There is a new baby boy in the extended family which means it is time to get back to some crocheting so that I'll have a handmade gift when we travel a few hours away for the Bris! I have been known to crochet gifts while in the car on the way to visit the new baby, but this time I figured I'd get a bit of a head start so that I can properly wrap the gift, rather than fumbling with paper in the car!
For starters I wanted to make a quick little baby hat, and came up with this very sweet bonnet which is my version of a bonnet by a blogger, who based her pattern on the original bonnet pattern here. No guarantees that my pattern is perfect, but hopefully the pattern is getting more user friendly as is gets passed on! Though I must admit, the original is truly gorgeous.
And of course, you can make this bonnet all in one color, or multicolored as I've done, which I think looks just perfect for this time of year. My only question is whether in fact this would look silly on a boy, hmm. I guess I'm just going to have to try out some more patterns!
I adapted the pattern so that it really frames the face, and since there are no small babies around here I used this life-size newborn doll as my model......believe it or not this was actually my doll as a child, thanks mom for saving it!
As you can see my model has a rather flat head, but it seems like this pattern would fit on a variety of heads and always better to err on the large size of course. In any case this is a quick one, so if the recipient's head turns out to be bigger than your creation, so crochet with a larger hook and/or thicker yarn and make a bigger hat using the same pattern. And if your really adventurous, you could turn this pattern into a toddler pattern as well, as this little bonnet would be super cute on any age!
Ah yes, and here is what the back looks like, which is why I opted to use a few colors to really enhance the pattern, of course that is up to you. All one color looks very elegant, while this is the sporty alpine version!
1 Hour Lacy Crocheted Baby Bonnet Pattern:
Note: This pattern is based on a pattern that I saw here, though the original idea came from the fabulous crochet latte (where you'll also find some more gorgeous patterns.) Do look at their results to see how the bonnet looks in a solid color, and you may even prefer their patterns, though based on comments there were many queries regarding the pattern.
Hook And Yarn Specifications:
Light Weight Yarn: sorry don't have my yarn wrappers, will try to add this info soon
Medium Weight Yarn: 198g/333m or 7oz/364 yards
Preemie: Use 4.25mm hook and light weight yarn, omit rows 9 and 13
0-3 months: Use H/8 (5mm) hook, light weight yarn, omit rows 9 and 13
3-6 months: Use H/8 (5mm) hook, medium weight yarn, omit rows 9 and 13, BUT if hat is looking too small, you can add row 9.
6 months-1year: Use H/8 (5mm) hook, medium weight yarn, follow complete pattern. This hat is considerably larger than the 0-3 months, and will take 1 1/2 to 2 hours to complete.
1 year plus: Use (6mm) hook, medium weight yarn, follow complete pattern. Repeat row 13 to make a larger bonnet if necessary.
This pattern uses US crochet terms.
Puff stitch: *Yarn over, insert hook into stitch, yarn over, pull back through stitch, yarn over and pull through 2 loops and bring yarn up to height of rest of stitches* Repeat three times more. Yarn over and pull through all loops on hook. If you want your stitch to puff more, make 5dcs in each cluster. (I'll try that on the next hat I make)
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Using color A: Ch 4 and join with a slip stitch.
R1: Using color A: 12 sc into circle. Join with sl st to first sc.
R2: Using color A: Ch3, and make puff stitch with 3 dcs into same stitch. ch 2. *puff st in next sc. ch 2* repeat 10 more times. Join with a sl st to 2nd ch at beginning (12 puff sts formed) Break off yarn.
R3: Using color B: Attach yarn, ch1. 1 sc in top of each cluster. 2 sc in each 2 ch space. Join with a sl st to first sc. (36 sts) Break off yarn.
R4: Using color C: Attach yarn, ch 5 (counts as 1 dc and 2 ch ) dc in same space. *skip next 2 sc. dc, ch2, dc in same sc* (to form a V stitch) repeat all the way around. Join with a sl st in 3rd ch of beginning ch. (12 V sts formed) Break off yarn.
R5: Using color A: Attach yarn. ch 3. 4 dc in each 2 ch space (ch 3 counts as your first dc). Join with a sl st to top of beginning ch. (12 fans formed) Break off yarn.
R6: Using color B: Attach yarn. Ch 3. Dc in each of the next 36 sts. (37 total, as ch 3 counts as your first dc) Leave remaining 11 sts. Break off yarn.
R7: Using color C. Attach yarn on right side of work, at the beginning of previous row, ch 4 (counts as 1 dc and 1 ch) dc into same st. *skip next 2 dc. 5 dc in next dc. Skip next 2 dc. 1 dc, ch 2, 1 dc in next dc* repeat to end. Break off yarn. (At this point you could turn and work round 8, but I prefer to keep the whole bonnet with work on the right side.)
R8: Using color C: Attach yarn on right side of work, at the beginning of previous row. Ch 3, 2 dc in 2ch space. *skip next 2 dc. 1 dc, ch 2, 1 dc in next dc (middle of shell from previous row). Skip next 3dc. 5 dc in next 2 ch space* repeat until end, placing 3 dc in last 2ch space at end of row. Break off yarn.
Note: For a larger size bonnet, say 3-6 months (possibly) include Row 9, for a smaller bonnet, like the one shown here, skip R9 and proceed to R10.
R9: Using color C: Attach yarn on right side of work, at the beginning of previous row. Ch 4, dc in same space. *skip next 3 dc. 5 dc in next 2 ch space. Skip next 2 dc. 1 dc, ch 2, 1 dc in next dc (middle of shell from previous row)* repeat to end, making 3dc in space before last stitch. Break off yarn.
R10: Using color C:Attach yarn on right side of work, at the beginning of previous row. Ch2, hdc in each stitch to end. Turn.
R11: ch 2, hdc across, decreasing by crocheting 2 hdcs together above the middle of every v stitch from round 9, for a total of 6 decreases. This helps to make the cap fit more snugly around the face. If necessary you can decrease even more. Turn.
R12: Ch2, hdc in each stitch to end. Turn. For smaller size Break off yarn.
For smaller size, omit R13 and proceed to R14.
R13: Ch2, hdc in each stitch to end. Break off yarn.
In the following rows we will make ties and crochet an edging along the back.
R14: Hold bonnet with back medallion facing you, and upside down. Attach yarn color B into last stitch of row 12, which is the right hand corner of the bonnet when held as instructed. ch 45, Turn.
R15: Sc into each chain to make first tie. When you reach the corner or bonnet, sc into end of each row, and then into each of the 11 dcs, and then again into the end of each row. You should have made 23 sc stitches along the edge of the bonnet. Make sure that the stitches are evenly spaced for a nice finished look. Now sc 45. Turn.
R16: Sc into each chain of the tie, try to crochet as tightly as you can (or even switch to a smaller hook size) so that the ties will curl, which looks great! When you reach the end of the tie, sl st into corner and break off yarn.
Weave in the ends, and a super sweet little baby gift is born! Enjoy and I hope this pattern is understandable. I'm going to make another bonnet right now to check the pattern, but other than that please excuse any inaccuracies as I am not a professional pattern writer.
