Cute as a Bug Baby Bonnet

A cute and quick to knit baby bonnet with a decorative butterfly (or bug?) stitch pattern. The bonnet comes in two versions, one with ribbed edge and stockinette crown and one with garter edge and garter crown. Both pattern versions can be found below. I've also included two versions of the butterfly pattern; 'big and small butterflies' and 'just big butterflies'. The pattern is made to be mixed and matched as you wish, choose your preferred type of edge, butterflies and crown. Knit it in one colour or use a contrast colour for the edge and/or crown.

Sample #1 knitted with twisted rib, big and small butterflies and stockinette crown.
Ties made with Prym knitting mill.

Sample #2 knitted with garter edge, just big butterflies and garter crown.
Ties knitted by picking up 3 sts at edge corner and knitting garter stitch until desired length.

Sizing:

One size, 0-3 months.

Gauge:

20 st per 10 cm (4in) in stockinette.

Materials:

Yarn – approximately 65m (70 yards) DK weight yarn.

Needles – 4 mm (US6) and 4.5 mm (US 7) needles.

Other – darning needle.

Bonnet version 1 with ribbed edge and stockinette crown:

CO 65 sts on the smaller needles. Knit 1x1 ribbing for 6 rows either in normal rib or twisted rib, both alternatives are given below:

1x1 normal rib

Row 1: k1, * p1, k1, repeat from * to end of row.

Row 2: p1, * k1, p1, repeat from * to end of row.

Repeat rows 1 and 2 two more times for a total of 6 edge rows. 

1x1 twisted rib

Row 1: k1tbl, * p1, k1tbl, repeat from * to end of row.

Row 2: p1tbl, * k1, p1tbl, repeat from * to end of row.

Repeat rows 1 and 2 two more times for a total of 6 edge rows. 

Change to larger needles. If using a contrast colour for the edge, change colour here. 

Next row (RS): knit.

Next row (WS): purl.

Butterfly pattern:

Choose one of the alternatives for butterfly pattern, big and small butterflies or just big butterflies.

Big and small butterflies

Row 1 and 9: k12, sl5wyif, k13, sl5wyif, k13, sl5wyif, k12.

Row 2 , 4 and 6: purl.

Row 3, 5 and 7: k4, sl3wyif, k5, sl5wyif, k5, sl3wyif, k5, sl5wyif, k5, sl3wyif, k5, sl5wyif, k5, sl3wyif, k4.

Row 8: p5, bfst, (p17, bfst) x 3, p5

Row 10: p14, bfst, (p17, bfst) x 2, p14

Just big butterflies

Row 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9: k5, * sl5wyif, k5, repeat from * to end of row.

Row 2, 4, 6 and 8: purl.

Row 10: p7, bfst, (p9, bfst) x 5, p7

Continue in stockinette until piece measures 11 cm from CO edge. i.e. knit all RS rows and purl all WS rows.

Crown shaping (stockinette):

Row 1: k1, k2tog, k3, * k2tog, k5, repeat from * to 3 sts remain, k3tog.

Row 2: purl.

Row 3: * k4, k2tog, repeat from * to end of row.

Row 4: purl.

Row 5: * k3, k2tog, repeat from * to end of row.

Row 6: purl.

Row 7: * k2, k2tog, repeat from * to end of row.

Row 8: purl.

Row 9: * k1, k2tog, repeat from * to end of row.

Row 10: purl.

Row 11: * k2tog, repeat from * to end of row.

Cut yarn and pull through remaining 9 sts. Seam up the back of the bonnet to approximately 1 cm past the start of the crown shaping. Attach ties or ribbons, approximately 20-25 cm long, at the corner of the front edge. Weave in loose ends and block.

Bonnet version 2 with garter edge and crown

CO 60 sts on the smaller needles. Knit 6 rows. 

Change to larger needles. If using a contrast colour for the edge, change colour here. Increase 5 stitches evenly across the next row as follows:

(k9, kfb) x 5, k10 (65 sts).

Purl next row.

Butterfly pattern:

Select one of the butterfly stitch alternatives above. 

After butterfly pattern, continue in stockinette until piece measures 11 cm from CO edge. i.e. knit all RS rows and purl all WS rows.

Crown shaping (garter):

As stockinette crown shaping given above, but even rows (2, 4, 6, 8 and 10) are knitted instead of purled.

Cut yarn and pull through remaining 9 sts. Seam up the back of the bonnet to approximately 1 cm past the start of the crown shaping. Attach ties or ribbons, approximately 20-25 cm long, at the corner of the front edge. Weave in loose ends and block.

Abbreviations:

bfst - butterfly stitch, insert needle through the loose strands below next stitch and purl them together with the next stitch. Link to Youtube tutorial.

CO - cast on

k - knit

k1tbl - knit 1 st through the back loop to create a twisted st.

kfb - knit into the front of the stitch, then without dropping the stitch off the needle, knit into the back of the stitch. 1 st increased. 

p - purl

p1tbl - purl 1 st through the back loop to create a twisted st.

RS: right side (outside of the bonnet)

sl3wyif - slip 3 sts purlwise with yarn in front

sl5wyif - slip 5 sts purlwise with yarn in front

st(s) - stitch(es)

WS: wrong side (inside of the bonnet)

HAPPY KNITTING!

If you share your project on Instagram, do tag me @cechalden and #cuteasabugbabybonnet. I'd love to see your FOs!