Merriment Bonnet

Merriment Bonnet by Melynda Bernardi

What is Being Made

The Merriment Bonnet is a knitted infant hat designed for babies aged 3 to 6 months. This bonnet features a classic construction with a finished size of 7 inches wide by 6½ inches tall. The design combines solid-colored sections with charted colorwork, creating a decorative pattern suitable for a traditional bonnet style.

Craft and Primary Technique

This project is created using the knitting craft and is classified as an advanced difficulty pattern. The bonnet is worked flat on straight or circular needles rather than in the round, allowing for structured shaping and precise colorwork integration.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques

The Merriment Bonnet employs several fundamental knitting stitches and techniques:

• Stockinette Stitch: Forms the primary fabric of the bonnet body, created by knitting all odd rows and purling all even rows on the right side
• Garter Stitch: Used specifically on decrease rows to create textural variation and structural definition
• Ribbing: A k2, p2 (knit 2, purl 2) rib pattern worked for 4 rows at the cast-on edge to create an elastic, fitted opening
• Charted Colorwork: The pattern incorporates a chart-based design worked in multiple colors, requiring careful stitch placement and color changes
• Decreases: Strategic decreases are incorporated to shape the bonnet crown

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The Merriment Bonnet is designed for worsted weight yarn, requiring a total of approximately 110 yards of worsted weight wool distributed across three colors:

• Main Color (MC): 50 yards of worsted weight wool (pictured in Swan's Island All American Wool in Lichen)
• Contrasting Color 1 (CC1): 30 yards of worsted weight wool (pictured in Swan's Island All American Wool in Newport)
• Contrasting Color 2 (CC2): 30 yards of worsted weight wool (pictured in Stonehedge Fiber Mill Shepherd's Wool in White)

Tools and Needles

Two sizes of circular needles are required to achieve proper gauge and construction:

• Size US 4 / 3.5mm circular needles: Used for the ribbed cast-on edge
• Size US 6 / 4mm needles: Used for the main body and charted colorwork sections

Gauge

The pattern specifies a gauge of 21 stitches and 26 rows per 4 inches (10 cm) in stockinette stitch on the larger needles. Knitters are instructed to adjust needle size as needed to obtain the correct gauge, ensuring the finished bonnet meets the intended dimensions.

Construction Overview

The bonnet construction begins with casting on 72 stitches using the smaller needles and main color yarn. The first 4 rows are worked in k2, p2 ribbing to create an elastic edge. The work then transitions to the larger needles, followed by a purl row. The charted colorwork pattern is worked next, with all odd rows knitted and all even rows purled to maintain stockinette stitch. After completing the chart, the bonnet continues in stockinette stitch using the main color until the piece reaches the appropriate length, at which point decreases worked in garter stitch shape the crown of the bonnet.

Designer Information

The Merriment Bonnet is designed by Melynda Bernardi of French Press Knits, an independent designer specializing in knitted hat patterns.