Is it small and squishy? Put a bonnet on it!!
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again – one of the most enjoyable things for me, as a knitter, is watching my kids play in beautiful knits! This is definitely the reason why Alexa and I decided to size our patterns from ‘baby to big’. However, despite making piles of knits for our babies over the years, this is our very first bonnet pattern… and I’m so proud of it! Beloved is a joyful, clever little knit which I’m quite sure you will love. Get the pattern and cast on today!
After experimenting with MANY bonnet prototypes (four or five in total) I hit upon a design that really worked. Beloved is knit from the i-cord on one side to the i-cord on the other, so it requires zero finishing. It’s shaped with short rows (these are described step-by-step in the pattern, don’t worry!) so it hugs the nape of the neck for a perfect fit.
Once I had finalized this delicious little knit, Alexa took it up with force. Her nephew Arlo was a tiny newborn so she grabbed a skein and cast on. ‘I have to test it!’ she cried. Well, it didn’t stop with one, she knit one for Hunter too, then embarked on a grown-up size. Now, we should say we weren’t entirely sure adults really ought to wear bonnets, but there is something hilarious and excellent about this one. Natalie, our model, said it looked very ‘Handmaids Tale’.
It’s hard to explain the addictive and fun nature of this knit (you might just have to knit one and see). The bonnet is worked from i-cord to i-cord, has a memorize-able repeat in the middle, and the whole thing is just a joy to knit. It has only 2 ends to weave in, works in pretty much any DK weight yarn (or fingering/sock held doubled), and is there a small child alive that wouldn’t look adorable in one of these? Nope.
As if that weren’t enough, the practicality of a bonnet is high. My daughter Neve has worn hers non-stop for the last year; first in a baby size, then toddler size, and most recently I had to knit her a child size since little noggins grow so fast! I designed the bonnet for DK weight yarn, but Alexa made all her versions by holding sock yarn doubled; it’s a versatile pattern for leftover bits and bobs.
KEEP YOUR HAT ON!!!
I suffered the keen disappointment of many a lost hand-knit hat when Max was small. He pulled them off when he was in the sling on my back, and John or I wouldn’t notice until we were miles down the road, or already home. Beloved keeps tender little baby ears covered, without a hat brim getting in baby’s eyes. With soft i-cord ties it’s perfect for little monkeys who constantly pull off their hats the instant you pop them on!
Big but still Beloved
Of course, it would never do to leave this level of cuteness to the babies alone!
Beloved is darling on girls and boys, and cute on grown-ups too! Really, who DOESN’T need a bonnet? Bonnets are so hot right now.
We don’t often make patterns that are this purely adorable!
More TCK adorableness:
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December 29, 2021 @ 4:53 pm
Please help!
I’ve made the first i-cord, now on “increase section”
Rows 1-4 went ok, I now have 7 stitches. ROW 5, shows I’ll have 9 stitches at the end of that row but see no increases made in row 5 to get those 2 extra stitches. I still only have the 7 stitches I had on row 4. What am I missing?? I’d really appreciate any input on this. Thankyou!
December 30, 2021 @ 12:57 pm
Hi – kfb is an increase, does that help?
May 26, 2021 @ 7:03 pm
Please help!! When I get to the completion of the short row 2 and begin row 3 the garter stitch on the right side no longer exists? I have ripped it twice and cannot figure out what is wrong?? Any advice or suggestions??
May 31, 2021 @ 1:45 am
Hello! Check out our in-depth tutorial on this pattern here: https://blog.tincanknits.com/2019/08/08/lets-make-a-beloved-bonnet/
April 17, 2019 @ 6:43 pm
Haven’t made this before now but oh so cute and oh so quick!! I’m making a newborn and a big sister bonnet for a colleague who is due to hatch soon. I’m going to be making more!
December 7, 2018 @ 8:27 am
Hi, I just bought the pattern today, but don’t find the promised i-cord tutorial
January 29, 2019 @ 12:54 pm
Hi Eliza – sorry about that! We could have sworn we had done that tutorial already! It is up on the blog now.
November 29, 2018 @ 12:45 pm
Hi,
Just bought the pattern. However, I can’t find the help for the i-cord cast on :(.
January 29, 2019 @ 12:54 pm
Hi – sorry about that! We could have sworn we had done that tutorial already! It is up on the blog now.
May 12, 2018 @ 5:56 pm
If you lose the I-cord and knit in white you’d get a prefect piece for a Handmaiden costume.
May 12, 2018 @ 12:05 am
I love this pattern!
May 9, 2018 @ 6:09 am
So I cast on immediately but had to rip back and now I can’t seem to pink up the cord stitches correctly.
May 8, 2018 @ 8:14 pm
Can someone help me out? I started knitting this today. When you sl2, do you always do it purlwise or knitwise, or differently depending on your row. The pattern specifies for “sl” but not “sl2” and I am just feeling unsure at this point. Help!
May 10, 2018 @ 9:41 am
Hi Janal – You want to slip the sts with yarn at the wrong side. You want to slip your sts purlwise, except in the sl2-k1-psso
May 5, 2018 @ 2:24 am
Dear Friends,
I have tried to purchase a copy of the ‘Beloved’ bonnet pattern today. I don’t have a Paypal account so opted for the credit-card option. However, I was not allowed to complete my purchase without opening a Paypal account – I don’t want a Paypal account. Can you help?
Kind Regards Jo Howell
May 10, 2018 @ 9:43 am
Hi Jo – it should work with just a CC, but maybe send us an email and we can sort you out.
May 3, 2018 @ 1:12 pm
So cute!
May 3, 2018 @ 7:06 am
Perfect timing! I have a baby shower to attend in two weeks. Something hand made is always best!
May 3, 2018 @ 6:11 am
Oh my…xoxoxo