This fleece hat with ear flaps is made with a super soft “bear skin” faux fur lining that’s warm and cozy. You can also use smooth minky, sherpa minky, or another layer of fleece as a lining.
This is a quick and easy project that’s great for gifts for babies, children and adults, especially when paired with matching fleece mittens!
Want to get the printable PDF instructions?
Print, tape, and cut out the pattern pieces. I’ve done an extra small for babies, a small for children, and a medium and large for adults.
Lay out the fleece with the wrong side up. Stretch the fleece both ways to figure out which is stretchier. Place the pattern pieces accordingly.
Trace around the hat top, then flip the pattern over on the fold line and trace the rest of it. You would normally fold the fabric in half and place the fold line on the crease, but since fleece is thick, it’s easier to cut through one layer. Either way, you should have one piece after cutting.
Trace and cut the hat bottom piece in the same way.
Repeat for the faux fur.
When cutting out the faux fur, try short snips to avoid cutting the pile too much.
Take the top piece and fold the first 2 triangles together with right sides facing. With ¼” seam allowance, sew down the side of the triangle away from the end.
Put the edges of the 2nd and 3rd triangles together and sew.
Continue sewing the triangles together. When only the 2 ends are remaining, Put them together and sew all the way down so the circle is completed.
Line up the seams of the top and bottom pieces and pin with right sides facing. Make sure the ear flaps are facing up.
Sew all the way around.
Pin the edges of the fleece and lining together with right sides facing and the seams aligned.
At the bottom of the ear flaps, add the ties so just the top can be seen.
Continue to pin all the way around.
Pull the hat through the hole to turn it right side out.
If some of the fur gets caught in the seam, use a pin to pull it out.
See our tutorial How To Sew an Invisible Stitch to learn more.
Fold the edges of the opening in and hand sew with an invisible stitch to complete the hat.
If using a different lining, you could top stitch around the entire edge, but with faux fur, it looks better to have it sticking out.
Find fleece in many colors and patterns here!