Crochet Dog Hat Pattern with Pom-Pom: Easy Chin-Tie Style

ByIzzy Foxx Updated on

There are dog hats, and then there is the dog hat: lilac ribbing, a pom-pom the size of a tennis ball, and two little braided ties knotted in a bow under the chin. The Cavapoo in our photos wears hers like she was born in it — and the secret is that this hat is designed the way a dog actually needs a hat to work. It covers the top and back of the head where the warmth matters, leaves the face completely open, lets the ears out through their own openings, and stays on because it ties — gently — instead of squeezing.

This pattern is worked in one piece from the bottom up in a soft vertical ribbing, comes in three sizes by head measurement, and finishes with the biggest, happiest pom-pom in our whole pattern library. If you can half double crochet and work a post stitch, you can make it this weekend — the chin-tie style is forgiving, photogenic, and endlessly giftable.

Profile of a dog in a lilac pom-pom hat in a studio

Why the Chin-Tie Pom-Pom Hat Works

Most dog hats fail in the first thirty seconds: the dog shakes once, and the hat is on the floor. This design solves the problem the way bonnets have solved it for centuries — with ties. Two braided cords at the front corners knot in a soft bow under the chin, which holds the hat against head shakes without an elastic band pressing anywhere. The ribbed body does the rest: post-stitch ribbing has real sideways stretch, so the hat hugs the head softly and springs back instead of bagging out.

The ear openings are the second half of the design. Upright ears poke straight through them; long spaniel ears drop out and hang naturally, exactly as they do in the photo. Nothing is pinned flat or folded, so the dog hears normally and forgets the hat within minutes. It is the same comfort-first thinking as our Frog Dog Snood — cover what needs covering, leave everything else alone.

Choose Your Colors

Four pom-pom dog hats in four colors on white

The original hat is worked head-to-pom in one soft lilac, and it is hard to beat. But the pattern is a perfect blank canvas — here are the four palettes we reach for, including two-tone options where the pom-pom and ties contrast with the body. A contrast pom-pom is the easiest style upgrade in crochet: one small ball of a second color changes the whole hat.

Whichever palette you choose, buy the pom-pom yarn at the same time as the body yarn — dye lots matter most exactly where two pieces of the same color meet. The yardage in the materials list covers the one-color version; for a contrast pom and ties, add about 20 yards of the second color and take the same amount off the main color.

Before You Get Started

Lilac yarn and hook ready to start a dog hat, white background

The hat is worked in one piece from the bottom up: a foundation round, ribbed body rounds with the two ear openings worked into one of them, a smooth decreased crown, and a rope-twist edging around the bottom edge. The chin ties and the pom-pom are made separately and attached at the end — no other seaming anywhere.

Skills used are chain, half double crochet, front- and back-post double crochet for the ribbing, half-double-crochet decreases, and reverse single crochet for the edging. Nothing on that list is advanced, and the ribbing hides small tension wobbles beautifully, which makes this a kind first post-stitch project. For a head-covering pattern with no ties at all, compare the Dog Hoodie Crochet Pattern — the hood there is worked as part of the sweater.

Tools & Materials Needed

Hat yarn, hook, and pom-pom maker on a white surface

Size Info and Gauge

Measuring a small dog's head for a crochet hat

Measure the head around its widest point, just in front of the ears, with the tape snug but not tight. Sizes are written S (M, L) throughout. Between sizes, choose the larger one — the chin ties take up the difference, and a slightly roomy hat sits more comfortably over the ears than a tight one. Broad-headed breeds (French Bulldogs, Pugs, Boston Terriers) almost always belong in the larger of their two candidate sizes.

Abbreviations (US Terms)

ch chain  ·  sc single crochet  ·  hdc half double crochet  ·  dc double crochet  ·  sl st slip stitch  ·  st(s) stitch(es)  ·  hdc2tog half double crochet 2 together  ·  FPdc front-post double crochet  ·  BPdc back-post double crochet  ·  rsc reverse single crochet (crab stitch)

Pattern Notes

Ribbing columns: the vertical ribs form because each post stitch is worked around the matching post below — FPdc around FPdc, BPdc around BPdc. Keep the alternation aligned and the columns stay straight all the way to the crown.

Seam placement: the joining seam sits at the center back of the head. The ear-opening round is counted from that seam, which is what puts the openings exactly at the sides.

Skipping the ear openings: for dogs whose ears lie flat against the head (many spaniels and retrievers), the openings are optional. Work the ear-opening round as a plain ribbing round instead, and the hat sits over the ears like a bonnet.

The crown switches to hdc: plain half double crochet decreases shape more smoothly than post stitches. The pom-pom sits directly on top, so the transition is invisible in the finished hat.

Pattern Instructions

Body

Close-up of lilac ribbed hat body in progress on white

Ch 40 (48, 56). Join with a sl st to the first ch to form a ring, being careful not to twist the chain. Place your stitch marker in the first stitch and move it up as you work — the round joins sit at the center back.

Ear Openings

Half-finished hat showing ear openings on white

The body now measures about 2.5 (2.75, 3) inches from the foundation edge. The openings should sit at the two sides of the head, with the 14 (18, 22)-stitch panel centered at the front.

Crown

Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Thread the tail through the remaining 5 (6, 7) sts, pull to cinch the top closed, and secure on the inside.

Edging

Chin Ties (Make 2)

Pom-Pom

Hands-free shot of a big lilac pom-pom being trimmed

Finishing

Weave in every end on the inside of the hat. The ribbing needs no blocking — if your crown sits slightly pointed, a gentle steam will relax it into a dome under the pom-pom. Fitting is the real finishing step: slip the hat on, guide the ears through their openings (or let long ears drop out below the sides), position the front edge just above the eyes, and tie the bow under the chin with two-finger ease. Your dog should be able to shake, sniff, and accept a treat comfortably. A hat that passes the treat test gets worn happily — pair it with the Dandy Dog Sweater Crochet Pattern for the full cold-day outfit.

Customizing the Fit

Deeper hat: for long-headed breeds, add 1–2 extra ribbing rounds to the body before the crown. Add them after the ear-opening rounds so the openings stay at ear level.

No ear openings: work the ear-opening round as a plain ribbing round. The bonnet version suits dogs with flat-lying ears and looks especially sweet on puppies.

Bigger pom-pom energy: the pom scales the whole hat’s personality. A 4-inch pom reads playful-cosplay; a 2.5-inch pom reads tasteful-accessory. The pattern never changes — and for a matching neck piece, the Granny Square Dog Sweater crowd will tell you the sweater comes next anyway.

Frequently Asked Questions

About 2 to 3 hours for a size M, including the pom-pom. The ribbed body is repetitive post-stitch work that moves quickly, and the ties braid up in minutes. Most of the clock is the pom — wrapping it full is what makes it fluffy, so do not rush that part.

The chin ties are the difference. A tied bow holds the hat through head shakes that would fling off an elastic style, and the ear openings mean nothing is pressing on the ears. Introduce it indoors with treats for a minute at a time and most dogs accept it within a few short sessions.

Yes — machine wash cold on a gentle cycle in a mesh laundry bag and dry flat. The pom-pom survives washing well if it was tied tightly; give it a gentle fluff and a tiny trim once dry if it comes out looking windswept.

Size up. The ribbing stretches over the head, the chin ties adjust the fit at the bottom, and a slightly roomy hat clears the ear bases comfortably. A too-small hat rides up and twists, which is the one fit problem ties cannot fix.

Sew it on with several passes of yarn and check it before every wear, and only use the hat under supervision. For a determined chewer, swap the pom for a small crocheted disc sewn flat to the crown — same silhouette, nothing to pull off.

Final Thoughts

Every pattern library needs one project that exists mostly for joy, and in ours this hat is it. It is quick, it is forgiving, it photographs like a dream, and underneath all the cute there is honest design: a ribbed fit that respects the head, ear openings that respect the ears, and ties that respect the owner’s need for the hat to still be on the dog at the end of the walk.

Make the first one in lilac, like the photo. It is the version that stops traffic.

Then make the Blush & Cream for the spring photos and the Honey Bear for autumn, because a hat this fast becomes a habit — and if your dog is building a whole handmade wardrobe, the Cozy Waves Dog Bandana is the natural next cast-on.

Izzy foxx on a vet tour in africa

Izzy Foxx

Izzy is an experienced ranch worker who has a passion for exploring nature and getting up close to wildlife. With her connections to various animal organizations, Izzy is well-versed in animal care and rehabilitation.

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