick for this project. It’s a thick, plush chenille-style yarn with excellent stitch definition for the waffle texture. The cream, red, and green colorways are perfect for the holiday season.
Lion Brand Pound of Love offers a soft acrylic with a slight sheen that mimics the look shown. It’s widely available and machine washable, which parents will appreciate.
Paintbox Yarns Simply Chunky is a budget-friendly option with clean stitch definition and bright holiday colors.
Whatever yarn you choose, look for something soft, machine washable, and preferably chenille or brushed texture. Baby items need to be gentle against delicate skin.
Gauge Information
13 stitches and 10 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in waffle stitch pattern, worked in joined rounds with a US J-10 / 6.0 mm hook, unblocked.
I know checking gauge feels tedious, but for a fitted baby hat, it really matters. A hat that’s too small won’t fit over baby’s head. A hat that’s too big will slip down over their eyes. Take ten minutes to swatch and save yourself the heartbreak of a hat that doesn’t fit.
Finished Size
Newborn to 3 months: Circumference approximately 13 inches (33 cm), height approximately 5.5 inches (14 cm) excluding pompom.
3 to 6 months: Circumference approximately 14.5 inches (37 cm), height approximately 6 inches (15.25 cm) excluding pompom.
The pattern is written for the newborn to 3 months size, with the 3 to 6 months adjustments noted in parentheses throughout.
Abbreviations and Stitch Definitions
Let me break down every abbreviation you’ll encounter in this pattern. If you’re newer to crochet, bookmark this section for quick reference.
blo = back loop only (insert your hook into only the back loop of the stitch, the one farthest from you)
BPdc = back post double crochet (a double crochet worked around the post of the stitch below, inserting your hook from back to front to back)
ch = chain
dc = double crochet
FPdc = front post double crochet (a double crochet worked around the post of the stitch below, inserting your hook from front to back to front)
hdc = half double crochet
pm = place marker
rnd = round
sc = single crochet
sc2tog = single crochet two together (a decrease stitch that turns two stitches into one)
sk = skip
sl st = slip stitch
st(s) = stitch(es)
yo = yarn over
Special Stitches Explained
Front Post Double Crochet (FPdc)
This stitch creates the raised texture on your hat. Instead of working into the top loops of a stitch, you work around its vertical post.
Yarn over. Insert your hook from the front of your work, around to the back, and back to the front around the post (that’s the vertical bar) of the stitch in the round below. Yarn over and pull up a loop. Yarn over, pull through 2 loops. Yarn over, pull through the remaining 2 loops. One FPdc complete.
Back Post Double Crochet (BPdc)
This is the partner stitch to the FPdc. It creates the recessed valleys between the raised columns.
Yarn over. Insert your hook from the back of your work, around to the front, and back to the back around the post of the stitch below. Yarn over and pull up a loop. Yarn over, pull through 2 loops. Yarn over, pull through the remaining 2 loops. One BPdc complete.
Single Crochet Two Together (sc2tog)
This decrease stitch reduces your stitch count by one. Insert hook into the next stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop. Insert hook into the following stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop. Yarn over and pull through all 3 loops on your hook. You’ve just turned two stitches into one.
Pattern Notes Before You Begin
This hat is worked in joined rounds, meaning you’ll slip stitch to join at the end of each round rather than working in a continuous spiral. This keeps your stitch pattern aligned properly.
The brim uses back loop only single crochet to create that stretchy, ribbed texture. It looks more complicated than it is.
For the waffle stitch body, always work your FPdc over the FPdc from the previous round, and your BPdc over the BPdc from the previous round. This maintains those beautiful vertical columns.
The turning chain at the start of each double crochet round counts as a stitch throughout the pattern.
Both ears are identical. You’ll make them flat, fold them in half, and sew them onto the finished hat.
Step by Step Crochet Pattern Instructions
The Brim
Foundation: Ch 43 (49 for larger size). Being careful not to twist your chain, sl st to first ch to form a ring.
Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc in same st as joining and in each ch around. Sl st to first sc to join. (42 sc) (48 sc for larger size)
Rnd 2: Ch 1, blo sc in same st and in each st around. Sl st to first blo sc to join. (42 sc) (48 sc)
Rnd 3: Rep Rnd 2. (42 sc) (48 sc)
Rnd 4: Rep Rnd 2. (42 sc) (48 sc)
Rnd 5: Rep Rnd 2. (42 sc) (48 sc)
Rnd 6: Rep Rnd 2. (42 sc) (48 sc)
Checkpoint: After Rnd 6, your brim should measure approximately 1.25 inches (3 cm) in height and stretch comfortably around a measuring tape set to 13 inches (14.5 inches for larger size).
The Hat Body
Now we transition from the ribbed brim to the textured waffle stitch body. Don’t worry, I’ll walk you through exactly how to set up the pattern.
Rnd 7 (Transition round): Ch 2 (counts as first dc), dc in each rem st around. Sl st to top of beginning ch-2 to join. (42 dc) (48 dc)
This round establishes the posts you’ll work around in the following rounds.
Rnd 8 (Waffle round 1, set-up): Ch 2 (counts as first dc, treated as a BPdc column for alignment). Working in stitches of Rnd 7: FPdc in next st, BPdc in next st. Rep (FPdc in next st, BPdc in next st) around until 1 st remains before the beginning ch-2. FPdc in last st. Sl st to top of beginning ch-2. (42 sts) (48 sts)
Rnd 9 (Waffle round 2): Ch 2 (BPdc column). FPdc around the post of the FPdc below. BPdc around the post of the BPdc below. Rep (FPdc, BPdc) to maintain column alignment to end of round. Sl st to top of ch-2. (42 sts) (48 sts)
Rnd 10: Rep Rnd 9. (42 sts) (48 sts)
Rnd 11: Rep Rnd 9. (42 sts) (48 sts)
Rnd 12: Rep Rnd 9. (42 sts) (48 sts)
Rnd 13: Rep Rnd 9. (42 sts) (48 sts)
Rnd 14: Rep Rnd 9. (42 sts) (48 sts)
For 3 to 6 months size only: Work one additional repeat of Rnd 9 here (Rnd 14a) to add height before crown shaping. (48 sts)
Checkpoint: After the final body round, your hat body (brim plus waffle section) should measure approximately 4 inches (10 cm) in total height (4.5 inches / 11.5 cm for 3 to 6 months). Those waffle columns should be crisp and aligned.
Crown Shaping
We’re transitioning back to single crochet for the crown decreases. This makes the shaping much easier to manage.
Rnd 15 (Transition to sc): Ch 1, sc in same st and in each st around. Sl st to first sc. (42 sc) (48 sc)
Rnd 16 (Decrease round 1): Ch 1, (sc in next 5 sts, sc2tog) 6 times. Sl st to first sc. (36 sc) (42 sc)
Rnd 17 (Decrease round 2): Ch 1, (sc in next 4 sts, sc2tog) 6 times. Sl st to first sc. (30 sc) (36 sc)
Rnd 18 (Decrease round 3): Ch 1, (sc in next 3 sts, sc2tog) 6 times. Sl st to first sc. (24 sc) (30 sc)
Rnd 19 (Decrease round 4): Ch 1, (sc in next 2 sts, sc2tog) 6 times. Sl st to first sc. (18 sc) (24 sc)
For 3 to 6 months only: Work one additional decrease round here.
Rnd 19a: Ch 1, (sc in next 2 sts, sc2tog) 6 times. Sl st to first sc. (18 sc)
Both sizes continue together from here:
Rnd 20 (Decrease round 5): Ch 1, (sc in next st, sc2tog) 6 times. Sl st to first sc. (12 sc)
Rnd 21 (Decrease round 6): Ch 1, (sc2tog) 6 times. Sl st to first sc. (6 sc)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail of approximately 8 inches (20 cm). Thread your yarn tail onto a yarn needle. Weave the needle through the front loop of each remaining 6 stitches around the crown opening. Pull tight to close completely. Knot securely and weave in the end on the wrong side.
Checkpoint: Your crown should be fully closed with no hole visible from the outside. The hat should measure approximately 5.5 inches (14 cm) tall for the smaller size, or 6 inches (15.25 cm) for the larger size.
Bear Ears (Make 2)
Each ear starts as a small flat circle, then gets folded and sewn onto the hat. They’re quick and satisfying to make.
Foundation ring: Ch 2.
Rnd 1: Work 6 sc in second ch from hook. Sl st to first sc to join. (6 sc)
Rnd 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each st around. Sl st to first sc to join. (12 sc)
Rnd 3: Ch 1, (sc in next st, 2 sc in next st) 6 times. Sl st to first sc to join. (18 sc)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail of approximately 12 inches (30.5 cm) for sewing.
Ear Assembly: Fold your circle in half with wrong sides together to form a half-moon shape. The curved edge will face upward once attached.
Ear Placement: Position both ears on the front upper portion of the hat, approximately 0.5 to 1 inch (1.25 to 2.5 cm) down from the crown gather. Space them approximately 1 to 1.5 inches (2.5 to 4 cm) apart from each other, centered front to back. Pin in place before sewing. Using your long yarn tail, sew around the flat base edge of each ear firmly to the hat surface. Knot securely and weave in all ends on the wrong side.
Pompom
Cut two circles from cardboard, each approximately 2 to 2.5 inches (5 to 6.5 cm) in diameter. Cut a small hole in the center of each, approximately 0.5 inch (1.25 cm) in diameter.
Hold both circles together and wrap yarn around the ring repeatedly until the center hole is nearly full. Using sharp scissors, cut through all yarn loops along the outer edge, sliding your scissors between the two cardboard pieces.
Cut a separate 12-inch (30.5 cm) length of yarn. Slide this tie between the cardboard circles and around the center of your cut loops. Pull tightly and knot twice to secure. Remove the cardboard, fluff your pompom, and trim it into a neat round shape about 1.5 to 2 inches (4 to 5 cm) in diameter.
Thread the tie ends onto a yarn needle. Insert the needle down through the exact center of the crown from outside to inside. Pull the ties through and knot tightly several times on the inside. Weave in the ends securely.
Size Customization Tips
Want to make this hat larger? For a 6 to 12 month baby, increase your foundation chain by 6 stitches (to 55 ch, giving 54 working stitches). Add one additional waffle stitch round in the body. Adjust your first decrease round to (sc in next 6 sts, sc2tog) 6 times.
For a toddler size, increase the foundation chain by 12 stitches (to 61 ch, giving 60 working stitches) and add 2 additional waffle rounds.
To adjust brim depth, each additional blo sc round adds approximately 0.25 inch (0.6 cm). Work as many rounds as you like before transitioning to the body.
Care Instructions
For acrylic and chenille yarns, machine wash on gentle cycle in cold water and tumble dry on low heat. Do not iron or dry clean.
Store your finished hat folded flat or lightly stuffed with tissue to maintain the ear shape.
You’ve Got This
This crochet tutorial breaks down every step of creating an adorable Christmas bear ear baby hat. The waffle stitch texture, the sweet little ears, and the fluffy pompom come together into something truly special. Whether you’re making one for your own little one, gifting to a new parent, or donating to a holiday charity drive, this beginner friendly pattern delivers impressive results.
Thank you so much for choosing this pattern for your next project. I’d love to see your finished hats! Tag me on Instagram or share a photo in our Facebook group. Seeing your creations honestly makes my whole day.
If this pattern caught your eye, go ahead and save it to your Pinterest boards so you can find it when you’re ready to cast on. And if you make one of these cuties, drop a comment below. I love hearing which colorway you chose!
