Pingu the Penguin Character Hat Crochet Pattern

Pingu the Penguin Character Hat Crochet Pattern

 free character hat crochet pattern from cRAfterChick.com

One of my friends suggested making a Pingu character hat for my mother to wear in her classroom during story time. 🙂 I thought he was mighty cute so I created this hat for her class.  It’s a beginner friendly pattern so give it a whirl. Happy crafting!

Oh and here is what Pingu looks like normally:

Learn more about Pingu here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pingu\

Get Pingu videos and items here.

Pingu the Penguin Character Hat Crochet Pattern Notes

Project requires:
Black  yarn for beanie main color and eye pupils
(I use a lot of Red Heart Saver yarn but any medium to normal weight yarn will do)
“J” hook (6.0 mm)
Orange yarn for beak and hat trim
White yarn for eye whites
Scissors or Yarn Cutter
Blunt large eye yarn / tapestry needle to weave in ends
Small amount of fiberfill stuffing for Pingu’s beak

Abbreviations used in this pattern (US crochet stitches):
ch – chain
st – stitch
sl st – slip stitch
sc – single crochet (US)
dc – double crochet (US)
hdc – half double crochet (US)

Pattern Instructions:

*Note: This project is worked in the round on the base of a magic ring. If you do not know how to do this, please see tutorial here from: yarntomato on CrochetMe

The hat in this picture is made with my free Easy Peasy Youth Sized (Age 3-10 years old) Double Crochet Beanie  Hat Pattern which you can find  here as a foundation for the project. Want it in another size? No worries. Head over to Easy Peasy All Family Sizes Free Double Crochet Beanie Patterns to select the size of the free pattern you want for your project.

Hat Base: using black yarn

Use Easy Peasy Crochet Beanie Size of your choice

Once you have completed your beanie for the base you are ready to transform your beanie into a Pingu the penguin hat. 🙂

Hat Trim: using orange contrast color yarn
Attach orange yarn to last round worked in beanie where you left off with a sl st in to the st.  Ch 1 before placing 1 sc in 1st st and each of the st around. Sl st in the top of the 1st st in round. Fasten off.

Beak back (*optional*): using orange yarn
Round 1: In a magic circle, ch 2 before placing the following st in to the circle in this order: (1 hdc, 4 sc, 3 hdc, 4 sc, 2 hdc). Pull ovalish circle closed and sl st in the top of the 1st st in round. (14 st total)
Round 2: Ch 2 before placing 2 hdc in 1st st, 1 hdc in each of the following 4 st, 2 hdc in each of the next 3 st, 1 hdc in each of the next 4 st and 2 hdc in each of the remaining 2 st. Sl st in the top of the 1st st in round. (20 hdc)
Round 3: Ch 2 before placing 1 hdc in 1st st, 1 hdc in each of the following 4 st, *2 hdc in 1st st, 1 hdc in next st* repeating two more times, place 1 hdc in each of the following 4 st, repeat * twice and place 2 hdc in the last remaining st. Sl st in the top of the 1st st in round. (26 hdc)
Fasten off and place to side until needed in assembly.

The above feature size works well on toddler to adult male sized hats.  For smaller features on toddler hat and all infant sized hats, use the following instructions instead:
Round 1: In a magic circle, ch 2 before placing the following st in to the circle in this order: (1 hdc, 4 sc, 3 hdc, 4 sc, 2 hdc). Pull ovalish circle closed and sl st in the top of the 1st st in round. (14 st total)
Round 2: Ch 2 before placing 2 hdc in 1st st, 1 hdc in each of the following 4 st, 2 hdc in each of the next 3 st, 1 hdc in each of the next 4 st and 2 hdc in each of the remaining 2 st. Sl st in the top of the 1st stin round. (20 st total)
Fasten off and place to side until needed in assembly.

Beak: using orange yarn
Round 1: In a magic circle, ch 2 before placing the following st in to the circle in this order: (1 hdc, 4 sc, 3 hdc, 4 sc, 2 hdc). Pull ovalish circle closed and sl st in the top of the 1st st in round. (14 st total)
Round 2: Ch 2 before placing 2 hdc in 1st st, 1 hdc in each of the following 4 st, 2 hdc in each of the next 3 st, 1 hdc in each of the next 4 st and 2 hdc in each of the remaining 2 st. Sl st in the top of the 1st st in round. (20 st total)
Round 3: Ch 2 before placing 1 hdc in 1st st, 1 hdc in each of the following 4 st, *2 hdc in 1st st, 1 hdc in next st* repeating two more times, place 1 hdc in each of the following 4 st, repeat * twice and place 2 hdc in the last remaining st. Sl st in the top of the 1st st in round. (26 hdc)
Round 4: Ch 2 before placing 1 hdc in 1st st and 1 hdc in each of the following 25 st around. Sl st in the top of the 1st st in round (26 hdc)
Round 5: Ch 1 before placing 1 sc in 1st st and 1 sc in each of the following 25 st around. Sl st in the top of the 1st st in round. (26 sc)
Leave a long enough of yarn tail to be able to secure your beak in place on beanie hat during assembly and attach the beak back if you chose that optional step above. Cut yarn and pull through last loop. Place this piece to the side until needed in assembly.

The above feature size works well on toddler to adult male sized hats.  For smaller features on toddler hat and all infant sized hats, use the following instructions instead:
Round 1: In a magic circle, ch 2 before placing the following st in to the circle in this order: (1 hdc, 4 sc, 3 hdc, 4 sc, 2 hdc). Pull ovalish circle closed and sl st in the top of the 1st st in round. (14 st total)
Round 2: Ch 2 before placing 2 hdc in 1st st, 1 hdc in each of the following 4 st, 2 hdc in each of the next 3 st, 1 hdc in each of the next 4 st and 2 hdc in each of the remaining 2 st. Sl st in the top of the 1st st in round. (20 hdc)
Round 3-4: Ch 1 before placing 1 sc in 1st st and 1 sc in each of the following 19 st around. Sl st in the top of the 1st st in round. (20 sc)
Leave a long enough of yarn tail to be able to secure your beak in place on beanie hat during assembly and attach the beak back if you chose that optional step above. Cut yarn and pull through last loop. Place this piece to the side until needed in assembly.

Eye Whites (Make 2): using white yarn
Round 1: In a magic circle, ch 2 before placing 10 hdc in to the circle. Pull circle tightly closed and sl st in the top of the 1st st in round. (10 hdc )
Round 2: Ch 1 before placing 2 sc in 1st st and 2 sc in each of the following 9 st around. Sl st in the top of the 1st st in round. (20 sc)
Before cutting yarn, make sure you leave a long enough yarn tail to be able to secure the eye white on to the beanie hat during the assembly process. Once length left, cut yarn and pull through last loop on hook. Place to side until needed.
Repeat process for second eye white.

The above feature size works well on toddler to adult male sized hats.  For smaller features on toddler hat and all infant sized hats, use the following instructions instead:
Round 1: In a magic circle, ch 2 before placing 8 hdc in to the circle. Pull circle tightly closed and sl st in the top of the 1st st in round. (8 hdc )
Before cutting yarn, make sure you leave a long enough yarn tail to be able to secure the eye white on to the beanie hat during the assembly process. Once length left, cut yarn and pull through last loop on hook. Place to side until needed.
Repeat process for second eye white.

Eye Pupils (Make 2): using black yarn
Round 1: In a magic circle, ch 2 before placing 8 hdc in to the circle. Pull circle tightly closed and sl st in the top of the 1st st in round. (8 hdc )
Leave a long enough of yarn tail to be able to secure the eye pupils on to the eye white during assembly before cutting yarn and pulling through last loop on hook. Place the finished eye pupil to the side until needed in assembly steps below.
Repeat process for second eye pupil.

The above feature size works well on toddler to adult male sized hats.  For smaller features on toddler hat and all infant sized hats, use the following instructions instead:
Round 1: In a magic circle, ch 1 before placing 6 sc in to the circle. Pull circle tightly closed and sl st in the top of the 1st st in round. (6 sc )
Leave a long enough of yarn tail to be able to secure the eye pupils on to the eye white during assembly before cutting yarn and pulling through last loop on hook. Place the finished eye pupil to the side until needed in assembly steps below.
Repeat process for second eye pupil.

Eye Assembly (Make 2): requires two completed eye whites and two eye pupils
Taking the yarn tail left on one eye pupil  use your yarn needle to sew it in desired location over one eye white.  You can reference my pictures to see how I placed mine if you need guidance on this.  Once the the eye pupil is securely in place where you desire it, pull the yarn to the back side of the eye white and fasten off.  Repeat for second eye pupil and eye white.  You should still have one long white yarn tail left on each eye, do not cut this off as it will be used in following finishing steps and hat assembly.

Finishing steps and assembly:
The following steps require these completed hat features:
1- finished beanie
1- beak back (optional)
1- beak piece
2- eye whites
2- eye pupils
Now that you have finished making the pieces for this hat you are ready to assemble it into your own Pingu hat!
Starting with the beak piece and beak back to assemble (Note: if decided to skip this optional piece, skip to next step).
Line up the beak back so that it will cover the opening on your beak piece stitch to stitch. Using the yarn tail left on your beak piece, use your yarn needle to sew them together.  You want to stop 2/3 to 3/4 of the way around to lightly stuff the beak piece with the fiberfill (or desired stuffing of your choice) before closing it completely. When you reach desired amount you might want to take out a little bit more due to the rounded shape hat takes when worn.
If you chose to skip the beak back part, just stuff beak piece as you sew it directly on to the hat.You want to stop 2/3 to 3/4 of the way around to lightly stuff the beak with the fiberfill (or desired stuffing of your choice) before closing it completely.
Once you have done first step of beak piece, use the remaining yarn tail and yarn needle to sew the assembled beak in the desired location on hat. I choose to center mine slightly above the bottom of the hat.  When beak is securely in place, pull yarn to the inside of the hat.  On features that stand out on hats I tend to run another quick set of knots or stitches on the inside of the hat to reinforce the joining but it isn’t required. (Yes I’m paranoid of unraveling projects..)   After doing that, fasten off.
Next up, take the yarn tail left on one assembled eye and use the yarn needle to sew the eye in place on the face just above the attached beak. You can reference my pictures to see how I placed it on my hat if you want some guidance on that.  When your eye is securely in place bring yarn to the inside of the hat and fasten off. Repeat process for second eye.
Now take the time to look over your finished hat to make sure you didn’t miss any loose ends, yarn tails etc.  If you find any, go ahead and fasten them off now.  That’s it. All done!
I hope you enjoyed this pattern, if you have any questions please let meknow. Happy crafting! 🙂

Here are some additional pictures I have taken to show how this Pingu the Penguin hat looks worn once it is completed from different angles:

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