Amalie Baby Bonnet

Amalie Baby Bonnet by Julia Schwartz

Project Overview

The Amalie Baby Bonnet is a charming knitted hat designed for infants, created by designer Julia Schwartz and available through Designs By Diligence. This intermediate-level knitting project produces a fitted bonnet with decorative twisted stitch details and an i-cord tie, perfect for keeping a baby warm while adding a touch of vintage-inspired style.

What Is Being Made

This pattern creates a baby bonnet—a close-fitting hat that covers the head and ties under the chin. The bonnet features three available sizes with measurements of 6, 7, or 7½ inches from top to chin, and 6, 6½, or 7 inches from front to back at the widest point. The design includes decorative twisted stitch elements and is finished with a functional i-cord tie.

Knitting Techniques Used

The Amalie Baby Bonnet employs several intermediate knitting techniques that add visual interest and structure to the finished garment. The pattern incorporates twisted stitches as a primary design element, which create a subtle texture and decorative detail. Decreasing techniques are used to shape the bonnet, including knit 2 together (k2tog) and slip, slip, knit (ssk) methods for creating tapered sections. The pattern also features an i-cord tie, which is created using the double-pointed needle technique of repeatedly knitting and pushing stitches to create a tubular cord.

Stitches and Special Stitches

The bonnet uses fundamental knitting stitches combined with specialty techniques:

• Knit (k) and purl (p) stitches form the basic fabric
• Right Twist (RT): A decorative stitch created by knitting 2 stitches together while keeping both on the left needle, then knitting into the first stitch before transferring both to the right needle
• Left Twist (LT): The mirror image of the right twist, worked by knitting through the back loop of the second stitch while keeping it on the needle, then knitting the first stitch before transferring both stitches
• Knit 2 together (k2tog) for right-leaning decreases
• Slip, slip, knit (ssk) for left-leaning decreases
• Slip stitch (sl st) for joining rounds or carrying stitches
• 3-stitch i-cord: A tubular cord created by casting on 3 stitches to a double-pointed needle and repeatedly knitting the 3 stitches and pushing them to the opposite end of the needle

Materials and Tools

The Amalie Baby Bonnet is designed to be knitted with Knit Picks Stroll Fingering weight yarn in the color Dove Heather. A single 50-gram ball of yarn is sufficient to complete the project. The pattern requires both 5/3.75mm straight needles and double-pointed needles of the same size—the straight needles are used for the main bonnet sections, while the double-pointed needles are necessary for working the i-cord tie and any small circumference sections. A tapestry needle is needed for weaving in ends and finishing the garment.

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern is worked at a gauge of 12 stitches by 34 rows per 2 inches, which is typical for fingering weight yarn. This gauge is essential for achieving the correct finished measurements and fit of the bonnet. Three sizes are provided to accommodate different baby ages and head sizes, allowing crafters to choose the appropriate dimensions for their intended recipient.