Crochet Dog Beret Pattern: Say Bonjour to Your Pup’s New Look

ByIzzy Foxx Updated on

Say bonjour to the smallest hat with the biggest energy in crochet. This beret is a flat coral-red disc, worked in firm single crochet, perched at a tilt on your dog’s head and finished with three details straight from the photos: a tiny twisted stem at the top, a white five-petal flower at the front, and twisted-cord chin ties that end in a decorative knot. On the little black chihuahua in our photos, the whole effect is pure Paris — unbothered, elegant, and just ridiculous enough to work.

Unlike a hood or a snood, a beret asks almost nothing of the dog. It sits on top of the head rather than wrapping it, leaves the ears completely free, and weighs next to nothing. Dogs who shake off every hat often accept a beret within a fitting or two — from the dog’s point of view there is barely anything there. From the camera’s point of view, there is everything there.

Black chihuahua in a tilted coral beret sitting beside a cafe chair

Why a Beret Suits Dogs So Well

It sits on top instead of squeezing. Most dog hats fail because they wrap, press, or cover the ears — and the ears are where a dog objects. A beret’s disc simply rests on the crown, the short band touches almost nothing, and the ears stay out in the open air with hearing completely unaffected. For a head-shy dog, that difference is the whole game, and it is why this design converts so many hat skeptics.

The tilt does the styling for you. A perfectly flat disc sounds plain until you wear it the way the photos do — tipped to one side, flower riding at the front. The tilt reads instantly, in every photograph, from across the room. There is no shaping trick behind it: the disc is honestly flat, and the attitude is all in the placement.

And the ties keep it kind. Instead of elastic — which presses, and which some dogs work at constantly — two soft twisted cords tie under the chin in a bow that holds the beret through a photo session and pulls free with one gentle tug. Secure for the dog, simple for you. If your dog prefers ear room built in instead, the Pom-Pom Hat takes the opposite approach just as happily.

Before You Get Started

A started coral crochet disc on a hook beside a finished dog beret

The beret is worked from the top down as a flat circle: single-crochet increase rounds grow the disc, two plain rounds stand up a short side wall, and a short ladder of decrease rounds draws the edge in to the head opening. Three band rounds finish the rim. The stem and flower are made separately and sewn on, and the two twisted cords attach at the sides last — so the beret itself is one seamless piece with two small appliqués.

Skills used are single crochet, increases, single-crochet decreases, a magic ring, and simple sewing — plus one round of double crochet inside the flower petals. The disc is the classic flat-circle formula, so if you have ever crocheted a coaster or a hat crown, the rhythm will feel like home. Work firmly throughout: a beret’s posture comes from its tension. For a fuller head-and-ears garment in the same spirit, see the Bunny Snood.

Tools & Materials Needed

Crochet tools and yarn for the dog beret in a flat lay on a cafe table

Size Info and Gauge

A coral dog beret laid flat with a tape measure across its disc

Sizes are written S (M, L) throughout. Measure the head around its widest part, over the skull where a hat would sit — not around the neck. Between sizes, choose the larger disc: extra drape tilts beautifully, while a small beret perches like a bottle cap.

Abbreviations (US Terms)

ch chain  ·  sc single crochet  ·  dc double crochet  ·  sl st slip stitch  ·  st(s) stitch(es)  ·  inc 2 sc in one stitch  ·  dec single crochet 2 together (sc2tog)  ·  MR magic ring

Pattern Notes

Construction order: disc, side wall, decreases, band, then stem, flower, and ties.

Counting the circle: every disc round adds exactly 6 stitches. Count at the end of each round — a circle that gains 5 or 7 will ripple or cup, and the error is always in the last round worked.

The tilt: there is no tilt shaping. The disc is honestly, perfectly flat; the famous angle happens when you place it, slightly off-center, and tie the cords. Style is a wearing decision, not a crochet decision.

Flower placement: sew the flower off-center, toward the side that will ride UP when the beret tilts — the high side is where the eye goes, and the flower should be waiting there.

The stem twist: give the stem one gentle twist as you sew it down. That half-turn is the difference between a nub and the little curled stem in the photos.

Pattern Instructions

The Disc

A coral crochet disc two-thirds worked on its hook

With coral, work in the round, marking the first stitch of every round.

Side Wall and Decreases

Band

Stem

Close-up of the twisted stem on top of a coral dog beret

Sew the stem to the top center of the disc, giving it one gentle twist as you stitch so it stands up like the little curled nub in the photos.

Flower Applique

Close-up of the white flower applique on a coral dog beret

Sew the flower to the front of the disc, slightly off-center toward the side that will sit up when the beret is tilted.

Chin Ties and Assembly

Finishing

Black chihuahua standing in a finished coral beret on terrace steps

Give the disc a gentle steam — hold the steam a few inches above the fabric, never pressing — and let it cool flat. Steaming sets the circle’s posture and smooths the increase lines into that clean, chunky texture from the photos. Then the fitting: place the beret, tilt it to the side that suits your dog’s face, and tie the bow. The tilt settles where it settles once tied; do not fight it. First wears stay short, supervised, and treat-rich, with the camera ready. If the look delights you, the Snowman Bandana makes a very funny winter counterpoint.

Customizing the Fit

Slouchier disc: work one extra increase round before the side wall (the next (sc k, inc) round in sequence for your size). Every added round buys about a third of an inch of diameter and a noticeably drapier tilt. Start the decrease ladder from your new count and drop the same 6 per round until you reach your size’s band count.

Firmer fit: if the beret rides loose, work one extra band round, or work the band rounds through the back loop only for a snugger ridge. The ties should steady the hat, not carry its whole weight.

Flower swaps: the appliqué is a one-line change — coral petals with a cream center disappear into the disc for a classic plain beret, blush petals soften the whole look, and a tiny crocheted heart or star sews on in exactly the flower’s place. The Cozy Waves Bandana plays the same swap-the-motif trick at scarf scale.

Frequently Asked Questions

Wrap a flexible tape around the widest part of the head, over the skull roughly where a hat band would sit — in front of the ears for most dogs — snug but not tight. Match the number to the size cards: about 12 inches is S, 14 is M, and 16 is L. Between sizes, take the larger one; a beret forgives extra room beautifully.

Three things work together: the right size (a disc at its proper diameter sits instead of balancing), the tilt (a tipped beret settles rather than sliding straight back), and the cords tied in a soft bow. Set all three and the beret stays through a photo session and a short stroll.

Firm single crochet in worsted-weight yarn on a 5.5 mm hook — the stitches in the photos are exactly that: plump, distinct, and tightly packed. Working firmly matters more than the yarn itself; if your fabric looks open or drapey, drop a hook size before you change yarns. A chunky (5) yarn at the same gauge also works and leans even further into the look.

Yes — the circle formula does the scaling. For a tiny dog, stop the disc one or two increase rounds early and start the decrease ladder from that count, finishing the band at roughly two-thirds of the disc count. For a larger dog, add increase rounds. Keep the disc roughly 7 to 9 inches across relative to the head and the beret reads correctly at any size in between.

Hand-wash cool with a mild detergent, reshape the disc flat while damp, and dry flat — never hang it, which would pull the circle out of round. Check the flower, stem, and cord stitching after washing and re-secure anything loose. The cords untie and slide away from the chin bow before washing, so nothing is under tension in the water.

Final Thoughts

Every dog wardrobe deserves one piece that exists purely for joy, and in this collection the beret is it. It takes an evening, a ball of coral yarn, and a dog willing to be admired — and it returns a dog who looks like they summer in Paris and have opinions about cheese. The pattern underneath the charm is honestly built: a true flat circle, a tidy decrease ladder, and appliqués any beginner can sew.

Make the first one in coral red, like the photos. It is the classic for a reason.

Then, if a second is requested — and second berets get requested — the flower is your playground. Same disc, new bloom, new dog entirely.

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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