Baby Bear Bonnet
Sizes : 1 (3, 6, 9, 12 – 18, 24) months, to fit head circumference: approx. 33-37 (36-40, 39-44, 43-46, 46-49,
49-51) cm [13-14⅕ (14¼-15¾, 15½ -17½, 17-18, 18-19, 19-20]"
Yarn: 1 strand of Knitting for Olive Merino or Cotton Merino or Pure Silk (250 m [273 yd] per 50 gr [1.8 oz]),
fingering-weight yarn; 1 (1, 1, 1, 1, 1) ball; and 1 strand of Knitting for Olive Soft Silk Mohair (70% mohair,
30% silk; 225 m [246 yd] per 25 gr [0.9 oz]), lace-weight yarn, 1 (1, 1, 1, 1, 1) ball
Samples are in size 1 month in Knitting for Olive Merino, Soft Blue colorway and Knitting for Olive Soft Silk
Mohair, Pearl Gray colorway; and size 3 months in Knitting for Olive Merino, Rose Clay colorway and
Knitting for Olive Soft Silk Mohair, Rose Clay colorway
Needles: 3.5 mm / US4 circular and 2 double-pointed needles, or size to obtain gauge
Gauge: 23 sts and 34 rows = 10 cm [4"] in st st with 3.5 mm / US4 needle and 2 strands held together
Notions: tapestry needle, stitch markers, waste yarn or stitch holders, measurement tape
Special techniques:
Our Knitting for Olive tutorials clearly demonstrate the special techniques used in Baby Bear Bonnet (in
Danish):
- German Short Rows:
[Link]
- M1R and M1L increases:
[Link]
Construction notes
The Baby Bear Bonnet is a baby bonnet with cute rounded bear ears.
The bonnet is worked back and forth: you begin at the band, which you can make either in moss stitch or
ribbed, and continue in stockinette stitch to the bear ears. The bear ears are shaped at the same time as
you work to the crown. You then place the bear ear stitches on hold, and shape the back of the bonnet to
the neck, by working short rows and decreases. The bonnet has an I-cord edge and I-cord strings to tie it
up.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
With 3.5 mm / US4 needle and with 2 strands held together, cast on 51 (55, 59, 63, 67, 67) sts. Do not join
work
Choose either moss stitch band or rib band
Moss stitch band
Row 1: (k1, p1) until last st, k1
Repeat Row 1 5 (5, 5, 5, 7, 7) more times
Rib band
Row 1: (k1, p1) until last st, k1
Row 2: p1, (k1, p1) to end of row
Repeat Row 1 and 2 1 (1, 1, 1, 2, 2) more times
Note: Work first and last edge stitches as knit stitches on all rows
Row 1 (WS): K1 (edge st), p to last st, k1 (edge st)
Inc row (RS): K3 (4, 2, 3, 4, 4), *M1L, k3; repeat from * to last 3 sts, M1L, k3 [16 (17, 19, 20, 21, 21) sts
increased] = 67 (72, 78, 83, 88, 88) sts
Maintaining first and last edge sts throughout, work 11 (13, 15, 17, 17, 19) rows in st st
Bear ear shaping
Set-up Row (Inc Row): K21 (23, 25, 27, 29, 29), pm, M1R, k3 ear sts, M1L, pm, k19 (20, 22, 23, 24, 24), pm,
M1R, k3 ear sts, M1L, pm, k21 (23, 25, 27, 29, 29) [4 sts increased] = 71 (76, 82, 87, 92, 92) sts
Row 1: K1 (edge st), p to last st, k1 (edge st)
Inc Row: K21 (23, 25, 27, 29, 29), sm, M1R, k to marker, M1L, sm, k 19 (20, 22, 23, 24, 24), sm, M1R, k to
marker, M1L, sm, k 21 (23, 25, 27, 29, 29) sts [4 sts increased] = 75 (80, 86, 91, 96, 96) sts
Maintaining first and last edge sts throughout, repeat Row 1 and Inc Row 5 (5, 6, 6, 6, 7) more times [20
(20, 24, 24, 24, 28) sts increased] = 95 (100, 110, 115, 120, 124) sts [17 (17, 19, 19, 19, 21) sts for each ear]
Next Row: K1 (edge st), p to end of row, k1 (edge st)
Shape tip
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Row 1: K21 (23, 25, 27, 29, 29), sm, M1R, k6 (6, 7, 7, 7, 8), k2tog, k1, sl1k, k1, psso, k6 (6, 7, 7, 7, 8), M1L,
sm, k 19 (20, 22, 23, 24, 24), sm, M1R, k6 (6, 7, 7, 7, 8), k2tog, k1, sl1k, k1, psso, k6 (6, 7, 7, 7, 8), M1L, sm,
k21 (23, 25, 27, 29, 29) sts
Row 2: K1 (edge st), p to last st, k1 (edge st)
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 1 more time
Break yarns
Back and neck shaping
Note: Shaping construction requires a slight stitch adjustment between the various pieces that comprise the
bonnet, and that adjustment is worked in in the set-up row. After placing ear stitches on hold, short-row
and decrease shaping take place at the same time over the remaining side and back stitches. Work double
stitches as 1 stitch (see Special techniques)
Set-up and Short Row 1 (RS): Removing markers as you come to them, slip 20 (22, 24, 26, 28, 28) sts from
left to right needle, place next 18 (18, 20, 20, 20, 22) ear sts on waste yarn, rejoin yarns, k18 (19, 21, 22, 23,
23), sl1k, place next 18 (18, 20, 20, 20, 22) ear sts on waste yarn, k1, psso, k1, tw [1 st decreased]
Short Row 2 (WS): Ds, p18 (19, 21, 22, 23, 23), sl1p p1, psso, p1, tw [1 st decreased]
Short Row 3: Ds, k to 1 st before ds, sl1k, k ds, psso, k1, tw [1 st decreased]
Short Row 4: Ds, p to 1 st before ds, sl1p, p ds, psso, p1, tw [1 st decreased]
Repeat Short Rows 3 and 4 2 (0, 2, 1, 2, 2) more times [4 (0, 4, 2, 4, 4) sts decreased]
Short Row 5: Ds, k to 2 sts before ds, sl2k, k ds, psso, k1, tw [2 sts decreased]
Short Row 6: Ds, p to 2 sts before ds, sl2p, p ds, psso, p1, tw [2 sts decreased]
*Repeat Short Rows 3 and 4 2 (3, 3, 4, 4, 4) more times, repeat Short Rows 5 and 6 1 time; repeat from * 3
more times [32 (40, 40, 48, 48, 48) sts decreased] = 15 (16, 18, 17, 20, 20) sts [3 (3, 3, 2, 3, 3) sts for each
side, and 9 (10, 12, 13, 14, 14) sts for back]
Repeat Short Rows 3 and 4 2 (2, 2, 1, 2, 2) more times [4 (4, 4, 2, 4, 4) side sts decreased] = 11 (12, 14, 15,
16, 16) neck sts
Break yarns
Finishing
Neck
Set-up Row: With RS facing and 3.5 mm / US4 needle, beginning from front right corner of band, and ending
at neck sts, pick up and knit 18 (19, 21, 22, 23, 25) sts from edge along right side of bonnet, k11 (12, 14, 15,
16, 16) neck sts, pick up and knit 18 (19, 21, 22, 23, 25) sts from edge along the left side of bonnet, ending at
front left corner of band = 47 (50, 56, 59, 62, 66) neck sts
Break yarns, leaving neck sts on needle
Right I-cord string
With 3.5 mm / US4 double-pointed needles and with 2 strands held together, cast on 4 sts. *K4, do not turn
work, slide sts to the other end of needle, and work into the first st on left needle, pulling the working yarns
across the back of the sts; repeat from *until string measures approx. 17 (17, 18, 18, 19, 20) cm [7"] = 4 sts,
do not break yarns
I-cord neck bind off
Transfer 4 I-cord sts onto right 3.5 mm / US4 needle, placing sts as follows: neck sts, I-cord sts
Next Row: *K3, sl1k, k1, psso. Slip 4 sts back on left needle; repeat from * until all neck sts are worked = 4 sts
Left I-cord string
Transfer 4 neck sts onto a 3.5 mm / US4 double-pointed needle, and work left I-cord string the same as right
I-cord string, until it measures 17 (17, 18, 18, 19, 20) cm [7"] = 4 sts
Next row: K2tog, k2tog tbl, pass first st over second st, break yarns, and draw tail through last st
Ears
Transfer 18 (18, 20, 20, 20, 22) ear sts onto two 3.5 mm / US4 double-pointed needles, placing 9 (9, 10, 10,
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10, 11) sts on each needle
Fold the ear in half, holding the two needles parallel
Starting from the top of the ear, graft sts together using kitchener stitch
Repeat for second ear
Weave in all loose ends
Block
We hope you enjoy knitting the Baby Bear Bonnet!
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Abbreviations
Approx. – approximately
BOR – beginning of round
K – knit
P – purl
Dec – decrease
Ds – double stitch (for German short-row technique)
Inc – increase
K2tog – knit 2 stitches together [1 stitch decreased]
M1L – make 1 new left twist stitch on the knit side: insert right needle, from back to front, under the bar
running between first stitch on left needle and last stitch on right needles, pick up bar and knit this stitch
into the back loop [1 stitch increased]
M1R – make 1 new right twist stitch on the knit side: insert right needle, from front to back, under the bar
running between first stitch on left needle and last stitch on right needle, pick up bar in twisted position
and knit this stitch [1 stitch increased]
M1Lp – make 1 new right twist st on the purl side: insert right needle, from front to back, under the bar
running between first st on left needle and last stitch on right needle, pick up bar and purl this stitch [1
stitch increased]
M1Rp – make 1 new left twist stitch on the purl side: insert right needle, from back to front, under the bar
running between first stitch on left needle and last stitch on right needle, pick up bar and purl this stitch
through the back loop [1 stitch increased]
Pm – place marker
Psso – pass slipped stitch(es) over
Sm – slip marker
St/sts – stitch/stitches
St st – stockinette stitch
Tw – turn work (for German short-row technique)
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