Little Shell Lace Baby Bonnet

Supplies:

Worsted weight yarn (or sport weight for newborn size)

           1- 50 gram ball is plenty

Size 8 (US) needles (5 (US) for newborn)

Crochet hook for making tie chain (or ribbon instead)

Cast on 46 sts loosely, leaving a 3 foot tail (for tie later).

Begin by doing scalloped edge as follows:

Row 1) K1, * yo, K4, slip first 3 of these stitches over 4th stitch*,
           repeat to last stitch, yo, K1 (25 sts)

Row 2) K2, inc in each stitch till last two sts, K2 (46 sts)

Next do eyelet row as follows:

Row 3) K1, * yo, K2tog,* repeat till last stitch, K1 (46 sts)

Row 4) Knit

Row 5) K2tog, knit to last 2 sts, K2tog. (44 sts.)

Row 6) Purl

Commence body of bonnet in Little Shell Pattern:

Row 7) slip 1, K1, *yo, P1, P3tog, P1, yo, K2* to end of row

Row 8) slip 1, Purl to end

Row 9) slip 1, Knit to end

Row 10) slip 1, Purl to end

Rows 11-30) Repeat rows 7-10, 5 more times (4 more times for newborn)-(6 shell sections, or 5 shell

sections for newborns, completed)

Now you are ready to “turn” the top as you work down the back of the bonnet, the same as making a Dutch heel
            (aka square heel):

Row 31) (newborn row 27) slip 1, K12, K2tog, K1, yo, P1, P3tog, P1, yo, K2, yo, P1, P3tog, P1, yo, K1, ssk, turn
            (leave 13 sts unworked)

Row 32) (NB 28) slip 1, P14, P2tog, turn (12 sts left)

Row 33) (NB 29) slip 1, K14, ssk, turn (12 sts left)

Row 34) (NB 30) slip 1, P14, P2tog, turn (11 sts left)

Row 35) (NB 31) slip 1, K1, yo, P1, P3tog, P1, yo, K2, yo, P1, P3tog, P1, yo, K1, ssk, turn (11 sts left)

Repeat rows 32-35, 6 times, (but you will have one less stitch on each edge after each row),

              or until no side stitches remain on either side (16 sts now left on needle, and right side is now facing you)

At end of last decrease row DO NOT turn, instead pick up (from the right side) 13 sts along edge (in the slipped
             stitch “V”s), stopping before the scalloped front edge (29 sts)

Next Row-*P2, K2*, till last st, P1.  Now, pick up 13 stitches along other edge (in the slipped stitch “V”s, from the
             right side) stopping before the scalloped front edge.  (42 sts)

Next Row-*K2, P2*, to last 2 sts, K2

Next Row-*P2, K2*, to last 2 sts, P2

Next 2 Rows-Repeat last 2 rows of ribbing 

Cast Off in ribbing

Finishing:  Sew end of yarn on each side to the center corner of where the ribbing edge and the scalloped edge meet.  (You should have a tail end on each side of bonnet-one from casting on, one from casting off.) Secure yarn into this corner with a few stitches, then use this tail to crochet a chain for ties on each side.  Or, if you prefer to weave a tie into the eyelet row done after the scalloped edge, just weave in your ends, and then single crochet a chain about 30" long (or use a ribbon), and thread through eyelet row.  Either method works fine, but if you do it the first way, it is easier to flip the scalloped edge back if you choose, since the tie isn’t running through it.   

Note:  For warmer and less lacy look (more ‘boyish’), simply twist the yarn over increases when you purl them on the next row after making them in the pattern row.  Do this by purling into the back of the yarn over stitch when you come to each yarn over loop over the needle.  This will make it snug up, and not have as much open lace to the fabric.  But note, this will also tighten the gauge a bit, so the bonnet will be a bit smaller.  Example is shown on bonnet on the left side of picture above.

© 1998 by Dawn Adcock. You may copy and share this pattern for personal, non-commercial use, as long as this copyright notice remains intact. Please do not post to the internet, include on a website, or republish without prior permission.  E-mail: dawn@3gcs.com Web: www.3gcs.com/adcock/knittingmain.htm