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It’s that time of year! You know, almost spring but not really. When you start thinking about bunnies, chicks and flowers, rainy days and warming temperatures.
This time of year was always my busiest time of year in my etsy shop. Why? Bunny Bonnets. I sold a couple thousand bunny bonnets over the decade my etsy shop was open. By April I LOATHED bunnies. I’m not going to lie, I’m so happy I don’t have to spend 14 hours a day making the same thing over and over and over again this spring. But I may make a bunny bonnet just for my own baby because next year she’ll probably be too big for one. *wipes tear*
Bulky Bunny Bonnet uses one of my favorite soft and fluffy yarns, KnitPicks Wunderfluff. Even for the biggest size you only need 1 skein. I can get a newborn and 6-12mth size out of 1 skein. A little goes a long way. This yarn is super soft and has a nice subtle fluff. And because it’s alpaca blown into a nylon tube it doesn’t have the stretch that alpaca is notorious for, so it will hold it’s shape well after many uses.
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Materials and Info
Yarn – 1 skein KnitPicks Wonderfluff (50g 142yd)
Gauge -4sts/in
Needles – 10 (6mm) circular and dpn
Sizes – newborn, (3-6mth, 6-12m), toddler
Head Measurement – 12-14in/30-35cm, (13-15in/32.5-37.5cm,15-17in/37.542.5), 16-18in/52.5-57.5cm
Other –yarn needle, crochet hook
Bunny Bonnet is a classic styled bonnet with floppy bunny ears. Knit up in a brushed alpaca for a little fluff.
I have been perfecting and tweaking this bonnet for years. I sold hundreds of them in my Etsy shop. I am finally passing my time of tweaking on to you.
Abbreviations can be found at the end.
Bunny Bonnet Pattern
NEWBORN
Cast on 42sts. I used the long tail cast on.
Work in a k2p2 ribbing (k2p2 across) for 4 rows. slipping the 1 st on each row flat portion for a 1 stitch salvage edge. End after completing a wrong side row.
Work in stockinette st (knit across the front side, purl across the wrong side) until your work measures appx 3.5in/9cm ending after completing a right-side row (knit row). Transfer sts to dpn. Join in the round.
DECREASES
Round 1 – [k2tog, 5] Repeat [to] around (36sts)
Round 2 – knit around
Round 3 – [k2tog, 4] Repeat [to] around (30sts)
Round 4 – knit around
Round 5 – [k2tog, 3] Repeat [to] around (24sts)
Round 6 – knit around
Round 7 – [k2tog, 2] Repeat [to] around (18sts)
Round 8 – knit around
Round 9 – [k2tog, 1] Repeat [to] around (12sts)
Round 10 – [k2tog] Repeat [to] around (6sts)
Do not bind off. Cut a tail appx 6-8ins/15-17.5cms long. Using a yarn needle, pull through remaining stitches and cinch sts closed tightly. Weave in ends.
EARS (make 2)
Cast on 6sts leaving a long enough tail to sew ears onto bonnet (apps 12ins)
Row 1 (wrong side) – purl across
Row 2 – sl1, m1, k4, m1, k1 (8sts)
Row 3 – sl1, purl across
Row 4 – sl1, m1, k6, m1, k1 (10sts)
Row 5 – sl1, purl across
Row 6 – sl1, m1, k8, m1, k1 (12sts)
Row 7 – sl1, purl across Row 8 – sl1, knit across
Repeat rows 7&8 until the ear measures 5in/12.5cms from cast on ending after completing a row 7. Row 9 – sl1, ssk, k6, k2tog, k1 (10sts)
Row 10 – sl1, purl across
Row 11 – sl1, ssk, ssk, k2tog, k2tog, k1 (6sts)
Row 12- sl1, purl across
Row 13 – sl1, ssk, k2tog, k1 (4sts)
Using the cast on whip stitch the ears on the bonnet in desired place. I personally like them 5sts from the middle and 5sts back from the k2p2 ribbing but put them where you think they look best.
TIES
Cut 6 pieces of yarn 30ins long. Use 3 pieces per side. Using a crochet hook, fold 3 piece in half and pull from the center a loop though the corner of the bonnet. Pull the ends through that loop to fasten. Braid and tie off.
3-6 MONTH
Cast on 50
Work in a k2p2 ribbing (k2p2 across) for 4 rows. slipping the 1 flat portion for a 1 stitch salvage edge. Next row – sl1, k2tog, knit across (49sts)
Work in stockinette st (knit across the front side, purl across the wrong side). until your work measures appx 4in/10cm ending after completing a right-side row (knit row). Transfer sts to dpn. Join in the round.
DECREASES
Round 1 – [k2tog, 5] Repeat [to] around (42sts)
Round 2 – knit around
Round 3 – [k2tog, 4] Repeat [to] around (35sts)
Round 4 – knit around
Round 5 – [k2tog, 3] Repeat [to] around (28sts)
Round 6 – knit around
Round 7 – [k2tog, 2] Repeat [to] around (21sts)
Round 8 – knit around
Round 9 – [k2tog, 1] Repeat [to] around (14sts)
Round 10 – [k2tog] Repeat [to] around (7sts)
Do not bind off. Cut a tail appx 6-8ins/15-17.5cms long. Using a yarn needle, pull through remaining stitches and cinch sts closed tightly. Weave in ends.
EARS (make 2)
Cast on 6sts leaving a long enough tail to sew ears onto bonnet (apps 12ins)
Row 1 (wrong side) – purl across
Row 2 – sl1, m1, k4, m1, k1 (8sts)
Row 3 – sl1, purl across
Row 4 – sl1, m1, k6, m1, k1 (10sts)
Row 5 – sl1, purl across
Row 6 – sl1, m1, k8, m1, k1 (12sts)
Row 7 – sl1, purl across Row 8 – sl1, knit across
Repeat rows 7&8 until the ear measures 5in/12.5cms from cast on ending after completing a row 7. Row 9 – sl1, ssk, k6, k2tog, k1 (10sts)
Row 10 – sl1, purl across
Row 11 – sl1, ssk, ssk, k2tog, k2tog, k1 (6sts)
Row 12- sl1, purl across
Row 13 – sl1, ssk, k2tog, k1 (4sts)
Using the cast on whip stitch the ears on the bonnet in desired place. I personally like them 5sts from the middle and 5sts back from the k2p2 ribbing but put them where you think they look best.
TIES
Cut 6 pieces of yarn 30ins long. Use 3 pieces per side. Using a crochet hook, fold 3 piece in half and pull from the center a loop though the corner of the bonnet. Pull the ends through that loop to fasten. Braid and tie off.
6-12 MONTH
Cast on 56
Work in a k2p2 ribbing (k2p2 across) for 5 rows. slipping the 1 flat portion for a 1 stitch salvage edge.
Work in stockinette st (knit across the front side, purl across the wrong side). until your work measures appx 5in/12.5cm ending after completing a right-side row (knit row). Transfer sts to dpn. Join in the round.
DECREASES
Round 1 – [k2tog, 5] Repeat [to] around (48sts)
Round 2 – knit around
Round 3 – [k2tog, 4] Repeat [to] around (40sts)
Round 4 – knit around
Round 5 – [k2tog, 3] Repeat [to] around (32sts)
Round 6 – knit around
Round 7 – [k2tog, 2] Repeat [to] around (24sts)
Round 8 – knit around
Round 9 – [k2tog, 1] Repeat [to] around (16sts)
Round 10 – knit around
Round 11 – [k2tog] Repeat [to] around (8sts)
Do not bind off. Cut a tail appx 6-8ins/15-17.5cms long. Using a yarn needle, pull through remaining stitches and cinch sts closed tightly. Weave in ends.
EARS (make 2)
Cast on 9sts leaving a long enough tail to sew ears onto bonnet (apps 12ins)
Row 1 (wrong side) – purl across
Row 2 – sl1, m1, k7, m1, k1 (11sts)
Row 3 – sl1, purl across
Row 4 – sl1, m1, k9, m1, k1 (13sts)
Row 5 – sl1, purl across
Row 6 – sl1, m1, k10, m1, k1 (15sts)
Row 7 – sl1, purl across Row 8 – sl1, knit across
Repeat rows 7&8 until the ear measures 6ins/15cm from cast on ending after completing a row 7. Row 9 – sl1, ssk, k9, k2tog, k1 (13sts)
Row 10 – sl1, purl across
Row 11 – sl1, ssk, ssk, k3, k2tog, k2tog, k1 (9sts)
Row 12- sl1, purl across
Row 13 – sl1, ssk, k3, k2tog, k1 (7sts)
Using the cast on whip stitch the ears on the bonnet in desired place. I personally like them 5sts from the middle and 5sts back from the k2p2 ribbing but put them where you think they look best.
TIES
Cut 6 pieces of yarn 30ins long. Use 3 pieces per side. Using a crochet hook, fold 3 piece in half and pull from the center a loop though the corner of the bonnet. Pull the ends through that loop to fasten. Braid and tie off.
TODDLER
Cast on 64
Work in a k2p2 ribbing (k2p2 across) for 5 rows. slipping the 1 flat portion for a 1 stitch salvage edge. Next row – sl1, k2tog, knit across (63sts)
Work in stockinette st (knit across the front side, purl across the wrong side). until your work measures appx 5.5in/14cm ending after completing a right-side row (knit row). Transfer sts to dpn. Join in the round.
DECREASES
Round 1 – [k2tog, 5] Repeat [to] around (54sts)
Round 2 – knit around
Round 3 – [k2tog, 4] Repeat [to] around (45sts)
Round 4 – knit around
Round 5 – [k2tog, 3] Repeat [to] around (36sts)
Round 6 – knit around
Round 7 – [k2tog, 2] Repeat [to] around (27sts)
Round 8 – knit around
Round 9 – [k2tog, 1] Repeat [to] around (18sts)
Round 10 – knit around
Round 11 – [k2tog] Repeat [to] around (9sts)
Do not bind off. Cut a tail appx 6-8ins/15-17.5cms long. Using a yarn needle, pull through remaining stitches and cinch sts closed tightly. Weave in ends.
EARS (make 2)
Cast on 9sts leaving a long enough tail to sew ears onto bonnet (apps 12ins)
Row 1 (wrong side) – purl across
Row 2 – sl1, m1, k7, m1, k1 (11sts)
Row 3 – sl1, purl across
Row 4 – sl1, m1, k9, m1, k1 (13sts)
Row 5 – sl1, purl across
Row 6 – sl1, m1, k10, m1, k1 (15sts)
Row 7 – sl1, purl across Row 8 – sl1, knit across
Repeat rows 7&8 until the ear measures 6ins/15cm from cast on ending after completing a row 7. Row 9 – sl1, ssk, k9, k2tog, k1 (13sts)
Row 10 – sl1, purl across
Row 11 – sl1, ssk, ssk, k3, k2tog, k2tog, k1 (9sts)
Row 12- sl1, purl across
Row 13 – sl1, ssk, k3, k2tog, k1 (7sts)
Using the cast on whip stitch the ears on the bonnet in desired place. I personally like them 5sts from the middle and 5sts back from the k2p2 ribbing but put them where you think they look best.
TIES
Cut 6 pieces of yarn 30ins long. Use 3 pieces per side. Using a crochet hook, fold 3 piece in half and pull from the center a loop though the corner of the bonnet. Pull the ends through that loop to fasten. Braid and tie off.
Abbreviations
k – knit
P – purl
sl – slip stitch
k2tog -knit 2 stitches together
ssk – slip next st knitwise, slip next st knitwise, place stitches back onto left needle, knit both slipped sts together
m1 – make 1 – pick up the bar between the stitches and knit through back loop
Download Bulky Bunny Bonnet PDF
