I’m excited to start the tenth annual Holiday Stashdown Crochet Along with CAL Central Crochet with a crochet penguin hat pattern. The Penguin Sack Hat is part of my series of winter- and holiday-themed sack hat patterns. It’s available in 10 sizes from newborn through adult large so you can make a matching set for the whole family!
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One of the fun things about the holiday season is celebrating with family and friends. In my family, there was a tradition of making a silly hat out of a paper plate and ribbons for my grandmother’s dog on the holidays. We would sometimes wear wacky ribbon and gift wrap hats for silly photos, too, and that inspired my growing collection of winter- and holiday-themed hat patterns for the whole family. If you’re new to this series, you’ll want to check out the Feliz Navidad Christmas Tree Hat…
…the Snowman Sack Hat…
…the Gingerbread Cookie Sack Hat…
…and the Santa Suit Sack Hat.
Like these other winter- and holiday-themed hat patterns, the Penguin Sack Hat is available in 10 sizes so you can make one for everyone in the family!
Scroll down for the free crochet penguin hat pattern for the Penguin Sack Hat. The Penguin Sack Hat is part of the tenth annual Holiday Stashdown Crochet Along! To join the Holiday Stashdown Crochet Along:
- Sign up for Crochet Along updates and the Underground Crafter newsletter to get regular updates, including links to new CAL patterns as they are released. When you sign up, you’ll also get access to my subscriber vault which includes exclusive free PDF patterns, a coupon code for your choice of any crochet or knitting pattern or ebook from my Ravelry shop, and coupon codes from other indie designers and crafts businesses.
- You can join in by crocheting the patterns as you have time.
- Share your progress and post pictures of your finished projects. Tag your projects and posts #CALCentralCrochet and #HolidayStashdownCAL on all social media.
- If you’d like to chat with other crocheters, join the CAL Central Crochet Facebook group, or visit this thread in the CAL Central Ravelry group.
- By the end of the CAL, you’ll have up to 22 gifts, decorations, or gift wrap projects for the winter holidays.
- Don’t forget to enter the end-of-CAL giveaway at the bottom of this blog post by 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, December 31, 2024 for your chance to win a prize from CozyNorthWoods, Crochet Foundry, GlassEyesOnline, Hooked for Life, KennyClayCo, KnitPal, Knitter’s Relief Balm, lesliewind, LumosLumos, or Unicorn.
- Use this button below on your Ravelry project pages or elsewhere on social media. Right click (on desktop) or tap and hold (on mobile) to save.
This post is part of the third annual Countdown to Christmas I’m sharing with folks signed up for the Crochet Along updates and the Underground Crafter newsletter.
Each day through December 24, 2025, I’m sharing a 2-day free coupon code straight to your inbox for one of my crochet patterns that is perfect for winter or holiday crafting. The Penguin Sack Hat is the December 6 featured pattern. Sign up now to get access to the free PDF! (When you sign up for this list, you get regular updates from Underground Crafter, and an update email about every pattern for the CALs I host as those patterns are released. When you sign up, you’ll also get access to my subscriber vault which includes exclusive free PDF patterns, a coupon code for your choice of any crochet or knitting pattern or ebook from my Ravelry shop, and coupon codes from other indie designers and crafts businesses.)
If you make your own Penguin Sack Hat, I’d love to see it! Share your progress and questions by tagging me on Bluesky as @UndergroundCrafter, Facebook as @UndergroundCrafter, or on Instagram as @ucrafter. You can also share a picture in the Underground Crafters Facebook group. Sign up for my weekly newsletter and get a coupon code for your choice of one of my premium patterns and private access to my vault of subscriber goodies. Plus, you’ll never miss one of my free patterns again!
Add the Penguin Sack Hat to your favorites or queue, or buy the ad-free PDF on Ravelry.
Penguin Sack Hat
Crochet Penguin Hat Pattern by Underground Crafter
The crochet penguin hat is part of my series of winter- and holiday- themed sack hats. Available in 10 sizes from Newborn through Adult Large, you can make a matching set for the whole family. This pattern is part of the tenth annual Holiday Stashdown Crochet Along with CAL Central Crochet.
Finished Sizes
- Newborn (0-3 Months, 3-6 Months, 6-12 Months, Toddler, Child Small, Child Large, Teen/Adult Small, Adult Medium, Adult Large). Photographed sample is size Child Small.
- Newborn: 12” (30.5 cm) hat circumference x 5.5” (14 cm) height.
- 0-3 Months: 14” (35.5 cm) hat circumference x 6.5” (16.5 cm) height.
- 3-6 Months: 15” (38 cm) hat circumference x 6.75” (17 cm) height.
- 6-12 Months: 16” (40.5 cm) hat circumference x 7.25” (18.5 cm) height.
- Toddler: 17” (43 cm) hat circumference x 7.5” (19 cm) height.
- Child Small: 18” (45.5 cm) hat circumference x 8” (20.5 cm) height.
- Child Large: 19” (48 cm) hat circumference x 8.5” (21.5 cm) height.
- Teen/Adult Small: 20” (51 cm) hat circumference x 8.75” (22 cm) height.
- Adult Medium: 21” (53.5 cm) hat circumference x 9.25” (23.5 cm) height.
- Adult Large: 22” (56 cm) hat circumference x 9.5” (24 cm) height.
Materials
- Big Twist Value yarn (100% acrylic, 6 oz/170 g, 380 yd/347 m) – 1 skein each in Orange (CA), Slime (CB), and Chocolate Brown (CC), 1 skein each in Black (CA), Ivory (CB), and Varsity Gold (CC), or approximately 55 yd (75 yd, 80 yd, 95 yd, 100 yd, 115 yd, 130 yd, 140 yd, 155 yd, 165 yd)/50.5 m (68.5 m, 73 m, 87 m, 91.5 m, 105 m, 119 m, 128 m, 142 m, 151 m) in CA; 20 yd (30 yd, 30 yd, 35 yd, 40 yd, 45 yd, 50 yd, 50 yd, 55 yd, 60 yd)/18.5 m (27.5 m, 27.5 m, 32 m, 36.5 m, 41 m, 46 m, 46 m, 50.5 m, 55 m) in CB; and 30 yd (40 yd, 45 yd, 50 yd, 55 yd, 60 yd, 70 yd, 75 yd, 80 yd, 90 yd)/27.5 m (36.5 m, 41 m, 46 m, 50.5 m, 55 m, 64 m, 68.5 m, 73 m, 82.5 m) in CC in any medium weight yarn.
- US Size H-8/5 mm crochet hook, or size needed to obtain gauge.
- Yarn needle.
- Locking stitch markers.
Gauge
- 14 dc = 4” (10 cm) wide. For best fit, always check your gauge.
Abbreviations Used in This Pattern
- BL – back loop only – Rich Textures Crochet has a helpful video demonstrating how to identify the back loop in crochet here.
- bob – 5-repeat bobble – [Yo, insert hook in st, yo and draw up a loop, yo and draw through 2 loops] 5 times in same st, yo and draw through all 6 loops on hook. A helpful video tutorial for this stitch is available below.
- If you can’t see the video above demonstrating the bob, watch it on YouTube.
- CA – Color A
- CB – Color B
- CA – Color A
- ch – chain
- dc – double crochet
- FPdc – front post double crochet – Yo, insert hook from front around back to front of st in previous row, yo and draw up a loop, [yo and draw through 2 loops] twice. A helpful video tutorial for this stitch is available below.
- If you can’t see the video above demonstrating the FPdc, watch it on YouTube.
- hdc – half double crochet
- RS – right (front) side
- sc – single crochet
- sl st – slip stitch
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- WS – wrong (inside/back) side
- yo – yarn over
- [] Repeat stitches between brackets as indicated.
Pattern Notes
- For this pattern, CA is the color of the back, pupils, and top of face. CB is the color of the front of face and eyes. CC is the color of the feet and beak.
- This pattern starts crocheted flat in rows from the back (base of the hat) to the front of the face (base of the hat). The feet (brim) are then added in the round. Each side of the face is seamed. Finally, the embellishments (eyes and nose) are sewn to the face.
- When possible, crochet over yarn tails after changing color. A helpful video tutorial demonstrating how to crochet over yarn tails is available below.
- If you can’t see the video above demonstrating the how to crochet over yarn tails, watch it on YouTube.
- Ch 1 at start and sl st at end of Rows and Rounds DO NOT count as stitches.
- A helpful video demonstrating how to change color in the last yo of a double crochet is available below.
- If you can’t see the video above demonstrating the how to change colors, watch it on YouTube.
- A helpful video tutorial demonstrating how to single crochet around the side of your project is available below.
- If you can’t see the video above demonstrating the how to single crochet around the side of your project, watch it on YouTube.
- A helpful video tutorial demonstrating the single crochet seam is available below.
- If you can’t see the video above demonstrating the single crochet seam, watch it on YouTube.
Pattern Instructions
Sack Hat – All Sizes
- With CA, ch 24 (28, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 38, 40).
- Row 1: Turn, skip 3 ch (counts as first dc), dc in next 21 (25, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 35, 37) sts. – 22 (26, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 36, 38) sts
- Row 2: Turn, ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in next st and in each st across.
- Repeat Row 2 until hat measures approximately 4.5” (5.5”, 5.75”, 6.25”, 6.5”, 7”, 7.5”, 7.75”, 8.25”, 8.5”)/11.5 cm, (14 cm, 14.5 cm, 16 cm, 16.5 cm, 18 cm, 19 cm, 19.5 cm, 21 cm, 21.5 cm), or approximately 1” (2.5 cm) shorter than desired hat height.
- Next Row: Turn, ch 3 (counts as first dc), dcBL in next st and in each st across.
- Repeat Row 2 until hat measures approximately 6” (8”, 8.5”, 9.5”, 10”, 11”, 12”, 12.5”, 13.5”, 14”)/15 cm (20.5 cm, 21.5 cm, 24 cm, 25.5 cm, 28 cm, 30.5 cm, 32 cm, 34.5 cm, 35.5 cm) – or approximately 5” (13 cm) shorter than double the desired height – changing to CB in last yo of final dc (see Pattern Notes). Fasten off CA.
- Repeat Row 2 until front and back are the same height/have the same number of rows when folded at Next Row, changing to CC in last yo of final dc (see Pattern Notes). Fasten off CB.
Ribbing – All Sizes
- Fold hat along Next Row so that unworked loops are on the RS.
- Set Up Round: Turn, ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in next 21 (25, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 35, 37) sts across previous row, dc in next 22 (26, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 36, 38) sts along unworked foundation row on other side of fold, join with sl st to top of third ch and begin working in the round. – 44 (52, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 72, 76) sts
- Note 1: Your hat will be joined only on Set Up Round. We will seam the rest of hat later.
- Note 2: If you are on the WS, turn to RS before starting Round 1. If you are on the RS, continue on RS without turning.
- Round 1: Ch 1, starting in same st [FPdc around next st, hdc in next 3 sts].
- Repeat Round 1 until CC section is 1” (2.5”) long, or until hat measures 5.5” (6.5”, 6.75”, 7.25”, 7.5”, 8,” 8.5”, 8.75”, 9.25”, 9.5”/14 cm (16.5 cm, 17 cm, 18.5 cm, 19 cm, 20.5 cm, 21.5 cm, 22 cm, 23.5 cm, 24 cm) or desired height. Fasten off CC.
Seam Sides
- Your hat is joined only on the Ribbing at this point as shown in the photos below.
- With RS facing, join CA with sl st through both sides of hat just above the Ribbing.
- Ch 1, join both sides with single crochet seam by working through both layers with 2 sc in the side of each row across to the final row at the fold (see Pattern Notes for single crochet seam and crocheting around side of project), sc in side of folded row, join with sl st to first unworked loop at fold. Fasten off CA.
- With RS facing, join CA with sl st to unworked loop at fold at opposite side of hat.
- Turn to work along unseamed side, ch 1, join both sides with single crochet seam by working through both layers with 1 sc in the side of folded row and 2 sc in the side of each row across to the ribbing. Fasten off CA.
Nose – All Sizes
- With CC, ch 2.
- Row 1: Turn, skip 1 ch, 2 sc in next ch. (2 sts)
- Row 2: Turn, ch 1, sc in first st, 2 sc in next st. (3 sts)
- Row 3: Turn, ch 1, sc in first st and each st across to last st, 2 sc in last st. (Increases by 1 st)
- Rows 4-5: Repeat Row 2 twice. (6 sts)
- FOR TEEN/ADULT SMALL (ADULT MEDIUM, ADULT LARGE) SIZES ONLY: Rows 6-7: Repeat Row 2 twice more. (8 sts)
- Fasten off CC with long yarn tail (approximately 12”/30.5 cm) for seaming.
Eyes – All Sizes – Make 2
- With CA, ch 2.
- Row 1: (WS) Turn, skip 1 ch, bob in next ch, changing to CB in last yo before drawing through all 6 loops on hook. Fasten off CA. (1 st)
- Set Up Round: Turn to RS, ch 1, 6 sc in bob, join with sl st to first sc and begin working in the round. (6 sts)
- Round 1: 2 sc in each st around, place stitch marker in last st to mark position and move up each round. (12 sts)
- Round 2: [2 sc in next st, sc in next st] around. (18 sts)
- FOR TEEN/ADULT SMALL (ADULT MEDIUM, ADULT LARGE) SIZES ONLY: Round 3: [2c in next st, sc in next 2 sts] around. (24 sts)
- Remove stitch marker, fasten off CB with long yarn tail (approximately 12”/30.5 cm) for seaming.
Finishing
- With yarn needle, weave in yarn tails on hat. Weave in yarn tails from start of Nose and Eyes.
- Position Nose so that final row of Nose is 2 rows below color change from CA to CB on front of hat and tip of Nose is centered on front. Position Eyes so that outer edge of each eye is on next stitch outside of Nose and bottom of Eye is on the first row in CA on front of hat. See photo below for guidance.
- Pin Eyes and Nose in place with locking stitch markers. Thread yarn needle with long yarn tails and sew each piece to front of hat, being careful to only work through front layer. With yarn needle, weave in ends on inside of hat.
