Catherine Bonnet in Berroco Mercado - 400-7 - Downloadable PDF

Catherine Bonnet – Knitted Hat Pattern by Alison Green in Berroco Mercado

The Catherine Bonnet is an intermediate-level knitted hat pattern designed by Alison Green and published by Berroco. This stylish bonnet-style hat is worked in Berroco Mercado, a worsted weight yarn, and features a structured brim with cable detailing that gives it a classic, polished look. The pattern is available as a downloadable PDF, making it instantly accessible for knitters ready to cast on right away.

What Is Being Made

The Catherine Bonnet is a knitted hat with a finished size of approximately 19 inches around (at the widest point) and 12 inches high. The bonnet silhouette gives this hat a distinctive, vintage-inspired shape that sets it apart from a standard beanie or slouch hat. It is designed to fit snugly and stylishly, making it an ideal cool-weather accessory.

Yarn and Materials

• Yarn: Berroco Mercado – 2 hanks in colorway #4128 Cielo, each hank weighing 100 grams. Mercado is a worsted weight yarn known for its rich texture and excellent stitch definition, making it well-suited to cable and textured patterns.
• Knitting Needles: Size 9 (5.50 mm) straight or circular knitting needles, or size needed to obtain gauge
• Double-Pointed Needles (DPNs): One set of 4 double-pointed needles, size 9 (5.50 mm), used for working in the round during crown shaping
• Cable Needle (cn): Required for working the cable sections of the brim
• Stitch Marker: 1 stitch marker to track round beginnings
• Tapestry Needle: For weaving in ends and finishing

Techniques and Construction

The Catherine Bonnet is an intermediate level project, meaning it is best suited to knitters who are comfortable with basic knitting techniques and are ready to expand into more structured construction methods. The hat is worked flat for portions of the brim and then transitioned to working in the round, incorporating double-pointed needles as the stitch count decreases toward the crown.

The use of a cable needle indicates that cable stitches are a central feature of this design. Cables are created by temporarily holding stitches on a cable needle, then working them out of order to produce twisted rope-like columns of texture. This technique adds visual interest and structure to the brim of the hat, which is a defining design element of the Catherine Bonnet.

Stitches Used

• Brim Chart stitches: The pattern references a Brim Chart, which governs the textured and cabled stitch pattern used across the brim section
• Cable stitches: Worked with a cable needle to create the signature twisted texture
• Knit and purl stitches: Foundational stitches used throughout the body and crown of the hat
• Decreases: Used during crown shaping to taper the hat to a neat finish at the top

Gauge

Achieving the correct gauge is essential for this pattern. The specified gauge is 25 stitches and 20 rows = 4 inches, worked over the Brim Chart pattern using size 9 (5.50 mm) needles. Knitters are strongly encouraged to swatch and check gauge before beginning, as the finished measurements depend on it. Adjusting needle size as needed to match gauge will ensure the hat fits as intended.

Skill Level and Pattern Format

Rated as intermediate, the Catherine Bonnet is a rewarding project for knitters looking to practice cable work and hat construction beyond the basics. The pattern is published by Berroco and designed by Alison Green. It is available as a downloadable PDF, and Berroco notes that all pattern PDFs are updated when corrections are made