Vintage-Style Baby Bonnet (Free Pattern)

Posted by CraftFoxes Staff on May 30, 2011

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Who wouldn’t adore a sweet little classic baby bonnet modernized by simple detailing and yummy cashmere-merino-silk light grey yarn? It's a bit of luxury for today’s baby, writes Hadley Fierlinger in Vintage Knits for Modern Babies (Ten Speed Press).

Not sure how to get started knitting? Watch the best free videos to learn knitting.

EXPERT LEVEL
Beginner / intermediate

Sizes
0–3 (3–6, 6–12) months

Finished Measurements
Height: 6" (6", 7") (15 [16.5, 18] cm)

Materials
1 (1, 1) 50 g ball Sublime Baby Cashmere Merino Silk DK (75% extra-fine merino wool, 20% silk, 5% cashmere; 127 yds [116 m]) in #02 Cuddle

US 6 (4 mm) straight needles

Yarn needle for finishing and attaching button

1 (1.5 cm) button

GAUGE
22 sts and 28 rows make 4" (10 cm) in St st pattern

For more vintage-style knits, buy the book Vintage Knits for Modern Babies

Also: Vintage Baby Knits: More Than 40 Heirloom Patterns from the 1920s to the 1950s

Step 1

Zoom Image

DIRECTIONS

CAP

CO 68 (72, 76) sts.
Rows 1–6: *K1, p1; rep from * to end.
Row 7 (RS): *K2, p2; rep from * to end.
Row 8 (WS): *K2, p2; rep from * to end.
Row 9: *P2, k2; rep from * to end.
Row 10: *P2, k2; rep from * to end.
Rep Rows 7–10 until work measures 4" (4_", 5") (10 [12, 13) cm] from beg, ending with a WS row, and inc 4 (2, 0) sts evenly across last row—72 (74, 76) sts.

Step 2

Zoom Image

BACK SHAPING

Row 1 (RS): K0 (1, 2), *sl2k, k14, k2tog; rep from * 3 times, k0 (1, 2)—64 (66, 68) sts.
Row 2 and all even rows (WS): Purl.
Row 3: K0 (1, 2), *sl2k, k12, k2tog; rep from * 3 times, k0 (1, 2)—56 (58, 60) sts.
Row 5: K0 (1, 2), *sl2k, k10, k2tog; rep from * 3 times, k0 (1, 2)—48 (50, 52) sts.
Row 7: K0 (1, 2), *sl2k, k8, k2tog; rep from * 3 times, k0 (1, 2)—40 (42, 44) sts.
Row 9: K0 (1, 2), *sl2k, k6, k2tog; rep from * 3 times, k0 (1, 2)—32 (34, 36) sts.
Row 11: K0 (1, 2), *sl2k, k4, k2tog; rep from * 3 times, k0 (1, 2)—24 (26, 28) sts.
Row 13: K0 (1, 2), *sl2k, k2, k2tog; rep from * 3 times, k0 (1, 2)—16 (18, 20) sts.
Row 15: *K2tog; rep from * to end—8 (9, 10) sts.
Break yarn, thread through rem sts, pull tight, and fasten off.

Step 3

BAND

CO 9 sts.
Row 1: *K1, p1; rep from * to last st, k1.
Row 2: *P1, k1; rep from * to last st, p1.
Rep Rows 1–2 until band measures 11" (12", 12") (29 [30.5, 32) cm]).
Next row (buttonhole): Rib 4, yo, k2tog, rib to end.
Next 3 rows: Cont in rib, and k2tog at beg and end of row—3 sts.
Work 1 row in rib.
K3tog. Fasten off.

Step 4

FINISHING

Stitch back seam of cap together. Attach band around base of cap, leaving buttonhole end 2" (5 cm) of band free at right front. Sew button on cap. Weave in ends.

Step 5

Zoom Image

Reprinted with permission from "Vintage Knits for Modern Babies" (Ten Speed Press) by Hadley Fierlinger with photos by Angela Lang.

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Responses

(15 comments) Sort by:

Sep 20, 2019 by

BACK SHAPING

Row 1 (RS): K0 (1, 2), *sl2k, k14, k2tog; rep from * 3 times, k0 (1, 2)—64 (66, 68) sts.
What is the meaning of K0(1,2)? I am doing size 6-12 minths. I am stuck here please help. Thank you.

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- Jan 16, 2022 by
  
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  craftygirl, just in case you would still like clarity - K0 is essentially a skip, it means do nothing in that size but for the next size up knit 1, and the next size up k2. the decrease (shaping) rows begin with the ssk and end with k2tog. The key is the increase of 4 in the last round of the CAP so that you end up with 72 sts as you decrease - I don't know why in the posts below the pattern was presumed to not work out by stitch count. The smallest size with a count of 68, then up to 72 then back down to 8 works exactly as it should. I agree with thebestgg, it works perfectly! :) Happy knitting!
Feb 01, 2019 by

I just finished this awesome little hat. I made the 3 - 6 month size. The pattern is perfect. No problem at all!!! After reading the many, many comments about the "math not adding up", I must say I was a little leary about moving forward with this pattern. I followed the pattern to a T and found it very easy to work. Everything came out perfectly!!
Thanks for this pattern. My new little Great Grandson will look adorable in it.

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Dec 14, 2017 by

I couldn't make the math add up either. Here's what I did instead:

CO 60
K1 P1 rib for one inch
Seed stitch until entire piece measures 4 inches from beginning

Shaping back:
Row 1: *ssK, knit 11, k2tog, repeat from *
Row 2 and all even rows: purl
Row 3: *ssK, knit 9, k2tog, repeat from *
Row 5: *ssK, knit 7, k2tog, repeat from *
Row 7: *ssK, knit 5, k2tog, repeat from *
Row 9: *ssK, knit 3, k2tog, repeat from *
Row 11: *ssK, knit 1, k2tog, repeat from *
Row 13: knit two together six times, cut yarn and thread remaining stitches through

Sew up seam

Alternatively, you can also knit this on round needles, knitting it straight for the first part and then joining in the round for shaping the back. Then you don't have to sew up the seam.

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- Apr 12, 2018 by dk
  
  dk Rate this comment 0 0 | Report
  Thank you acastro!! This math worked out great. I did the original pattern rather than seedstich and it worked out lovely.
Jul 24, 2017 by

I'm making the 0-3 months size. I'm on the back shaping. I've read the comments, but I can't make the math add up.

sl2k (ssk which is slip 2 and knit together =1 stitch)
K 14 (= 14 stitches)
K2tog (knit 2 together = 1 stitch)
Total = 16 stitches
Do this 3 times = (16 x 3) 48 stitches on your needle NOT 64.

You start with 72 stitches. 72-64 = 8 stitches decreased. If you want me to decrease by repeating a pattern 3 times the math does not add up. You cannot divide 8 by 3 equally. The pattern decreases by 2 stitches 3 times across your needle (6 stitches, not 8)

What am I missing? The pattern clearly says to not knit the first stitch or last (k0). So I only see ssk (decrease 1), k14, k2tog (decrease 1) and repeat this three times.

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- Jul 24, 2017 by
  
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  I've even confused myself because if you count the stitches there are 16 in the "pattern" and you repeat 3 times = 48 stitches, but we're only decreasing by 2 stitches in the pattern. 2x3 = 6. Start with 72 - 6 = 66, not 48.
- Jul 24, 2017 by
  
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  Oh geez. I get it now. I wish I could delete my comments! Work the pattern (ssk, k14, k2tog), that equals 1. Then work it 3 more times. 4 times total. So 16x4 does equal 64. Wow. My brain had to work way too hard for that. I must need sleep.
Feb 02, 2017 by jusden13

jusden13
Très joli modèle, je viens de le terminer et le résultat est super Merci
J'ai mis une photo sur Facebook avec un lien vers votre blog

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Jan 01, 2017 by

Oops- ignore my comment, i missed the step to increase stitches!

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Jan 01, 2017 by

I have tried recounting this pattern every way possible that I can think of for the back shaping-if anyone has any tips I would love them. I am working on newborn size- from the suggestions below, I am doing the first row*ssk, k14, k2tog* repeat 3 more times till end (this means that I am ssk and k2tog back to back). With 68 stitches, the math just doesn't add up. Would love some help!!

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- Oct 07, 2021 by
  
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  Firstly, the 1st row for newborn is" ssk, k12, k2tog not ssk, k14, k2tog ". The other thing is that once you have knit this sequence then you rep it 3 more times which means you are knitting it a total of 4 times not 3 times. Hope this helps
Oct 02, 2015 by izzythecake

izzythecake
I figured out a way to make the math work on the back shaping. I made the 0-3 months size. I did sl2k1po but for the knit one i created a stitch. So pass two stitches over knit wise, create/add stitch and knit it and then pass the two slipped stitches over the knitted one and voila, worked out great and looks like the picture.

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Feb 15, 2015 by codsallchiropodist

codsallchiropodist
Loved the pattern, but thanks to all the comments managed to work it out BEFORE making, that you just change sl2k ..to..SSK, and it worked perfectly.

(SSK - slip two stitches knit wise then knit both together )

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Jan 15, 2015 by girlsoll

girlsoll
If a pattern is written for a range of sizes, the instructions for the different sizes are usually written thus: K1 (3)(6)(8). OK. Now, if you don't need to knit any stitch for the smallest size ... that's when you'll see K0 (3)(6)(8). Zero indicates NO ACTION at all at that point; continue to the next direction for your size.

So for this pattern to get the back to add up correctly, if zero to three months skip the first knit. so skip to sl2k

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Nov 11, 2012 by terriglo

terriglo
When the pattern says sl2k, you will want to Sl 2, K sl sts tog (slip 2, knit slipped stitches together) as follows:

Insert RH needle into next stitch knitwise, then slip onto RH needle without knitting. Repeat with next stitch on LH needle. Insert LH needle from back to front, into the front loops of both of the slipped stitches. K the 2 stitches as one.

The math will come out right. :o)

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Aug 22, 2012 by krista1929

krista1929
The math does not add up when shaping the back, has anyone found a solution to this yet??

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- Nov 17, 2012 by terriglo
  
  terriglo Rate this comment 0 0 | Report
  When the pattern says sl2k, you will want to Sl 2, K sl sts tog (slip 2, knit slipped stitches together) as follows: Insert RH needle into next stitch knitwise, then slip onto RH needle without knitting. Repeat with next stitch on LH needle. Insert LH needle from back to front, into the front loops of both of the slipped stitches. K the 2 stitches as one. The math will come out right. :o)
- Jan 16, 2022 by
  
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  Don't forget to increase by 4 to make 72 (if you're making the smallest one)
Aug 12, 2012 by sarsuur

sarsuur
Hi, Like Alexis, I am doing the back of the bonnet now and the maths does not seem to add up at all. Does anyone have any suggestions apart from buying the book? I'm doing size 0-3 months. I am interpreting slk2 as slip 2 knit wise. Thanks, Sarah

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- Jan 01, 2019 by
  
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  To make it add up I slipped 2 and then knit them together. This is after I added the 4 stitches evenly before this step. Also making the 0-3 month
May 24, 2012 by dancekatydance

dancekatydance
at the end of making the band kinda confused any advice ?

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- Jan 01, 2019 by
  
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  I think they mean to knit 3 together 3 times. Then thread through remaining stitches and fasten off. That’s what I did.
- Jan 01, 2019 by
  
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  Oops! Ignore my comment! The row after the button row I knit 2 together, ribbed and knit the last 2 together. I kept doing this until I had 3 stitches and knit those 3 together, put the thread through that last stitch and tied off.
Apr 15, 2012 by alexis.whittington

alexis.whittington
I've gotten to the back shaping part of this pattern and can't make it work. The math doesn't seem to add up. Any suggestions?

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- May 24, 2012 by dancekatydance
  
  dancekatydance Rate this comment 0 0 | Report
  get the book it has all the abbreviations in it maybe youre not knitting your stitches together correctly