Crochet Pattern & Guide · For dogs
Free Crochet Sorting Hat Pattern: Wizard Pet Costume for Dogs & Cats
Free crochet Sorting Hat pattern! Create the iconic wizard pet costume for dogs and cats this Halloween. Features authentic 3D sculpted brow, talking mouth, wavy brim, and pet ear slits.
Which Hogwarts house does your furry companion truly belong in? With this free crochet Sorting Hat pattern, you can crochet the ultimate magical wizard costume for your dog or cat just in time for Halloween! Featuring the iconic crumpled peak, frowning 3D brow ridge, sculpted talking mouth, and wavy floppy brim, this pattern brings the legendary wizarding hat to life with soft yarn. Best of all, we’ve included pet-specific comfort modifications—such as ergonomic ear-slit openings and soft chin-tie cords—so your pet stays happy, comfy, and picture-perfect during their sorting ceremony!
🧙♂️ Pet-Friendly Costume Highlights
Authentic 3D Face Shaping: No complicated sewing required! The expressive grumpy brow ridge and talking mouth fold are created seamlessly using clever stitch manipulation (triple crochets and half-double clusters) in the round, finished with quick needle-sculpting.
Comfort Ear Slits & Chin Ties: Flexible instructions let you add side ear-slits so pointy cat ears and floppy dog ears rest naturally without being squished or pushed down.
Easy / Adventurous Beginner
Adjustable for Cats, Small, Medium & Large Dogs
Size N (9.0–10.0 mm) for chunky / 5.0 mm (US H/8) for cats
Continuous unjoined spirals & 3D needle sculpting
Materials & Tool Checklist
| Material / Notion | Recommendation | Purpose & Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Brown Yarn | Chunky Chenille or 2 strands of Worsted Weight held together | Approx. 150–200g in rich chocolate or heather brown for an antique leather texture. |
| Crochet Hooks | Size N (9.0 mm / 10.0 mm) or 5.0 mm (US H/8) | Use Size N for medium/large dogs or quick chunky hats; use 5.0mm hook for cats and toy dog breeds. |
| Locking Stitch Marker | 1 locking plastic marker | Crucial! The hat is worked in continuous unjoined spirals. Move marker to the working loop at end of each round. |
| Tapestry Needle & Scissors | Large eye blunt yarn needle | Used for weaving ends and needle-sculpting the furrowed brow and mouth folds. |
| Polyfill & Brown Felt (Optional) | Small pinch of stuffing & felt disc | To keep the cone tip perky and firm without weighing down on your pet’s head. |
Crochet Abbreviations & Pattern Notes (US Terms)
- st / sts: Stitch / stitches
- sc: Single crochet
- hdc: Half double crochet
- trc: Triple (treble) crochet
- sc2tog: Single crochet 2 stitches together (decrease)
- FLO: Front loops only
- Adjustable Ring (Magic Ring): Make a yarn loop, draw up a loop, ch 1, work sc into ring, pull tail gently to close tight.
- * (asterisk): Repeat instructions following the asterisk as directed.
- Numbers in parentheses ( ): Total stitch count at the end of that round.
Step-by-Step Sorting Hat Pattern (Rounds 1–37)
Worked in continuous unjoined spirals from the top peak down to the wavy brim. Do not join with a slip stitch at the end of each round unless explicitly instructed.
Phase 1: The Conical Tip (Rounds 1–17)
- Rnd 1: Starting at the top of the hat with brown yarn and chosen hook, make an adjustable ring, ch 1, work 3 sc into the ring. Pull tail to close tightly. (3 sts).
- Rnd 2: Work 2 sc into each st around. (6 sts).
- Rnds 3–5: Sc in each st around (3 rounds total). (6 sts).
- Rnd 6: 2 sc in next st, sc in each remaining st around. (7 sts).
- Rnd 7: Sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 3 sts. (8 sts).
- Rnd 8: *[2 sc in next st, sc in next 3 sts]*, repeat from * around. (10 sts).
- Rnd 9: *[Sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts]*, repeat from * around. (12 sts).
- Rnd 10: *[Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st]*, repeat from * around. (18 sts).
- Rnds 11–12: Sc in each st around. (18 sts).
- Rnd 13: *[2 sc in next st, sc in next 8 sts]*, repeat from * around. (20 sts).
- Rnd 14: Sc in each st around. (20 sts).
- Rnd 15: *[Sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 5 sts]*, repeat from * around. (22 sts).
- Rnd 16: Sc in each st around. (22 sts).
- Rnd 17: *[2 sc in next st, sc in next 10 sts]*, repeat from * around. (24 sts).
Phase 2: 3D Brow Ridge & Eye Shaping (Rounds 18–22)
The heightened triple crochets and decrease passes in these rounds form the Sorting Hat’s distinctive furrowed, thinking brow:
- Rnd 18 (Brow Formation): Sc in next 8 sts, work 2 trc in each of next 4 sts, hdc in next 4 sts, work 2 trc in each of next 4 sts, sc in next 4 sts. (32 sts).
- Rnd 19 (Eye Indentation): Sc in next 8 sts, sc2tog 4 times, sc in next 4 sts, sc2tog 4 times, sc in next 4 sts. (24 sts).
- Rnd 20: *[Sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 4 sts]*, repeat from * around. (27 sts).
- Rnd 21: *[Sc in next 8 sts, 2 sc in next st]*, repeat from * around. (30 sts).
- Rnd 22: Sc in each st around. (30 sts).
Phase 3: The 3D Talking Mouth (Rounds 23–30)
The concentrated half-double crochets create extra fabric volume that is pushed inward during finishing to produce the talking mouth:
- Rnd 23 (Mouth Flare): Sc in next 14 sts, work 2 hdc in each of next 10 sts, sc in next 6 sts. (40 sts).
- Rnd 24: Sc in next 14 sts, hdc in next 20 sts, sc in next 6 sts. (40 sts).
- Rnd 25 (Mouth Taper): Sc in next 14 sts, sc2tog 10 times, sc in next 6 sts. (30 sts).
- Rnd 26: *[Sc in next 9 sts, 2 sc in next st]*, repeat from * around. (33 sts).
- Rnd 27: *[Sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 5 sts]*, repeat from * around. (36 sts).
- Rnd 28: *[2 sc in next st, sc in next 11 sts]*, repeat from * around. (39 sts).
- Rnd 29: *[Sc in next 12 sts, 2 sc in next st]*, repeat from * around. (42 sts).
- Rnd 30: Sc in each st around. (42 sts).
🐾 Customizing for Pet Head Sizes
• Cats & Toy Dogs (Head circumference 8–11″): Stop increasing at Round 28 or 30, or simply use worsted weight yarn with a 4.5 mm or 5.0 mm hook.
• Medium Dogs (Head circumference 12–15″): Follow the pattern as written through Round 30.
• Large Dogs (Head circumference 16–20″+): Continue increasing by 3 stitches per round beyond Round 30 (e.g., Round 30b: *[Sc 13, 2 sc]* = 45 sts) until the crown opening comfortably fits over your dog’s head between their ears.
Phase 4: The Flared Wavy Brim (Rounds 31–37)
- Rnd 31 (Brim Transition): Working in Front Loops Only (FLO) of each st: *[2 sc in next st, sc in next 6 sts]*, repeat from * around. (48 sts).
Pet Ear Slit Option: If making ear openings for your pet, replace 6 stitches on each side withch 6, skip 6. In Round 32, simply work your stitches into the chain spaces. - Rnd 32: Working in both loops of each st: *[Sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 4 sts]*, repeat from * around. (54 sts).
- Rnd 33: *[Sc in next 8 sts, 2 sc in next st]*, repeat from * around. (60 sts).
- Rnd 34: *[2 sc in next st, sc in next 9 sts]*, repeat from * around. (66 sts).
- Rnd 35: *[Sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 7 sts]*, repeat from * around. (72 sts).
- Rnd 36: *[Sc in next 10 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in next st]*, repeat from * around. (78 sts).
- Rnd 37: *[2 sc in next st, sc in next 12 sts]*, repeat from * around. (84 sts).
- Sl st into first st to join cleanly. Fasten off and weave in end.
Phase 5: Finishing & Needle Sculpting
- Sculpting the Mouth Fold: Thread your tapestry needle with a long strand (approx. 24″) of matching brown yarn. Push the puffy fabric pouch created in Rounds 23–25 inward toward the interior of the hat. From the inside, pass your needle through the mouth fold to anchor it in place, catching a few stitches on each side.
- Angling the Grumpy Eyebrows: Bring your needle up between the eye hollows (formed in Rounds 18–19) and pass back down toward the mouth. Pull the yarn firmly so the center brow tilts downward into the Sorting Hat’s classic grumpy expression. Knot securely on the inside.
- Soft Under-Chin Ties (Pet Security): Join yarn at the inner brim base aligned below each ear slit. Chain 35–45, fasten off, and knot the end. Repeat on opposite side. These two soft ties allow you to gently secure the hat under your pet’s chin with an easy-release bow.
- House Scarf Band Accent (Optional): Crochet a simple 2-row collar ribbon in your pet’s sorted Hogwarts colors to tie around the hat base:
- Gryffindog: Scarlet and gold stripes
- Slytherin: Emerald green and silver stripes
- Ravenclaw: Deep sapphire blue and bronze stripes
- Hufflepup: Warm canary yellow and black stripes
We Share Free Premium PDF Patterns Every Week!
Join our weekly subscriber list to get free, ad-free printable PDF crochet patterns delivered straight to your inbox every week. Enter your email below to get this week’s pattern now!
🔒 100% free forever. No spam, ever. Unsubscribe with 1-click anytime.
