Free Crochet Daniel Tiger Hat Pattern – Easy DIY Tutorial

If you have a preschooler, you have probably heard of the infamous Daniel Tiger. I have to admit, it's actually a really cute show. The song is catchy, and an homage to the well-loved “Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood.” There are not many patterns out there for this adorable character so I decided to make one up on my own.

The yarns I used are mostly Red Heart with Love. I’m not completely sure on the main color — it was an unlabeled skein I had on hand that happened to be the perfect golden-tan shade. You will also need brown for the stripes, white for the eyes and whiskers, black for the eyes and mouth, and a little pink for the nose and mouth.

You will need an E, G, and H hook to make this hat.

Let’s start with the base of the hat. These instructions are sized for a 1–3 year old.

Hat Base

With H hook and golden yarn:

Round 1: Magic circle, 8 sc (8)

Round 2: 2 hdc in each st (16)

Round 3: *Hdc in next st, 2 hdc in next* repeat around (24)

Round 4: *Hdc in next 2 st, 2 hdc in next* repeat around (32)

Round 5: *Hdc in next 3 st, 2 hdc in next* repeat around (40)

Round 6: *Hdc in next 4 st, 2 hdc in next* repeat around (48)

Round 7: *Hdc in next 5 st, 2 hdc in next* repeat around (56)

Round 8: *Hdc in next 17 st, 2 hdc in next* repeat around (58)

Rounds 9–18: Hdc in each st around (58)

Earflaps

• My earflaps are really done by personal preference, just by looking at them. I’ll explain.
• To start, from the last stitch, I single crochet a few more stitches (anywhere between 5 and 8) to reach the starting point for the first earflap. Once I reach the stitch I want to begin on, I slip stitch into that stitch, chain 1, and begin single crocheting in that same stitch and into the next 10 (11 total).
• Then you single-crochet-decrease in the first two stitches and single crochet across. Turn and repeat this until you are down to one stitch. Cut the yarn and tie off.
• To do the second earflap, I lay down the hat and fold it in half. I find the starting point with the hook, making sure the front of the hat is a little bigger than the back.
• Then I continue the earflap just like I did the first.
• Instead of tying off at the end, you single crochet all the way around the hat, working 3 single crochets in each earflap point and making sure the outside of the hat is facing you.

Braids

Cut 18 strands and feed 3 through each of the pointed stitches on the ears. Braid the 3 groups of three and then tie at the bottom.

Ears

Make 2

With TWO STRANDS OF GOLD AT ONCE and H hook

Round 1: Magic Ring, 6sc
Round 2: 2sc in each st around (12)
Round 3: *2sc in first st, sc in next* around (18)

WITH BROWN (one strand) and G hook

Round 1: Magic Ring, 5sc
Round 2: 2sc in each st around (10)

Nose

With Gold and H hook

Round 1: Magic ring, 8sc
Round 2: *2sc in next st, sc in next* repeat around (12)
Round 3: sc in each st around
Round 4: *2sc in next, sc in next* repeat around (18)
Round 5: sc in each st around
Round 6: *2sc in next, sc in next 2* repeat around (24)
Round 7: sc in each st around

** Sew on the nose and mouth before you attach it to the hat (using poly-fil). **

With Pink and G hook

Row 1: Ch 4, turn and sc in each stitch (3)
Row 2: sc2tog, sc (2)
Row 3: sc2tog (1)

Eyes

With White and G hook

Make 2

Ch 5
Round 1: sc in next 3, 3sc in last, turn and work other side, sc in next 3, 2sc in last st, join
Round 2: 2sc in first, sc in next 2, 2sc, sc, 2sc, sc in next 4, 2sc, sc, join
Round 3: 2sc in first, sc in next 4, 2sc, sc, 2sc, sc in next 4, 2sc, sc, join

Eyes – Black Detail

With black and E hook
Make 2
Ch 4
Round 1: sc, sc, 3sc in last (turn and work the other side), sc, 2sc, join
Round 2: 2sc in first, sc, 2sc, sc, 2sc, sc, 2sc, sc, join
** Add the white "sparkle" by sewing it on. **
Sew the black onto the white, then sew onto the hat.

Stripes (2 Sizes)

With brown and E hook

4 Shorter Stripes
Ch 20
sc, sc, sc, hdc in next 12, sc, sc, sc, sl st, turn and work opposite side:
sl st, sc, sc, hdc in next 12, sc, sc, sl st.
(leave long tail for sewing on)

3 Longer Stripes
Ch 24
sc, sc, sc, hdc in next 16, sc, sc, sc, sl st, turn and work opposite side:
sl st, sc, sc, hdc in next 16, sc, sc, sl st.
(leave long tail for sewing on)

** Once all of the pieces are sewn on, sew on a few whiskers on each side. **

That's it! There are a lot of pieces to sew on, so I just do them as I go. If you wait until the end it can get a little overwhelming. I hope you enjoy the pattern!

This is the crochet hook and tool set my husband got me for Christmas a few years ago and I love it!

Amazon Crochet Set!