Bear Ear Crochet Baby Hooded Cardigan Free Crochet Pattern

Wrap your newest little arrival in pure comfort with this adorable, everyday garment that is as gentle on sensitive skin as it is sweet to look at. The cardigan is designed with a classic front tie instead of buttons for safety and simplicity, and features two perky little ears perched on the hood that always bring a smile.

Bear Ear Crochet Baby Hooded Cardigan Free Crochet Pattern

Quick Facts

• Skill level: Intermediate
• Finished size: Newborn (0-6 months, 6-12 months)
• Yarn: Worsted weight yarn (shown in Light Brown)
• Hook: 5.0 mm (H/8) crochet hook
• Stitches used: ch, sl st, hdc, hdc2tog, blo
• Time to make: Approximately 6 to 8 hours

Size adjustment tips and customized dimensions are included further down in the guide.

What Makes This Crochet Baby Hoodie Special

This design relies on half double crochet worked in rows and rounds for a sturdy yet flexible fabric that holds its shape without feeling stiff. Working straight into the main body means fewer seams to sew, while the seamless hood grows naturally from the neckline. The sweet bear ears are worked in simple circular rounds and firmly stitched to the hood, and the soft fabric ties eliminate any need for hard fasteners.

Skill Level

• Working flat in rows and in the round
• Basic shaping with increases and decreases
• Seaming small pieces securely
• Reading a garment construction pattern

💡 Designer Tip: Take your time maintaining consistent tension, especially when switching between rows of half double crochet, so your cardigan drapes smoothly.

Finished Measurements

Size	Chest / Bust	Length	Sleeve Length
Newborn	18 in / 46 cm	10 in / 25 cm	6 in / 15 cm
0–6 Months	20 in / 51 cm	11.5 in / 29 cm	7 in / 18 cm
6–12 Months	22 in / 56 cm	13 in / 33 cm	8 in / 20 cm

Materials You Will Need

Material	Color	Details	Quantity
Worsted Yarn	Light Brown	100% acrylic or cotton blend	350 (420, 500) yds / 320 (384, 457) m
Crochet Hook	N/A	5.0 mm (US H/8)	1 hook
Notions	N/A	Yarn needle, stitch markers, tape measure	1 set

Yarn Suggestions

• Caron One Pound (Light Brown) — 401 yards per skein. Excellent durability and machine washable.
• Lion Brand Heartland (Mount Rainier or similar warm taupe) — 251 yards per skein. Incredibly soft with a gentle sheen.
• Bernat Handicrafter Cotton (for a cotton alternative) — 200 yards per skein.

⚠️ Note: Avoid novelty fuzzy yarns or yarns with metallic threads for this project, as they can scratch delicate baby skin or shed fibers near an infant.

Gauge

14 hdc and 11 rows = 4 in / 10 cm using a 5.0 mm hook in half double crochet.

Abbreviations

• ch = chain
• sl st = slip stitch
• hdc = half double crochet
• hdc2tog = half double crochet 2 together (decrease)
• blo = back loop only
• st(s) = stitch(es)
• rep = repeat
• rnd(s) = round(s)
• row(s) = row(s)

UK translation note: UK sc = US dc, UK hdc = US htr, UK dc = US tr.

Special Stitches Explained

1. Half Double Crochet 2 Together (hdc2tog): Yarn over, insert hook into next stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop (3 loops on hook). Yarn over, insert hook into following stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop (5 loops on hook). Yarn over and draw through all 5 loops on the hook.

Pattern Instructions

Pattern Notes

• The cardigan is worked from the top down, starting at the yoke, then splitting for the body and sleeves.
• Turning chains do not count as stitches unless specifically noted.

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Section 1: Yoke (Light Brown)

Row 1: Ch 43 (47, 51), hdc in 3rd ch from hook (skipped 2 ch count as first hdc), hdc in next 6 (7, 8) sts, 3 hdc in next st, hdc in next 6 (7, 8) sts, 3 hdc in next st, hdc in next 12 (13, 14) sts, 3 hdc in next st, hdc in next 6 (7, 8) sts, 3 hdc in next st, hdc in last 7 (8, 9) sts, turn. (49 [53, 57] hdc)

Row 2: Ch 2, hdc in first st, inc in next st, hdc across to corner space, work [hdc, ch 1, hdc] in corner ch-1 space, repeating for each corner across, turn. (65 [69, 73] hdc)

Rows 3 to 6: Repeat Row 2, increasing at each of the 4 raglan corners on every row. (129 [145, 161] hdc at end of Row 6)

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Section 2: Body (Light Brown)

Row 7: Ch 2, hdc in first 18 (20, 22) sts, skip next 28 (30, 32) sleeve sts, ch 4 for underarm, hdc in next 37 (45, 53) back sts, skip next 28 (30, 32) sleeve sts, ch 4 for underarm, hdc in last 18 (20, 22) sts, turn. (81 [93, 105] hdc including underarm chains)

Rows 8 to 16: Ch 2, hdc in each st and chain across, turn. (81 [93, 105] hdc)

Row 17: Ch 1, working in blo, sc in each st across. Fasten off. (81 [93, 105] sc)

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Section 3: Sleeves (Make 2, Light Brown)

Row 1: Join yarn with a sl st at the underarm of one armhole opening. Ch 2, work 28 (30, 32) hdc evenly around the armhole opening, join with sl st to first hdc. (28 [30, 32] hdc)

Rows 2 to 7: Ch 2, hdc in each st around, join. (28 [30, 32] hdc)

Row 8: Ch 2, [hdc, hdc2tog] around, join. (19 [20, 21] hdc)

Row 9: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join. Fasten off. (19 [20, 21] sc)

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Section 4: Hood (Light Brown)

Row 1: With the neckline facing you, join yarn at the right front edge of the neckline. Ch 2, hdc evenly across the entire neckline opening to the left front edge, turn. (43 [47, 51] hdc)

Rows 2 to 14: Ch 2, hdc in each st across, turn. (43 [47, 51] hdc)

Row 15: Fold the top edge of the hood in half matching stitches across, and work a seam across the top using slip stitches through both thicknesses. Fasten off.

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Section 5: Bear Ears (Make 2, Light Brown)

Rnd 1: Magic ring, work 6 sc in ring, pull tight, join with sl st. (6 sc)

Rnd 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each st around, join. (12 sc)

Rnd 3: Ch 1, [1 sc, inc] around, join. (18 sc)

Rnd 4: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join. Fasten off, leaving a 10 in / 25 cm tail for sewing. (18 sc)

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Section 6: Tie Cord (Light Brown)

Make a foundation chain of 80 ch. Turn, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Fasten off and weave in ends neatly.

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Assembly

1. Ears: Position the two bear ears on top of the hood, spaced about 2 in / 5 cm apart near the top center seam. Sew securely using the yarn tails.
2. Tie Cord: Weave the finished tie cord in and out through the stitches along the front neckline band just below the hood opening, centering it so both ends are even.

Finishing

Weave in all remaining loose yarn ends securely on the wrong side. Block the cardigan lightly with steam if desired to crisp up the edges.

✅ Checkpoint: Verify that both ears are stitched symmetrically onto the hood and that the front tie slides smoothly through the neckline row.

Size Customization Tips

To adjust the sizing, ensure your starting chain is a multiple of stitches that accommodates the raglan yoke increases evenly. Each additional row on the body adds roughly 1 inch of length.

Care Instructions

Machine wash gentle in cold water inside a mesh garment bag. Lay flat to dry out of direct sunlight. Do not bleach or iron.

FAQ

Can I use cotton yarn instead of acrylic?

Yes! Cotton yarn gives a heavier, more structured drape and is wonderful for warmer climates, though it may stretch slightly more when wet.

How do I make the cardigan larger for a chunky baby?

Work an extra round of increases in the yoke section before splitting for the sleeves, and add two extra rows to the body length.

Are buttons safe for newborns?

No, hard buttons or beads can pose a choking hazard for babies under three years old, which is why this design uses a secure crochet tie instead.

Happy Crocheting!

I hope you love stitching this cozy little bear hoodie as much as I loved designing it for you. Be sure to save this pin on Pinterest to your baby crochet boards, and leave a comment below to let me know what color you chose for your cardigan!