Ribbed Bonnet

Ribbed Bonnet by Mary Gonzales

What Is Being Made

The Ribbed Bonnet is a newborn-sized knitted hat designed by Mary Gonzales. This downloadable knitting pattern creates a classic bonnet style hat featuring ribbed texture work, suitable for infants. The finished piece measures approximately 3.5 inches before the decrease shaping begins, making it an appropriately sized accessory for newborn babies.

Craft and Primary Technique

This project is created using the knitting craft. The bonnet is worked primarily in the round using circular needles, with a transition to double-pointed needles during the crown shaping phase. The pattern begins with flat knitting in rows before connecting the work in the round for the decrease sections, making it suitable for knitters who may be newer to working in the round.

Stitches Used

The Ribbed Bonnet employs fundamental knitting stitches that create both texture and shaping:

• Knit stitch – The primary stitch used throughout the pattern
• Purl stitch – Used to create the ribbed texture pattern in alternation with knit stitches
• Knit 2 together (K2tog) – A decrease stitch used repeatedly during the crown shaping rounds to gradually reduce stitches and form the bonnet's fitted top

The ribbed pattern is created by repeating a Knit 2, Purl 2 sequence across rows, which produces vertical lines of texture that provide gentle stretch and a classic bonnet appearance.

Materials and Tools

Yarn: The pattern calls for 1 skein of Red Heart Soft in Toast colorway, or any worsted weight yarn as a substitute. Aran weight yarn is suitable for this project, providing the appropriate drape and warmth for a newborn bonnet.

Needles and Supplies: The pattern requires a Size 8 16-inch circular needle for the initial flat and early in-the-round sections, and Size 8 double-pointed needles for the crown decreases when the circular needle becomes too large for the remaining stitches. Additional supplies include a yarn needle for weaving in ends, scissors, and a tape measure for checking measurements. A stitch marker is optional but helpful for tracking the beginning of rounds.

Pattern Construction

The bonnet is constructed in distinct sections. The ribbed cuff begins with 56 cast-on stitches worked flat in rows using the Knit 2, Purl 2 ribbed pattern for five rows, followed by alternating knit and purl rows until the piece reaches 3.5 inches in length. The work is then joined in the round and progresses through multiple decrease rounds that gradually reduce stitches from 56 down to a small number at the crown, creating the bonnet's characteristic gathered top. The decrease rounds are strategically spaced with knit rounds between them to maintain structure and shaping.