I Went to the Zoo – Animal Beanie Pattern
Kate Fox(Dress Ups, Book Week, and Everyday Fun)
This animal beanie pattern came about for a very simple reason.
My kids love dress ups.
And they love it even more when my husband and I join in.
Hats are the one thing everyone will actually keep on, and once I realised that, animal beanies became a bit of a staple in our house.
Why It’s Called I Went to the Zoo
The name I Went to the Zoo is a little shout out to a book my kids loved and still love.
If you’ve ever read Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell, you’ll get it straight away.
That book was on repeat in our house for years, and part of the magic was the curiosity. Opening the crate and wondering which animal would appear next.
That’s exactly the feeling I wanted this pattern to have.
With this beanie, you can make almost any animal you’d see at the zoo. By changing colours and choosing different ear styles, the same base pattern turns into something completely new every time.
Made for Babies, Kids, and Grown Ups Too
One of the most important things for me when designing this pattern was flexibility.
The I Went to the Zoo Animal Beanie pattern includes sizes from baby through to adult, so:
- siblings can match
- parents can join in
- and the pattern keeps working as kids grow
It’s a practical pattern that earns its place in your pattern library.
Size Help (Real Life Fit, Not Just Numbers)
I wanted the sizing to be forgiving, because hats get shared and kids grow fast.
Here’s the simple breakdown:
| Size | General Fit |
|---|---|
| Small | Baby |
| Medium | Toddler to youth |
| Large | Adult |
Now for the real-life part.
You can see in my photo of my bunny slash elephant beanie (the kids change its animal all the time). It’s a large and fits me comfortably.
My toddler wore that exact same beanie for a whole winter. We just rolled the brim and it worked perfectly.
That flexibility is intentional.
If you’re unsure which size to make, sizing up and rolling the brim is always a safe option. It gives you more wear and takes the pressure off choosing the “perfect” size.
Why This Became My Go-To for Dress Up Days
Daycare dress up days and Book Week sounded fun in theory, but in practice:
- costumes came off
- accessories went missing
- and pieces were lost before we even left the house
With an animal beanie, I could dress my kids in whatever they felt comfy in, pop a hat on, and be done.
No scratchy outfits.
No tears.
No hunting for missing costume pieces.
It made dress up days feel manageable instead of overwhelming.
One Pattern, So Many Animals
My kids are obsessed with animals, so versatility was non-negotiable.
The pattern includes three ear styles, and by changing colours you can create hundreds of animal options.
Round Ears
- mouse
- bear
- sheep
- koala
- panda
- monkey
- hamster
Pointy Ears
- dog
- cat
- fox
- wolf
- bat
- raccoon
- fennec fox
Long Floppy Ears
- bunny
- elephant
- spaniel-style dog
- donkey
- lamb
- lop-eared rabbit
- floppy-eared puppy
Once you have the base beanie and ear styles, it becomes a really easy pattern to reuse for different kids and occasions.
Designed to Be Beginner Friendly (With Lots of Visual Support)
This knitting machine pattern is designed for use with a circular knitting machine, and I’ve put a lot of effort into making it approachable even if you’re still learning.
Included in the pattern:
- clear written instructions
- step-by-step photos
- graphs for visual learners
- extra notes where people usually get stuck
I’ve also added video support so you’re not relying on written instructions alone.
Helpful Video Tutorials
Using the knitting machine in flat mode:
https://youtu.be/pNPiepwpgQk?si=jn0ncouUcfVklQeqAN
Construction and finishing support:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l09L4WMWc10
You can watch, pause, rewind, and follow along at your own pace.
Where to Get the Pattern
You can find the I Went to the Zoo – Animal Beanie Pattern here:
https://tallfoxes.com.au/products/circular-knitting-machine-pattern-animal-beanie-visual-instructions-addi-beanie-sentro-beanie-pattern-for-kids-bear-beanie-for-baby
The pattern includes:
- baby to adult sizing
- three ear styles
- visual instructions and graphs
- and lots of beginner-friendly support
Perfect For So Many Occasions
This pattern gets pulled out again and again.
It’s perfect for:
- Book Week
- Easter gifts
- costume boxes
- Halloween
- everyday winter wear
Because it’s practical as well as fun, it doesn’t get worn once and forgotten. If you want a pattern that works for real family life and not just photos, this one fits beautifully.
TL/DR
I Went to the Zoo is an animal beanie pattern inspired by kids’ love of animals and stories like Dear Zoo.
With baby to adult sizing, flexible fits that work across ages, and three ear styles, you can create endless animal options for dress ups, Book Week, Easter, Halloween, and everyday wear.
If you’re unsure on size, sizing up and rolling the brim is a tried and tested option that gives you more wear and less stress.