Cable Baby Bonnet

Cable Baby Bonnet Knitting Pattern

What is Being Made

The Cable Baby Bonnet is a classic infant hat designed by Lara Simonson, available in four sizes to accommodate newborns through 12-month-old babies. This downloadable knitting pattern creates a fitted bonnet with a charming cable knit construction, featuring a two-part construction method where the brim is knit as a separate strip before stitches are picked up to complete the crown of the bonnet.

Sizes and Yarn Requirements

This pattern is offered in four size options:

• Newborn: 100 yards (90 meters)
• 3 months: 110 yards (100 meters)
• 6 months: 120 yards (112 meters)
• 12 months: 130 yards (120 meters)

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

The Cable Baby Bonnet employs intermediate-level knitting techniques suitable for crafters with foundational knitting experience. The pattern features cable stitches as its primary decorative element, created using two main cable crossing techniques:

• C4F (Cable 4 Front): This stitch involves placing 2 stitches on a cable needle and holding them to the front of the work, knitting the next 2 stitches from the left needle while passing behind the cable needle, then knitting the 2 stitches from the cable needle. This creates a cable that twists to the front.
• C4B (Cable 4 Back): This stitch places 2 stitches on a cable needle and holds them to the back of the work, knitting the next 2 stitches from the left needle, then knitting the 2 stitches from the cable needle. This creates a cable that twists to the back.

The pattern uses bracket notation [x] to indicate stitch repeats, with the number of repeats specified separately. The bonnet construction begins with a brim knit as a strip, after which stitches are picked up along the brim edge using circular needles to complete the bonnet crown.

Materials and Tools Required

The Cable Baby Bonnet is designed to be worked in Millamia naturally soft aran yarn, a 100% wool fiber that provides warmth and softness appropriate for delicate infant skin. Aran weight yarn is a medium-weight yarn that works up quickly while creating a fabric with good structure and drape.

The following tools and materials are needed to complete this project:

• 4.5 mm [US size 7] circular needles in 16" to 20" length
• 1 cable needle for executing cable stitches
• Tapestry needle for weaving in yarn ends
• Tape measure or ruler for checking gauge and fit

Pattern Details

The bonnet pattern begins with casting on 12 stitches for the brim strip. The two-stage construction method—knitting the brim as a separate component before picking up stitches for the main bonnet—allows for a neat, finished edge and ensures proper fit around an infant's face. This approach also makes the pattern more manageable for intermediate knitters, as it breaks the project into distinct, logical sections.