Cherry - babies pixie bonnet

Cherry Babies Pixie Bonnet by Jennifer Lee

What is Being Made

The Cherry is a cute pixie bonnet designed for babies in four sizes ranging from newborn (0 months) to 12 months. The bonnet is fitted to head circumferences from 35cm (13¾ inches) for newborns up to 48cm (19 inches) for 12-month-old babies. This classic baby hat style features an under chin tie for secure fastening, making it both functional and charming for infant wear.

Knitting Techniques Used

This intermediate-level knitting project employs straightforward shaping techniques suitable for knitters with basic experience. The pattern uses casting on and casting off methods, with decreasing stitches to shape the back of the bonnet. The construction maintains stitch pattern consistency throughout the shaping process, demonstrating how to keep moss stitch correct while decreasing. The bonnet is worked flat on straight needles and then sewn up using a wool needle, making it an accessible introduction to garment construction.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch throughout the Cherry pixie bonnet is moss stitch, a fundamental textured stitch created by alternating knit and purl stitches. Moss stitch produces a dense, bumpy fabric with excellent drape and elasticity, making it ideal for baby garments. The pattern begins with a simple alternating sequence of knit one and purl one stitches (K1, P1 repeat), which is then continued throughout the entire bonnet until shaping begins at the back.

Materials and Specifications

• Yarn: Lincraft Exel Superwash in 8-ply (DK) weight, requiring 1 ball (2 balls for larger sizes) of 50g balls with a yardage of 104 meters per ball. The superwash treatment makes this yarn ideal for baby garments requiring frequent washing.
• Needles: A pair of 4.00mm knitting needles (UK size 8, US size 6) for the main fabric, plus a wool needle for sewing seams
• Tension: 21 stitches and 37 rows over 10cm (4 inches) in moss stitch using 4.00mm needles. Achieving correct tension is essential for proper fit across all four size options.

Pattern Details

The Cherry pixie bonnet is rated as Easy despite its intermediate difficulty classification, indicating it uses straightforward techniques accessible to knitters progressing beyond absolute beginner level. The pattern provides clear abbreviations and measurements in both metric and imperial units. Cast-on numbers vary by size (61, 69, 77, or 83 stitches), and the bonnet body measures between 13cm and 16cm depending on the size being knitted. The downloadable PDF format allows knitters to reference the complete pattern while working, with the full instructions spanning three pages.