Free Crochet Beaver Hat Pattern with Tail

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Over the years I have received many request for cute hat designs, usually for kids. A few weeks ago a request came in from an Oregon State fan for a Beaver Hat!

Yes, you heard that right, they wanted a cute hat to wear to the football games. I had already designed a beaver newborn photo prop so all I had to do was tweak it a little to add to a hat. But, I knew with this request it wouldn’t be just for the little ones, I had a feeling Mom & Dad would want one too.

And I was right, as soon as I sent them a photo of the little hat, they placed an order for 2 adult hats. There is a lot of gratification in designing something that is so personal to others.

Beaver Hats & Newborn Photo Props

If you think the beaver hat shown above is cute, I need you to take a peak at the newborn prop.

It isn’t cute just for Oregon State fans. I grew up in American Falls Idaho and our school mascot was also the Beaver, so I had contacted a relative who is an amazing photographer back home and sent her a prop to photograph as well. Lindsay Marie Photography did not disappoint, serious cuteness overload below:


Back to the hat pattern

Enough about the cuteness of newborns, I know you are here for the hat. The beaver hat comes in sizes from newborn up to adult.

Materials List

  • Hook size G(4.5mm) / H(5mm) / I(5.5mm)/ J(6mm)/ K(6.5mm)
  • Worsted (4) weight yarn (medium brown, dark brown, black, cream, white)
  • Scissors & Yarn Needle

Stitches & Abbreviations Used

  • Dc=double crochet
  • Hdc=half double crochet
  • Sc=single crochet
  • Ch=chain
  • Slst=slip stitch
  • St=Stitch
  • R=Row/Round

Gauge Check

Please check gauge, if you do not take the time to check your gauge, your hat may not come out the right size. Adjust your hook to obtain gauge. If your swatch is too large, go down a hook size. If your swatch is too small, go up a hook size.

Using the larges crochet hook K (6.5 mm) work 9 rows of 12 half double crochet, your swatch should be 4 inches square.

Follow the Basic Hat Pattern

As mentioned earlier, the hat comes in sizes from Newborn up to Adult. Follow the Basic Hat Pattern working with your crochet hook K and the medium brown color. I made a traditional hat for my Beaver design, but the instructions include an option to add earflaps, you are more than welcome to add them to your design.

Beaver Hat Details

Now for the fun, it is time to add the details of the ears, eyes, face and of course the signature teeth. The tail will be last, as it is a signature component as well.

Beaver Hat Ears

Ears – Make 2 for hat

Newborn, 3-6 month & 6-12 month sizes: use crochet hook I (5.5 mm) & medium brown yarn

R1: Ch 3, 10 hdc in 3rd chain from hook (1st ch made), join in top of beg hdc (10)

R2: Ch 2, hdc in same st you joined in, hdc in next st, ch 1, sc in the side of the hdc just made, slst in same st hdc was made in, sc in next 8 st, slst in same st as beg ch 2, slst along the side of the beginning ch 2, fasten off leaving enough yarn to sew ears to hat.

12-24 month, Child, Teen/Ladies & Adult/Men sizes: use crochet hook J (6.0 mm) & medium brown yarn

R1: Ch 3, 12 dc in 3rd chain from hook (1st cn made), join in top of beg dc (12)

R2: Ch 2, hdc in same st you joined in, hdc in next st, ch 1, sc in the side of the hdc just made, slst in same st hdc was made in, sc in next 10 st, slst in same st as beg ch 2, slst along the side of the beg ch 2, fasten off leaving enough yarn to sew ears to hat.


Beaver Hat Face Detail

Eyes – Make 2 for Hat

Newborn and 3-6 month sizes: use crochet hook H (5.0 mm) & black yarn

6-12 month size: use crochet hook I (5.5 mm) & black yarn

Chain 2, work 7 sc in 2nd ch from hook (1st chain made), join in top of beg sc (7) fasten off, leaving enough yarn to sew eye to hat. Using white yarn, embroider a small “V” on the eye.

12-24 month & Child sizes: use crochet hook H (5.0 mm) & black yarn

Teen/Ladies & Adult/Men sizes: use hook I (5.5 mm) & black yarn

Chain 3, work 9 hdc in 3rd ch from hook (1st chain made), join in top of beg hdc (9) fasten off, leaving enough yarn to sew eye to hat. Using white yarn, embroider a small “V” on the eye.

Nose of Beaver

Newborn and 3-6 month sizes: use crochet hook I (5.5 mm) & dark brown yarn

6-12 month size: use crochet hook J (6.0 mm) & dark brown yarn

Chain 3, in 3rd chain from hook (1st chain made) work the following sts (4hdc, 4sc, 2hdc), join in top of beginning hdc (10) fasten off, leaving enough yarn to sew nose to hat.

12-24 month and Child sizes: use crochet hook I (5.5 mm) & dark brown yarn

Teen/Ladies and Adult/Men sizes: use crochet hook J (6.0 mm) & dark brown yarn

Chain 3, in 3rd chain from hook (1st chain made) work the following sts (4dc, hdc, 4sc, hdc, 2dc), join in top of beginning dc (12) fasten off, leaving enough yarn to sew nose to hat.

Teeth – Make 2

Newborn, 3-6 month and 6-12 month sizes: use crochet hook G (4.5 mm) and white yarn

Chain 4, sc in 2nd chain from hook, sc in next st, 2sc in last st, rotate and work the bottom side of the beg ch, work 2sc in opposite side of chain that you just worked the 2sc in, sc in next ch, sc in last ch, fasten off leaving enough yarn to sew to hat.

12-24 month and Child sizes: use crochet hook H (5.0 mm) and white yarn

Teen/Ladies and Adult/Men size: use crochet hook I (5.5 mm) and white yarn

Chain 5, sc in 2nd chain from hook, sc in next 2 sts, 2sc in last st, rotate and work the bottom side of the beg ch, work  2sc in opposite side of chain that you just worked the 2sc in, sc in next 3 chs, fasten off leaving enough yarn to sew to hat.

Face/Muzzle of Beaver Hat (section behind Nose)

Newborn, 3-6 month and 6-12 month sizes: use crochet hook J (6.0 mm) & cream yarn

R1: Ch 9, hdc in 3rd chain from hook and in each remaining st (8) turn

R2: Ch 2, hdc2tog, hdc in next 3, hdc2tog (6) turn

R3: Ch 2, hdc2tog, hdc in next st, hdc2tog (4) turn

Final round: Ch 1, sc in each st across row 3, rotate and sc along the side of each row, rotate and sc along base of row 1, rotate and sc along the side of each row, join in top of beg sc, fasten off leaving enough yarn to sew to hat.

12-24 month and Child sizes: use crochet hook J (6.0 mm) & cream yarn

R1: Ch 11, hdc in 3rd chain from hook and in each remaining st (10) turn

R2: Ch 2, hdc2tog, hdc in next 5, hdc2tog (8) turn

R3: Ch 2, hdc2tog, hdc in next 3, hdc2tog (6) turn

R4: Ch 2, hdc2tog, hdc in next st, hdc2tog (4) turn

Final round: Ch 1, sc in each st across row 4, rotate and sc along the side of each row, rotate and sc along base of row 1, rotate and sc along the side of each row, join in top of beg sc, fasten off leaving enough yarn to sew to hat.

Teen/Ladies and Adult/Men sizes: use crochet hook J (6.0 mm) and cream yarn

R1: Ch 11, hdc in 3rd chain from hook and in each remaining st (10) turn

R2: Ch 2, hdc2tog, hdc in next 5, hdc2tog (8) turn

R3: Ch 2, hdc2tog, hdc in next 3, hdc2tog (6) turn

R4: Ch 2, hdc in each st across (6) turn

R5: Ch 2, hdc2tog, hdc in next st, hdc2tog (4) turn

Final round: Ch 1, sc in each st across row 5, rotate and sc along the side of each row, rotate and sc along base of row 1, rotate and sc along the side of each row, join in top of beg sc, fasten off leaving enough yarn to sew to hat.


Beaver hat Tail

Tail Pattern – will be made the same for all sizes of hat

The tail will be made by crocheting two pieces (top & bottom) and sewing them together. The first section made will be the bottom. The second piece will be made with a criss-cross pattern and will be the top of the tail.

Tail (bottom section):

With Crochet Hook K (6.5 mm) and dark brown yarn.

  • R1: Ch 9, dc in 3rd chain from hook and in each remaining st (8) turn
  • R2: Ch 2, 2dc in first st, dc in next 5 st, 2dc in last st (10) turn
  • R3: Ch 2, 2dc in first st, dc in next 7 st, 2dc in last st (12) turn
  • R4: Ch 2, 2dc in first st, dc in next 9 st, 2dc in last st (14) turn
  • R5: Ch 2, dc2tog, dc in next 9, dc2tog (12) turn
  • R6: Ch 2, dc2tog, dc in next 7, dc2tog (10) turn
  • R7: Ch 2, dc2tog, dc in next 5, dc2tog (8) turn
  • R8: Ch 2, dc2tog, dc in next 3, dc2tog (6) turn
  • R9: Ch 2, dc in each st across (6) turn
  • R10: Ch 2, dc in each st across (6) fasten off and weave in ends.

Tail (top section):

The top section of the tail will be made with the same pattern as the bottom except the stitches will be made in a criss-cross pattern.

  • R1: Ch 9, dc in 3rd ch from hook, dc in next st, (skip next st, dc in next st, cross over the dc you just made and dc in the skipped st) repeat 1 more time, dc in each of the next 2 sts (8) turn (this creates a criss-cross pattern and will be used in all the remaining rows)
  • R2: Ch 2, dc in first 2 sts, cross over and dc in the first st again, (skip 1 unworked st, dc in next st, dc in previous unworked st) repeat to last st, dc in last st, cross over and dc in previous st already worked, (10) turn
  • R3: Ch 2, dc in first 2 sts, cross over and dc in the first st again, (skip 1 unworked st, dc in next st, dc in previous unworked st) repeat to last st, dc in last st, cross over and dc in previous st already worked, (12) turn
  • R4: Ch 2, dc in first 2 sts, cross over and dc in the first st again, (skip 1 unworked st, dc in next st, dc in previous unworked st) repeat to last st, dc in last st, cross over and dc in previous st already worked, (14) turn
  • R5: Ch 2, skip 1st st and dc2tog, dc in previous skipped st, (skip 1 unworked st, dc in next st, dc in previous unworked st) 4 times, dc2tog (12) turn
  • R6: Ch 2, skip 1st st and dc2tog, dc in previous skipped st, (skip 1 unworked st, dc in next st, dc in previous unworked st) 3 times, dc2tog (10) turn
  • R7: Ch 2, skip 1st st and dc the next 2 st together, dc in previous skipped st, (skip 1 unworked st, dc in next st, dc in previous unworked st) 2 times, dc2tog (8) turn
  • R8: Ch 2, skip 1st st and dc2tog, dc in previous skipped st, skip 1 unworked st, dc in next st, dc in previous unworked st, dc2tog (6) turn
  • R9: Ch 2, dc in each st across (6) turn
  • R10: Ch 2, dc in each st across do not turn, go to final round

Final Round of Tail

You will now crochet the top and bottom pieces together. Lay the top piece on top of the bottom piece so the last st of Row 10 from both pieces are together. Chain 1 and sc going through the top and then the bottom piece, work 1 sc in each st around, join in the top of the 1st sc, fasten off leaving enough yarn to sew tail to hat.

Sewing on the pieces / appliques

You are so close to finishing, all you have left is the dreading sewing. Yes, I totally agree with you, sewing on appliques is not fun. However, I put together a tutorial on how I sew on my appliques, it walks you through step by step, I hope you find this helpful.

orders of sewing on the appliques

  • Lay the ears where you like their placement and sew onto the top of the hat. Make sure you check the placement after you sew each piece. This will help ensure the second ear lines up correctly with the first one.
  • Sew the teeth to the bottom and back of the face piece.
  • Stitch the nose onto the top and front of the face piece.
  • Sew the entire face piece to the bottom of the hat making sure it is centered with the ears.
  • Sew the 2 black eyes on, making sure to check the placement after the 1st eye is sewn on.
  • The final step is to sew on the tail. Turn the hat over, making sure the criss cross stitching is on top and will be seen while wearing the hat. Center the tail with the ears, sew the tail onto the rows of sc at the base of the hat. Stitch it on going across one row of stitches then repeat again going across the next row of stitches.