Princess Bonnet to fit a newborn baby up to 3 months size
@ 2015 Rian Anderson
This baby bonnet is my version of the one worn by Princess Charlotte, born on the 2nd May 2015 to The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. This pattern is "reverse engineered" from photographs and is just my own take on what can be seen. I am not the original designer of this pattern, nor did I knit the original bonnet worn by the princess. I don't claim it is the "correct" version - just as close as I can get it! There are alternative versions given, depending on which way it is to be worn - as in the royal baby photos, with the cable pattern around the top of the head (above), or with the cables around the back, as on the right.
Intermediate level - not total beginners
Size: to fit newborn - 3 months: head size between 35 and 40 cms / 13.75 - 15.75" Bonnet measures approx 15.5 cm/6.25"side to side each way folded flat (unstretched) Materials: 50 gms of 3 ply light fingering yarn (or thin 4 ply fngering with minimum of 200 m per 50 gms)
Requirements
pair 3 mm (US 2.5) needles pair 2.75 mm (US 2) needles crochet hook size 3 mm or similar 1 m scrap yarn for provisional cast on 2 stitch markers 1 stitch holder thin cable needle tapestry needle for sewing Princess Bonnet
Tension/gauge
28 sts, 56 rows to 10 cm (4") in garter st (knit every row) on 3 mm (US 2.5) needles. To check your tension is correct: work the first part of the bonnet pattern for 56 rows. Measure the complete width, including the cables, without stretching: it should measure 11 cms/4.3"wide and 10 cms/4"long. To alter, use smaller or larger needles. Abbreviations - read before starting work provisional cast on = with a ballof scrap yarn, make a loop and place on a crochet hook. Holding knitting needle braced under your arm, crochet chain by wrapping yarn around knitting needle between each chain st,this formssts to be knitted straight from the needle. (The chain can be easily unravelled later on), orusing scrap yarn, crochet a chain a fw chains longer than the number of sts required. With yarn to be used, knit into the loops at the back of the crochet chain, 1 st per chain, for number of sts required. If you prefer you can cast on with scrap yarn using a normal method, work a row or two with scrap yarn then change to the"real"yarn. Later on the cast on scrap yarn is removed and discarded, and the sts are picked up from the base of the frst knitted row. There will be one less st than before plus a"halfst"at each end. Use one of these to get the same number as the cast on. cast on (cable method) = after making 2 sts, place right needle between last 2 sts to make next st stocking stitch = knit one row, purl one row garter st = knit all rows k= knit p=purl st(s) = stitch(es) rpt = repeat yrn = yarn over and around right needle to make a st [k2tog, k1]x3 (eg) = instructions inside [ ] brackets to be repeated the number of times after x, so this example = k2tog, k1, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k1 k2tog = knit 2 sts together pick up and knit = insert right needle into loop along row edges(from front to back), and pull through a new loop of yarn to form a knit stitch turn = stop before the end of the row is worked, swap the needles around and turn the work to the other side as if starting a new row (stitches at the end of the needle will remain unworked for the moment) cast offpurlwise = \*p2tog, return the resulting st to left needle\*, repeat from \* to \* to the end
Princess Bonnet
Construction
This bonnet can be made to be worn with the cables at the top of the head (as in the royal baby photos) or with cables at the back. Make the bonnet the same way until you get to the edge bands, then decide how you want them to be. The first part is a garter stitch piece with two cabled strips on the side. This runs all the way around the head. Stitches are picked up along the right hand edge of this. Working from the central third of the row, the remaining sts are worked in at the sides, along a garter stitch rectangle. Stitches for the edges are then picked up and worked in stocking stitch with a folded hem. An alternative for the neck edge can be worked in 2 x 2 rib, or a decreased stocking stitch band can be made, to fit more snugly around the neck.
Bonnet - main part Remember to check gauge/tension after 56 rows - see first page.
Using scrap yarn and a provisional method (see abbrevs list) cast on 34 sts, onto a 3 mm (US 2.5) needle. Now use 3 ply / fine fingering yarn to continue: Row 1. p2, [k3, p2] x2, k22 Row 2. k24, [p3, k2] x2 Row 3. p2, [ hold 1 st at back on cable needle, k2tog, k1 from cable needle, p2] x2, k22 = 32 sts Row 4. k24, [p1, yrn, p1, k2] x2 = 34 sts Rpt the last 4 rows 35 times more - you will have completed 144 rows (= 72 garter st ridges; 36 eyelet holes, including the last row's). Place sts on a holder and break off yarn. Turn piece on its side so the right side is facing you and the eyelet cable edge is at the top. With 3 mm (US 2.5) needle pick up and knit 72 sts along the edge (work into the purl sts making sure the sts aren't twisted over). Note: this pick up row counts as row 1 of the this section. Row 2. k27, place a stitch marker on right needle, k18, place a second marker on right needle, k2tog, k25 to end Row 3. k26, slip marker to right needle, k18, slip marker to right needle, k2tog, turn leaving remaining sts unworked for now Row 4. k1, slip marker, k18, slip marker, k2tog, turn Rpt row 4 until all sts are incorporated (you can remove the markers when you can see where to work the k2togs), ending after a right side row = 20 sts, 52 rows. Still on right side, knit the 34 sts from the stitch holder at the end of the main piece, knitting the 2 yrn sts into the back of the loops to close up the holes. Next row (wrong side). knit the 54 sts then undo the provisional cast on and place 34 sts on the left needle, then knit these 34 sts = 88 sts in total. Leave these sts on the needle and do not break off yarn.
Now you need to decide how you want the bonnet to be worn:
Version A. "multidirectional" - can be worn both ways, with a loose stocking stitch edge at the neck, of a similar size to that at the front of the face Version B to be worn with the cables at the top, as Princess Charlotte wore hers, with a closer fitting neckband. Version C. to be worn with the cables at the back of the head with a closer fitting neckband.
First edge -- version A and front edge - version B
Change to 2.75 mm (US 2) needles. Row 1 (right side). k22, k2tog, [k3, k2tog] x2, k5, k2tog, k6, k2tog, k5, k2tog, [k3, k2tog] x 2, k22 = 80 sts Work 5 rows in stocking stitch beginning with a purl row. Knit 2 rows.
Princess Bonnet
Work 5 more rows in stocking stitch beginning with a knit row on the right side. Cast off purlwise (see abbrevs) on wrong side and fold edge at garterst rows to sew cast offege to inside of band. Neck edge - version C (2 options, rib or stocking st) Change to 2.75 mm (US 2) needles. Row 1 (right side). k1, [k2tog, k3] rpt inside [ ] until last 2 sts, k2tog = 70 sts Now either work in 2 x 2 rib as follows: Row 2.p2, [k2, p2] rpt inside [ ] to end Row 3. k2, [p2, k2] rpt inside [ ］ to end Rpt the last 2 rows 3 times more and row 2 once again = 10 rows in total Cast off loosely in rib pattern. OR work a stocking st edge - to match the one you will make at the other side, as follows: Work 5 rows in stocking stitch beginning with a purl row. Knit 2 rows. Work 5 more rows in stocking stitch beginning with a knit row on the right side. Cast off purlwise (see abbrevs) on wrong side and fold edge at garter st rows to sew cast off edge to inside.
Second edge -version A and front edge - version C
Hold work upside down, with right side facing. Using 2.75 mm (US 2) needles, pick up and knit 4 sts from the end of the edge you just made (through both sides at once so the end is closed if it is a stocking st band), then 73 sts from the garter st edges of the main piece, and a further 4 sts from the other end of the first edge = 81 sts. This counts as row 1. Work 5 rows in stocking stitch beginning with a purl row. Knit 2 rows. Work 5 more rows in stocking stitch beginning with a knit row on the right side. Cast off purlwise on wrong side and fold edge at garter st rows to sew cast off edge to inside of band. Neck edge - version B (2 options, rib or stocking st) Hold work upside down, with right side facing. Using 2.75 mm (US 2) needles, pick up and knit 4 sts from end of the edge you just made (through both sides at once so the end is closed if it is a stocking st band), then 73 sts from the garter st edges of the main piece, and a further 4 sts from the other end of the first edge = 81 sts. This counts as row 1. Now either work in 2 x 2 rib, decreasing on the next row as follows: Row 2 (wrong side). [p2, k1, k2tog] x 15 (= to last 6 sts), p2, k2, p2 = 66 sts Row 3. k2, [p2, k2] rpt inside [ ] to end Row 4. p2, [k2, p2] rpt inside [ ]to end Rpt the last 2 rows 3 times more = 10 rows in total Cast off loosely in rib pattern. OR work a stocking st edge - to match the one you made at the front, decreasing on the next row as follows: Row 2. [p3, p2tog] x 15 (= to last 6 sts), p6 = 66 sts Work 4 more rows in stocking stitch beginning with a knit row. Knit 2 rows. Work 5 more rows in stocking stitch beginning with a knit row on the right side. Cast off purlwise on wrong side and fold edge at garter st rows to sew cast off edge to inside.
Bonnet strings / ties - make 2
Using 3 mm (US 2.5) needles, cast on 65 sts, using the cable method (or long-tail if you prefer). Knit 4 rows. Cast off loosely, knitwise. Sew end of tie to the side of the neck edge, stretching to ft, so they point forwards. Note: I don't recommend threading the ties through the stocking st edge at the neck, as this could be dangerous. If you liked this pattern, please have a look at my others: tiny.cc/rian-ravelry
Version B, ribbed neck
Version C, stocking st neck
