9 Grizzly & Cuddly Bear Hat Patterns You’ll Love Knitting

For the bear lovers in your life, these hat patterns are bear-y delightful

Why would you want to knit a bear hat?

I can think of two reasons.

Number one: a person in your life just loves bears. They collect bears. They decorate their home with bears. In the life of nearly everyone who knows them, their name is synonymous with “bear.”

Number two: … they’re really cute.

Seriously–this collection of knitted bear hat patterns are among the most adorable I’ve seen! And honestly, in my mind that’s as good a reason to knit a bear hat as any!

Maybe you don’t actually know someone who loooooves bears. But I’ll bet you know a parent of a young child who could use a darling bear hat. This, my friend, is what we in knitting like to call “the perfect excuse.” 😁

So whether you know someone who loves bears, or you just really want to knit something darling… this collection is for you!

Bear Hats with Ears (and Some with Faces)

Red Heart Bear Cub Hat & Mitts

• What you’ll need to make them: 132 yards Aran weight yarn (plus perhaps 20 to 30 yards of a contrasting color); US Size 7 and 5 circular needles and/or DPNs, depending on how you prefer to knit in the round, plus the size 7 needles of your choice for flat knitting; stitch markers; stitch holder/spare DPN/scrap yarn; tapestry needle; two 5/8-inch buttons

• Why you’ll want to: This adorable pattern comes in two sizes, newborn and 12 months, and it features not only a hat but also matching mittens. As a bonus, just by changing the colors, you can make any kind of bear you want — even a panda!

Bear Head

• What you’ll need to make it: 67 to 81 yards super bulky weight yarn (the furrier and fuzzier, the better); US Size 19 circular needles (or DPNs if you can find them in this size and prefer them for circular knitting)

• Why you’ll want to: This pattern cracks me up. It’s for an adult, and it’s designed to be furry and fuzzy like a real bear. Oh, and did I mention the “beard”? 🤣

Easy Red Heart Polar Bear Hat

• What you’ll need to make it: 198 yards worsted weight yarn (plus small amounts in a contrasting color); US Size 7 needles; tapestry needle

• Why you’ll want to: This could of course be any color bear with a few simple yarn color changes. But the important aspects of this hat are the facial features. Appliques are knitted and then sewn to the hat, making this a very easy knit.

Knitted Polar Bear Hat

• What you’ll need to make it: 126 yards bulky weight yarn (plus about 10 to 20 yards in a contrast color); US Size 8 circular needles and/or DPNs, depending on how you prefer to knit in the round; US Size G crochet hook; toy stuffing of your choice

• Why you’ll want to: This looks adorable in white as a polar bear hat, but I think you could easily turn it into a sweet koala hat by knitting it in gray! I love the ear flaps and ties, as well as the “muzzle.”

Baby Bear Hooded Cowl

• What you’ll need to make it: 143 to 286 yards bulky weight yarn; US Size 10 circular needles and/or DPNs, depending on how you prefer to knit in the round; tapestry needle

• Why you’ll want to: The special thing about this pattern is right in the title: it’s more than a hat, it’s a cowl with a hood. But don’t let the title fool you: this “baby bear” offers sizes for both children and adults.

Baby Animal Big Bear Hat

• What you’ll need to make it: 122 yards bulky weight yarn, plus another 10 to 20 yards of a contrasting color; a small amount of eyelash yarn; US Size 8 DPNs (needed for I-cord ties); US Size 9 needles; tapestry needle

• Why you’ll want to: This is a children’s hat that comes in a few different sizes. It features sweet little ties and eyelash yarn edging–a fabulous opportunity to use up any eyelash yarn hiding in your stash!

Bear-Themed Hats

Toddler Teddy Bear Hat

• What you’ll need to make it: 170 yards Aran weight yarn in two contrasting colors; US Size 8 circular needles and/or DPNs, depending on how you prefer to knit in the round

• Why you’ll want to: You want to challenge yourself with colorwork! This adorable hat pattern features precious teddy bear faces on it. What’s for a toddler not to love?

We Bare Bears Beanie

• What you’ll need to knit it: About 200 yards of a main color of worsted weight yarn, and small amounts of another 6 colors of yarn (the pattern calls for white, black, brown, two shades of red, and gray); US Size 7 and 8 circular needles and/or DPNs, depending on how you prefer to knit in the round; tapestry needle

• Why you’ll want to: This beanie is so freaking adorable. Other fine qualities: first, it’s available in multiple sizes, so kids don’t have all the fun. 😉 Second, it features a brown bear, a polar bear, and a panda bear, which you can knit into the hat using stranded knitting or add to the hat using duplicate stitch.

Catskills Beanie

• What you’ll need to make it: 123 yards worsted weight yarn for the main color, plus an additional 108 yards divided into 5 colors; US Size 7 circular needles and/or DPNs, depending on how you prefer to knit in the round

• Why you’ll want to: I literally gasped with delight when I found this gorgeous pattern! I love the colors and the breathtaking design. The designer said they were “inspired by days spent at the cabin nestled among the beautiful pine trees,” and that is so evident. It immediately went onto my “must knit someday” list.

Now, you have ample excuse to knit a sweet bear hat. Let’s do it!