Crochet Mouse Ears Hat- Free Crochet Pattern for Beginners

Learn how to make a fun crochet mouse ears hat by following this free crochet pattern. The video tutorial makes it the perfect pattern for beginners.

Last summer I added a pair of mouse ears to a Closed Claire Bun Beanie to wear on vacation and you guys absolutely loved it over on Instagram!

After a ton of requests, for it to be written up, it’s finally available!

In this pattern, I will tell you step-by-step how to make your own crochet mouse ears hat.

If you want to make a smaller size, feel free to check out this free crochet baby hat pattern in sizes 0-Toddler.

If you are a visual learner, like me, you can check out the full video tutorial on Youtube.

Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links, meaning I may receive a small commission, at NO ADDITIONAL cost to you, from purchases made using the links provided.

If you prefer an ad-free experience, you can purchase the inexpensive PDF in my shop here.

Crochet Mouse Ears Hat

This pattern shows you how to make a closed Claire Bun Beanie with mouse ears.

The original closed Claire Bun Beanie was made to be a little slouchy, and that doesn’t work well for adding mouse ears. So this one is slightly different, and I’m gonna break it down row by row for you.

We will start with the instructions for how to make the modified Closed Claire Bun Beanie, then we will jump into the instructions for how to make the mouse ears, and how to attach them to your beanie.

This pattern is for an adult-size beanie for heads with a circumference of 22 inches – 23 inches.

If you would like to make a beanie for a child’s size head with a circumference of 20-21 inches, you could always drop down a hook size for both the beanie and the ear instructions!

Sizes from newborn – toddler are also available. You can purchase the PDF here or click here to check out the free version on my blog.

Materials

In the video, you will notice I use my Clover Amour size J hook . With Clover Amour hooks, my tension is much tighter, so I had to jump up a hook size.

I (5.5mm) crochet hook
4-5oz of worsted weight yarn. I used “I Love This Yarn” from Hobby Lobby
Scissors
Tapestry Needle
Wooden Tag (optional)

If you are wondering which worsted-weight yarn would be best, I did a yarn experiment for the Claire Bun Beanie and posted all the results! Maybe it will help you choose the best yarn for your beanies.

Stitch Key (US Terms)

SC = Single Crochet
CH = Chain
PS = Puff Stitch (explained below)
PSDEC = Puff Stitch Decrease (explained below) BLO = Back Loop Only (explained below)
YO = Yarn Over
INC= Increase (explained below)
SL ST= Slip Stitch

Puff Stitch

YO, insert hook into next stitch and pull up a loop. Now you have 3 loops on your hook. YO insert hook into the same space and pull up another loop ( 5 loops) repeat two more times (for a total of 4 times) until you have 9 loops on your hook, YO then pull through all loops. Secure with a CH stitch.

Puff Stitch Decrease

YO, insert hook into stitch and pull up a loop. Repeat two more times until you have 7 loops on your hook. YO, Insert hook into next stitch and pull up a loop. Repeat two more times until you have 13 loops total on your hook. YO and pull through all 13 loops. Secure with a CH stitch.

Back Loop Only

When you are looking on top of your work you will see a SC stitch makes a V shape. Put your hook under only the loop furthest away from you, and make your SC there. Instead of under both loops with a normal SC. If you are still having trouble with this stitch you can search Youtube for “single crochet back loop only” and you will see lots of tutorials.

Increase

Put two stitches in the same space. In this case, it will be two SC stitches.

Gauge

3”x3” Square

10 stitches by 10 rows Single Crochet

Modified Closed Claire Bun Beanie Pattern

Brim

Make a slip knot and CH 10

Row 1: skip the chain closest to your hook and SC in the next 9 stitches. CH 1 and turn work.

Row 2-50: SCBLO in next 9 stitches. CH 1, turn.

GAUGE: ADULT BRIM SHOULD BE ABOUT 14 INCHES IN LENGTH

TIP: Be careful not to make your “CH 1’s” too tight. If you do your brim will not stretch enough to fit an adult head. When you finish your 50 rows and join the brim closed, you should be able to stretch it without being restricted from anything other than that’s as far as the yarn itself will stretch.

This will create the brim of your beanie. Now it’s time to join to the beginning of the brim so your work creates a circle.

After finishing row 50 still do your CH and turn as normal. Fold the band in half, with the RS facing together.

Working through both loops on each end of the band, SL ST to join. CH 1, turn band right side out and turn your work 90 degrees to start working on the hat body. (9 SL STs, ch 1)

Now flip your brim inside out so that the join you just completed in on the inside of the beanie. This is the “good side” of your work.

You never turn your work from here on out.

Hat Body

Row 1: SC 55 stitches around the brim by evenly spacing them out. Since you are working along the side of your brim you will need to make your own places to put your stitches. Join back into your first SC, then CH up 1.

Row 2: PS in the same space as the CH 1 (Don’t forget the CH for securing your puff stitch after you complete each one) Skip the next stitch, PS in the next stitch. Continue around until you have 28 PS total. Join into the top of your first PS and CH 1.

Row 3: PS in the first CH 1 space that was created after securing your PS in Row 2. Continue putting a PS in CH 1 space from Row 2 until you have 28 PS. Join into the top of your first PS. CH 1.

Row 4: PS around starting in the space RIGHT next to your CH 1. Join back into your first PS, CH 1. (28)

Rows 5-8: Alternate Row 3 and Row 4 until you have 7 total rows of PS. (28)

This is where the change is. The original Closed Claire Bun Beanie has 8 rows of Puff Stitches before we start the decreases.

Decrease Rows

Row 9: PS in the gap created by your CH 1 in Row 8. PSDEC over the next two CH 1 spaces. *PS in the next 3 CH 1 gaps then another PSDEC.* Repeat from * around ending with a final PSDEC. Join into your first PS, CH 1 (22)

Row 10: PS in the next 3 CH 1 gaps. PSDEC. *PS in the next two CH 1 gaps, PSDEC* Repeat from * around, omitting the last PS. (so will end with PSDEC, PS and join) (17)

Row 11: PS in the gap created by your CH 1 in Row 11. PSDEC over the next 2 gaps. Repeat around, for the very last stitch do a PS instead of a PSDEC. Join into the top of your first PS. CH 1. (12)

Row 12: PSDEC all the way around. Join into the top of your first PS. CH 1. (6)

Row 13: SC in the same stitch as your CH 1. SC in each stitch around. Be sure to SC into the actual stitch and not into the gaps. (12)

Cut yarn leaving a long tail and sew closed using your preferred technique. I like using “The Magic Fasten Off”.

Sew in your tails and get ready to make your Mouse Ears!

Crochet Mouse Ear Pattern

Materials

5.0mm Crochet Hook
Worsted weight yarn. I used Hobby Lobby “I Love This Yarn”
Scissors
Tapestry Needle
4 Stitch Markers

Stitch Key (US Terms)

CH= Chain
SC= Single Crochet
INC= Increase (put two stitches in the same space. In this case, single crochet stitches)
SC DEC= Single Crochet Decrease
SL ST= Slip Stitch

Crochet Mouse Ear Beanie

Make 4

Using your H crochet hook, CH 14.

Row 1: Skip the CH closes to your hook and SC 13 in the Back Bump. CH 1, turn (13)

Row 2: INC, SC in the next 11 stitches. INC. CH 1, turn. (15)

Row 3: INC. SC in the next 13 stitches. INC. CH 1, turn. (17)

Rows 4-8: SC in each stitch across. CH 1, turn. (17)

Row 9: SC DEC. SC in the next 13 stitches. SC DEC. CH 1, turn. (15)

Row 10: SC DEC. SC in the next 11 stitches. SC DEC. CH 1, turn. (13)

Row 11: SC DEC. SC in the next 9 stitches. SC DEC. CH 1, turn. (11)

Row 12: SC DEC. SC in the next 7 stitches. SC DEC. CH 1, turn. (9)

Row 13: SC DEC. SC in the next 5 stitches. SC DEC. Tie off. (7)

Seaming Ears

Place ears with the “Right Side” facing each other. Line your edges and stitches up.

Use your stitch markers to attach your corners together.

Using your hook and yarn, insert hook into the bottom right corner going through both pieces, and attach yarn.

Being Sure to go through both ear pieces.

SC 13 along the right side of your ear. SC INC in the right corner. SC 5 across the top of your ear. SC INC in the left corner. SC 13 back down the left side of the ear (35)

Tie off, leaving a long tail for sewing the ear to your hat.

Turn your ear right side out.

Repeat the steps for your next ear.

Attaching Ears to Hat

We are almost finished with our crochet mouse ears hat!

Lay hat down flat

Grab your ears and move them around your hat, to find where you like them positioned. Try to keep them symmetrical.

Use your stitch markers to mark the top and bottom points of each ear placement.

Thread long tail left on ear, through tapestry needle.

Starting from the top of the hat and top of ear, insert needle through the first stitch on your hat (where your first stitch marker is) then insert needle through the first stitch in the front and back pieces of your ear.