Free Frog Crochet Hat Pattern with Cookie Monster Instructions too!

Animal hats are a fun way to show off someones personality, interests and is also an easy way to dress up for Halloween. I originally designed the frog hat pattern for newborn photos, a popular request years ago. To make my design stand out and feature something different I added frog feet to the ear flaps!

Frog Hat

The hat is a classic beanie that covers the ears. The pattern now includes sizes from newborn up to Children! Add a simple flower to the side to give it a more feminine touch.

Frog Crochet Hat

Frog Hat Material List

  • Crochet Hook Size J (6 mm)
  • Crochet Hook Size K (6.5 mm)
  • Optional for flower – Crochet Hook Size H (5 mm)
  • Worsted (#4) weight yarn – approximately 60-180 yards depending on the size of hat you are making
  • Yarn Needle, Scissors & Measuring Tape

Stitches & Abbreviations Used in Pattern

  • Hdc = half double crochet
  • Sc = single crochet
  • Ch = chain
  • Slst = slip stitch
  • Hdc2tog = half double crochet next two stitches together, decrease
  • Join = join with a slst
  • St(s) = Stitch(es)
  • R = Round/Row

Check Your Gauge

When the completed size of your finished crochet project is important (very important in anything you wear), you must check gauge. This will ensure that your final piece will be the appropriate sizing. Change or adjust your hook to obtain the proper gauge: if your swatch is too small go UP a hook size, if you swatch is too large go DOWN a hook size.

For the frog hat use crochet hook K and work up a swatch of half double crochets to check: 9 rows with 12 hdc = 4 inches square.

Hat Sizing

Newborn (12 ¼ ” around & 5” high – fits up to 14” circumference)
3 to 6 Months (14” around & 5 ½ “ high – fits up to 15″ or 16″ circumference)
6 to 12 Months (16″ around & 6” high – fits up to 18″ circumference)
12 to 24 Months (17″ around & 6 ½ “ high – fits up to 19″ circumference)
Child (18” around & 7 ½ “ high – fits up to 20″ circumference)

Frog Hat Pattern

Follow the instructions for my Basic Hat with Ear Flap Option, then come back to this post for your final round of hat. The final round is where you will add the cute frog feet!

Free Basic Hat Pattern with Earflaps

Frog Hat Final Round

  • You will now complete the final round of the hat, please read all instructions for this section before you begin.
  • With hook K Ch 1, sc in each stitch down side of earflap, around hat, up earflap to the tip.
  • Once you reach the center stitch on the tip of the earflap you will make the ties with feet.
  • Switch to hook J, ch 31, work 2hdc in 3rd ch from hook, Ch 2, turn
  • 1hdc in first st, 2hdc in next st, 2hdc in top of beginning ch, turn
  • *Ch 5, work 3hdc in 2nd ch from hook, slst in remaining 3ch, now insert hook into beginning stitch (that your ch 5 started from), bring up a loop, insert hook into next st, bring up a loop, yarn over and bring through all loops (sc2tog made)* repeat 3 more times eliminating the sc2tog after last one.
  • We will now work our way back up the tie, work 3 slst along the foot to bring you to the bottom of the tie
  • Switch back to hook K, 1 sc in next 5 chains, hdc in remaining chains
  • Continue your sc down the other side of the earflap, around hat, back up other earflap, repeating tie & foot pattern at earflap tip.
  • Join in the 1st sc made in your final round, fasten off and weave in all ends

Frog Eyes – make 2

  • With Hook J & Black yarn
  • R1: Ch 3, 7 hdc in 3rd ch from hook, join (8)
  • R2: Switch to White yarn, ch 2, hdc in same st as joining, 2 hdc in each st around, join (16) fasten off
  • With green yarn follow the same instructions as above through Row 2 but do NOT fasten off. At the end of Row 2, place the white eye piece on top of the green color piece (they should line up and be the same size), you will now stitch them together as you complete the final round working all the stitches through both stitches of both eye pieces.
  • Final Round: slst in the first stitch of round 2 (of both eye pieces), ch 2, hdc in the same stitch you just joined in, hdc in next st, (2hdc in next st, 1hdc in next st) repeat around, fasten off leaving enough yarn to sew to hat.

Optional Flower

  • With Hook H
  • R1: Ch 2, 10 sc in 2nd ch from hook, join in top of beg ch (10)
  • R2: Work front loops only, (ch 3, slst in next st) repeat around
  • R3: Work back loops only from R1,(ch 2, dc in same st, 1dc in next st, ch 1, slst into same st as dc, slst into next st) repeat 4 more times, fasten off (5 petals), sew to hat.

If you like the frog hat, you’ll love this twist on it!

Last week, I had a customer contact me about making a Cookie Monster Hat. I sat down to draw up the pattern and soon realized it was nearly identical to my frog hat! Yipee!!! I quickly used the same pattern with just a few minor changes and Ta Da!!

Frog Hat Pattern Cookie Monster
Cookie Monster Frog Hat

Do you see the similarity? How did I do it?

Follow the Child’s size Frog Hat Pattern exactly using blue yarn. Then crochet the eyes solid white and made a simple black round piece (with 7 hdc in the circle) and sewed them onto the eyes off balanced.

For the mouth I worked as follows (remember this is for the child sized hat):

  • Using black yarn and a Crochet Hook I (5.5 mm)
  • Foundation hdc 16 (tutorial for foundation hdc here)
  • R1: Ch 2, hdc2tog, hdc in next 2 sts, 2hdc in next st, hdc in next 5 sts, 2hdc in next st, hdc in next 2 sts, hdc2tog, hdc in last st, turn (17)
  • R2: Ch 3, dc3tog, hdc in next 8 sts, dc3tog, dc in last st, turn (12)
  • R3: Ch 3, dc3tog, hdc in next 5 sts, dc3tog, dc in last st, turn (9)
  • R4: Ch 3, dc3tog, hdc in next 2 sts, dc3tog, dc in last st, turn (6)
  • R5: ch 1, sc across entire row and around entire mouth piece, sew onto front center of hat. Make sure when you reach the top corners of the mouth to embroider a small smile line, secure with a knot and weave in all ends.

For the Cookies I worked as follows:

Cookie in Hand
  • Using medium brown yarn and a Crochet Hook I (5.5 mm)
  • R1: Ch 2, work 7 sc in 2nd ch from hook, join in top of beg sc (7)
  • R2: Ch 2, hdc in first st, 2hdc in each st around, join (14)
  • R3: Ch 1, [2sc in next st, sc in next st], repeat [] around, (21)
  • If this is your first piece, using a darker color yarn (dark brown or black) embroider small lines to represent Chocolate Chips.
  • Repeat R1-R3, lay your first piece on top of your current piece and slst through the sc from R3, working through both circle pieces. This just reinforces the cookies. Make 2 cookies and sew onto the hands (or frog feet).  For the cookie next to the mouth, just make one side and sew onto the corner of the mouth, there is no need to have it stronger so do not make the back side of the cookie.

I hope you found this fun! I love seeing how others have taken a Sweet Potato 3 pattern and customized it in their own unique way. If you have done this, please share it with me, I love to be inspired! Tag me on IG or FB with @SweetPotato3Patterns or join my SP3 Crochet & Conversations group for more interactive fun.

SP3 Crochet & Converstaions Group

More Free Hat Patterns that would be great for Dress Up or Halloween

  • Frankenstein Hat – click HERE
  • Pumpkin Hat – click HERE
  • Monster Hat – click HERE
  • Candy Corn Hat – click HERE
  • Elf Hat with Curved Tip and Jingle Bell – click HERE
  • Love Bug Hat – click HERE
  • Mustache Cowls – click HERE

2017 Cancer Challenge with Sweet Potato 3

October is almost here, you know what that means!
It is Cancer Awareness Month, and the 2017 Cancer Challenge is just around the corner!
This may be a long post, but it should answer most of your questions and  give you more detailed information on how it is organized.

Why are you doing the 2017 Cancer Challenge?

Many / Most of us have been effected by cancer in some way. It is difficult to see someone go through cancer and/or chemotherapy. But with a community standing beside them it makes the battle slightly less daunting.
In honor of my Uncle Jeff, who lost his battle in September of 2014,
I am hosting the 4th annual Cancer Charity Challenge.
Sweet Potato 3 Cancer Challenge

How does the challenge work?

It is pretty simple.
Basically, I am asking all of you to help make hats for cancer patients and cancer survivors.
The hats can be made for someone you know, someone your friends know,
a co-worker, teacher, neighbor, or even a complete stranger.
You can make many hats and donate them to your local cancer center.
If a cancer center is not in your area you can contact me and ship them my way. I will include them with my donation to the Cancer Center of Idaho.

How long does the challenge last?

The challenge will begin October 1.
A featured designer/pattern will be posted each day until October 31, 2017.
You will have until  the end of 2017 to complete your hats and get them donated. This is great timing for donations during the holidays.

What type of hat should I make and what sizes?

You can use any hat pattern you like. People of all ages get cancer, so all sizes are needed. Teen and adult hats are most requested because they tend to fit more people.

Where can I get patterns?

This is the FUN part!!!
Each day throughout the challenge I will be posting a FREE hat pattern.
I have some amazing designers who are graciously offering their patterns for FREE in exchange for your donation. If you download a pattern you are pledging to make a minimum of 1 hat from that pattern for the challenge. If you download the pattern, please take a minute to visit the pattern designers facebook page and tell them thank you for their generosity.

 What type of yarn is recommended?

 The best yarns for chemo patients are soft and breathable yarns. It is also important that the yarn washes well. It is recommended to use cotton blends (however, 100% cotton tends to be less soft) and/or acrylic. Some favorite yarns used in past years, according to recepients, are Caron Simply Soft, Debra Norvelle, Lionbrand Homespun and/or Heartland, Red Heart Soft, Bernat Softee, you are probably getting the idea.
I have heard comments that wool hats can be very itchy and are not preferred.
Remember that it is important to use the correct yarn weight for the pattern you are following.

 What is my goal?

My goal is to simply help others and make it easy for you to do the same.
I started this challenge on a whim 3 years ago when I lost my uncle. Each year the challenge has grown, last year reaching over 35,000 hats pledged. I am astounded with the succes and am hoping to match and beat that number this year. So grab a friend and crochet away!

How do I pledge?

To pledge to make a hat simply download the pattern.
There will be 31 patterns available. If you download all 31 patterns you pledge to make 31 hats.
I am pledging to make 31 hats, one a day, sounds doable. But, if you can only make 1 hat, you are still making a difference, and I thank you for that.

Have Fun and Get More Involved

Make sure to share pictures of your finished hats on Sweet Potato 3’s facebook page. This is not required, but it is fun to see what everyone else is making and see your own pictures shared too. When you share a picture please let me know what pattern it is from, I would love to tag that designer so they can follow the difference they are making with their donation.

Who are you Honoring?

Add a comment to this blog post to let everyone know who you are making hats in honor of.

Challenge Others

Do you know other crafters, crocheters or knitters?
Tag them in one of the facebook posts about the challenge, say “I challenge you to join!”

Get Started Early

The excitement and enthusiasm I see in everyone who has participated in the past is amazing. I have already had a few of you tell me that you already started making hats! Last year someone posted a hat they crocheted that had a beautiful cancer ribbon on it. She graciously shared the link that she used and the bonus is, it’s FREE. Click here to make a ribbon like the one below. These are great to add to your hats.
Below is an image that shows the awareness color for some of the more common cancers.
I hope this post answered all of your questions. If you think of anything I have missed, read more in this link, then just let me know so I can let others know. Enjoy crocheting those hats!