Hexagon Snow Crown Collar Free Crochet Pattern for Cats

Hexagon Snow Crown Collar: A Free Crochet Pattern for Cats

Introduction

If you have ever wanted to make something adorable with your own two hands but felt nervous about starting, this Hexagon Snow Crown Collar is the perfect first project for you. It is a tiny, cozy collar worked in soft bulky wool that slips over your cat's head like a little frosted crown, with a bright orange scalloped edging that looks like ten tiny snowflakes standing at attention. The finished piece is about 10 inches around and less than 2 inches tall, so it works up quickly in an evening or two, and the dense single crochet fabric feels warm, flexible, and gently fuzzy against fur. You only need two colors of yarn and one hook, and by the end you will have a handmade treasure your cat can wear (supervised, of course) and that you will be proud to show off.

Materials Needed

• Yarn A (body): Bulky weight (weight 5) wool yarn in Cobalt — approximately 45 yd / 41 m.
• Yarn B (edging): Bulky weight (weight 5) wool yarn in Bright Orange — approximately 20 yd / 18 m.
• Crochet hook: 6.0 mm (US size J-10), or whatever size you need to match the gauge below.
• Stitch marker (one is enough, but a few are handy).
• Tapestry needle (a large, blunt-tipped needle with a big eye for weaving in yarn ends).
• Scissors for cutting yarn.
• Measuring tape to check your cat's neck and your gauge.
• Finished size: Neck circumference approx 10 in / 25 cm, height approx 1.75 in / 4.5 cm. This fits most adult cats. Measure your cat's neck first, and adjust the starting chain in multiples of 6 for a custom fit.

Abbreviations and Beginner Glossary

Every abbreviation used in this pattern is listed here with a plain-English explanation. Read through this once before you begin — no prior knowledge is assumed!

• ch – chain. Make a loop of yarn on your hook, then wrap the yarn over the hook and pull it through the loop. That is one chain. Chains look like tiny braided V shapes.
• sl st – slip stitch. Insert your hook into the stitch, wrap yarn over the hook, and pull that loop straight through both the stitch and the loop on your hook. It makes a nearly invisible joining stitch.
• sc – single crochet. Insert hook into the stitch, wrap yarn over, pull up a loop (you now have 2 loops on the hook), wrap yarn over again, and pull through both loops. One single crochet made.
• hdc – half double crochet. Wrap yarn over the hook first, insert hook into the stitch, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), wrap yarn over, pull through all 3 loops at once. (Listed here for reference; not used in this pattern.)
• dc – double crochet. Wrap yarn over the hook, insert hook into the stitch, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), wrap yarn over and pull through 2 loops, wrap yarn over and pull through the last 2 loops. Makes a taller stitch.
• tr – treble crochet. Wrap yarn over the hook twice, insert hook into the stitch, pull up a loop (4 loops on hook), then wrap and pull through 2 loops three times. Makes the tallest stitch in this pattern — these are the points of the snowflake crown.
• st / sts – stitch / stitches.
• sp – space. A gap in the fabric, usually under a chain.
• ch-2 sp – chain-2 space. The little gap made by working two chains in a row.
• beg – beginning.
• rnd – round. One complete circle of stitches worked around the ring.
• rep – repeat. Do the instructions again.
• fasten off – cut the yarn a few inches from your work, then pull the tail all the way through the last loop to lock it.
• weave in ends – thread a yarn tail onto a tapestry needle and sew it back and forth through the fabric so it disappears and cannot unravel.

Gauge

Gauge: 12 single crochet stitches x 13 rounds = 4 in / 10 cm in single crochet worked in the round.

Why gauge matters: Gauge is how big your stitches turn out. If your stitches are bigger than the pattern's, the collar will be too loose and may slip off your cat; if they are smaller, it may be too snug. Checking first saves you from redoing the whole project.

How to make a gauge swatch: With your 6.0 mm hook and Cobalt yarn, chain 14. Work 1 sc in the second chain from the hook and in each chain across (13 sc). Work 14 rows of sc, turning at the end of each row. Lay the swatch flat and measure a 4 in / 10 cm section in the middle. Count how many stitches fit across 4 inches and how many rows fit in 4 inches. If you have more stitches than 12, try a larger hook; if fewer, try a smaller hook. The collar is small, so a swatch of a few rows is enough to tell you if you are close.

Beginner Tips Before You Start

• Do not pull the yarn too tight. Keep your loops relaxed and even. Tight stitches make a stiff, small collar that is hard to work into on the next round.
• Use a stitch marker. Place it in the first stitch of each round so you always know where the round begins and ends. Move it up as you go.
• Watch the twist. When you join your starting chain into a ring, make sure the chain lies flat and is not twisted, or the collar will have a permanent kink.
• Count your stitches every round. You should always have 60 single crochet in the body. Counting takes ten seconds and catches mistakes early.
• Keep your tension loose on the treble crochets. The tall orange points look best when they stand up softly rather than being yanked tight.
• Try it on as you go. After Round 4, slip the ring over your cat's head (gently, while they are calm) to check the fit before you add the edging.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Notes: The collar is worked in joined rounds — you do not turn your work at the end of each round. The body is Cobalt (A); the crown edging is Bright Orange (B). The hexagon snowflake motif is a 6-pointed scallop repeated 10 times around the top edge (60 stitches total, 6 stitches per motif). All stitches are US terms.

Body (Cobalt A)

Rnd 1: Ch 60, being careful not to twist the chain, join with sl st to the first ch to form a ring. Ch 1, sc in each ch around, join with sl st to the first sc. (60 sc)

Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join with sl st to the first sc. (60 sc)

Rnd 3: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join with sl st to the first sc. (60 sc)

Rnd 4: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join with sl st to the first sc. (60 sc)

Fasten off A and weave in the ends.

Crown Edging (Orange B)

Join B with a sl st in any stitch of Round 4.

Rnd 5 (hexagon snowflake scallops): *Ch 2, dc in the same st, tr in the next st, ch 2, sl st in the next st, sc in the next st, sl st in the next st, tr in the next st, dc in the next st, ch 2, sl st in the next st; rep from * around, ending with a sl st in the first st of the round. (10 hexagon motifs, each 6 sts wide — 60 sts used)

Fasten off B and weave in the ends.

Optional Safety Tab (recommended for cats)

Work a 2 in / 5 cm length of sc in A (chain 8, then sc in the second chain from the hook and in each chain across — 7 sc). Fold it in half and sew it to the inside back of the collar as a breakaway tab. Alternatively, attach a small elastic loop and button closure instead of relying on a solid ring.

Assembly and Finishing

Weaving in ends: Thread each yarn tail onto your tapestry needle. Turn the collar inside out and sew the tail back and forth through the inside of several stitches (about 1 inch / 2.5 cm), then change direction and sew back through a few more stitches. Trim the yarn close to the fabric. Never tie a knot — knots work loose and feel lumpy.

Blocking: Lightly steam-block the collar to open up the scallops. Pin the collar flat on a towel or blocking mat, gently stretch each orange point into shape with your fingers, and hold a steam iron a few inches above the fabric (do not press the iron directly onto the wool). Let it cool and dry completely before removing the pins. This helps the crown points stand up softly.

Fitting: Slip the collar over your cat's head. It should sit comfortably with room for two fingers underneath. Always supervise your cat while they wear the collar, and remove it for sleeping and when you are not watching.

Pro Tips and Variations

• Change the colors: Swap Cobalt and Orange for any two bulky wool colors — a snowy white body with icy blue edging makes a wintery crown, or try deep green with gold for a festive look.
• Adjust the size: For a smaller or larger cat, change the starting chain in multiples of 6 (for example, 54 chains for a smaller cat or 66 for a larger one). Each 6 chains adds one more snowflake motif around the edge.
• Substitute yarn: Any bulky (weight 5) yarn will work, but wool gives the warmest, fuzziest result. If you use a smooth acrylic, check your gauge again, since the fabric may stretch differently.
• Make it a matching set: Work the same pattern in a smaller multiple of 6 for a tiny matching collar for a kitten, or use the leftover yarn to make a small hexagon snowflake ornament for your tree.