About This Reversible Octo Mood Hat Pattern
This pattern teaches you how to crochet a reversible octopus mood hat by making two separate hat bases and joining them together. The design features a ruffled brim and simple embroidered face details to create different expressions. It uses worsted/8ply yarn, a 4mm hook, and requires minimal sewing for finishing. Perfect for creating playful wearable gifts or a fun personal accessory.
Two contrasting hat bases are worked from the top down, then joined with a third colour for the brim edge. Face details are embroidered before joining to keep construction neat.
Why You'll Love This Reversible Octo Mood Hat Pattern
I absolutely love this pattern because it turns a simple hat into a playful reversible character that can change mood with a quick flip. I enjoy how the ruffled brim adds personality while staying easy to crochet. The construction is clever — you make two identical bases and join them to create a finished, no-sew reversible hat. I also love that the pattern encourages creativity with colours and facial expressions, so each hat feels unique and handmade.
Switch Things Up
I love how easily you can customise this pattern by changing colours — try neon and pastel combinations for a bold statement or soft muted tones for a subtle look.
You can make the hat larger or smaller by changing yarn weight and hook size; a bulky yarn with a bigger hook gives a chunkier, warmer hat while a finer yarn and smaller hook creates a delicate mini version.
I sometimes add little felt accessories or tiny crochet bows to the brim for extra personality — these are stitched on after joining the hats.
Experiment with eye placement and mouth shapes to create totally different moods; moving pupils slightly changes the expression dramatically.
I recommend trying a yarn with a bit of halo or texture for a fluffier finish, or a smooth acrylic for crisp stitches and embroidery contrast.
For a child-sized hat, omit increases between rounds 6-8 and check fit as you go; you can always add or remove increases to tweak circumference.
I also like adding a lining by crocheting a simple band and sewing it inside for extra warmth and structure.
To create a keyring or mini ornament, use fingering yarn and a 2.5mm hook to make a tiny octo mood charm instead of a hat.
Play with the joining colour: using a contrasting third colour for the brim edge really makes the ruffles pop and gives a professional finish.
I often embroider eyelashes or freckles around the eyes for more character — just use a few small stitches to keep it subtle and secure.
Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them
✗ Skipping stitch markers when joining the two brims can cause misaligned edges; place a stitch marker to join the brims and check alignment before crocheting the joining row.
✗ Forgetting that each row starts with ch2 can change the stitch count unexpectedly; always chain 2 at the start of each row and count it as your first dc stitch.
✗ Working with loose tension makes the hat floppy and uneven; maintain medium to tight tension throughout to keep the brim and ruffles defined.
✗ Not embroidering the face before joining can make placement difficult; stitch eyes and mouth onto one hat base before joining the two bases together for accurate placement.
