Two-Tone Patch Beanie with Chin Strap: Free Crochet Pattern for Medium Dogs

Introduction

This cozy two-tone beanie is a beginner-friendly crochet project made especially for medium-sized dogs who deserve a little streetwear flair. The lower half is worked in dusty rose and the upper half in soft grey, so your pup gets a trendy color-blocked look without any complicated color changes mid-round. The fabric is dense and textured thanks to alternating rounds of single crochet and alpine stitch, which traps warmth and feels plush against the ears. A short chin strap with a little crocheted button keeps the hat in place during walks, and the gathered crown closes into a rounded dome that sits comfortably over the head.

Materials Needed

• Yarn: Super bulky (weight 6) chenille plush yarn, 100% polyester — 1 skein dusty rose (approx. 80 yd) and 1 skein grey (approx. 80 yd)
• Hook: 6.5 mm (K-10.5) crochet hook
• Notions: Stitch marker, tapestry needle, scissors
• Finished size: Circumference approx. 16 inches (40.5 cm), height approx. 6 inches (15 cm) — fits medium dogs with a head circumference of 14–18 inches

Abbreviations

• ch — chain: make a loop of yarn and pull it through the loop on your hook
• sl st — slip stitch: insert hook, yarn over, pull through both the stitch and the loop on your hook
• sc — single crochet: insert hook, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through both loops
• dc — double crochet: yarn over, insert hook, pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through two loops, yarn over and pull through the last two loops
• sc2tog — single crochet two stitches together: insert hook into the next stitch, pull up a loop, insert hook into the following stitch, pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through all three loops (a decrease)
• sts — stitches

Gauge

8 stitches and 8 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in alpine stitch pattern. Work a small swatch in the round and measure it flat before starting so your hat fits the 14–18 inch range.

Tips Before You Start

• Chenille yarn sheds and can be slippery — keep your tension relaxed and avoid pulling tight, or the stitches will be hard to find.
• Use a stitch marker at the start of each round; the join can drift and throw off your stitch count.
• Alpine stitch is worked by crossing double crochets: always work the second dc into the skipped stitch, then the first dc into the stitch you skipped over.
• Try the hat on your dog (or measure) before closing the crown so you can add or remove a round if needed.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Hat (worked in rounds)

With dusty rose, ch 32, join with sl st to first ch to form a ring (32 sts).

R1: ch 1, sc in each ch around, join with sl st to first sc (32 sts).

R2: ch 2, dc in same st, [skip next st, dc in next st, dc in skipped st] around, join with sl st to first dc (32 sts).

R3: ch 1, sc in each st around, join with sl st to first sc (32 sts).

R4: ch 2, dc in same st, [skip next st, dc in next st, dc in skipped st] around, join with sl st to first dc (32 sts).

R5–8: repeat R3–4 twice more (32 sts).

Change to grey.

R9–16: repeat R3–4 four times (32 sts). Fasten off and weave in ends.

Top Shaping

With grey, join yarn at the top edge.

R17: ch 1, sc2tog around, join with sl st to first sc (16 sts).

R18: ch 1, sc2tog around, join with sl st to first sc (8 sts).

R19: ch 1, sc2tog around, join with sl st to first sc (4 sts). Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Thread the tail through the remaining 4 sts and pull tight to close.

Chin Strap

With dusty rose, ch 12.

R1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across (11 sts).

R2: ch 1, sc in each st across (11 sts). Fasten off, leaving a long tail.

Button

With grey, make a magic ring, work 6 sc in the ring, join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off, leaving a long tail.

Assembly and Finishing

Sew one end of the chin strap to the bottom edge of the hat near one side of the face opening, and the other end to the opposite side, positioning the strap so it passes under the chin. Sew the button to one end of the strap, and use the gap between stitches at the other end as the buttonhole closure. Weave in all ends securely, then gently steam or hand-shape the hat and lay it flat to dry so the alpine texture sits evenly.

Pro Tips and Variations

• Swap the color zones for a custom look — try a cream and tan split, or keep the whole hat one color with a contrasting strap.
• For a snugger fit on smaller dogs, work the body to 28 sts instead of 32 and adjust the decreases accordingly.
• Add a small pom-pom or a second button on the strap for extra streetwear detail.