My friends at Let Them Live help women in difficult times facing hard decisions. According to the website, 73% of women have abortions because of financial burden. “No mother should have to choose between paying bills or her baby’s life.” Support from Let Them Live allows moms to choose life for their babies. The children born with the help of Let Them Live celebrate new life with the mothers by giving handmade gifts such as blankets, hats, and clothing.

You can support this organization financially by going to their website and offering a donation or pledging monthly support. My maker friends can also help by making items for donation. For details and questions about making baby items, contact Amy (IG prolifeknitter) at amy.d@letthemlive.org.

Here is a pattern for a cute baby bonnet they would love to gift to a mom and her baby. After you make some for Let Them Live, you can make more for your family and friends, church and local charities. I hope this is a pattern you will return to time after time for an heirloom to celebrate new life!

LTL Baby Bonnet

Difficulty
Advanced Beginner

Finished Measurements
Newborn (6-12 Months, 12-24 Months, Toddler, Child)
Crown measures 14 (15, 16, 17, 19) inches

Materials
Any yarn (recommend worsted or smaller)
Hook appropriate for yarn
Samples shown using DK (#3) yarn and US G hook (4mm)

Gauge
20 dc/10 rnds = 4×4”/10x10cm (not critical)

Notes

• Pattern is written in US terms and
  Imperial measurements.
• Pattern was tested using DK weight yarn, but yarn weight and gauge is not critical because instructions are all given in measurements rather than stitch count.
• Work instructions in brackets [] the number of times indicated.
• Find standard abbreviations here.

Crown

Rnd 1: In Magic Loop, 10 sc. Join to the first st with a sl st.
10 sc

Rnd 2: Ch 2 (does not count as a st throughout), 2 dc in each st around. Join to the first st with a sl st.
20 dc

Rnd 3: Ch 2, [2 dc, dc] around. Join to the first st with a sl st.
30 dc

Rnd 4: Ch 2, [2 dc, dc in the next 2 sts] around. Join to the first st with a sl st.
40 dc

Continue increasing as established until Crown measures 4.5 (4.75, 5, 5.5, 6) inches across. You will have a multiple of 10 sts.

Last Rnd of Crown: (This is now the RS) Ch 1, working in the blo sc in each st around. Join to the first st with a sl st. Turn.

Brim

You will now work in Rows.

Row 1 (WS): Ch 1, sc in the first st, [ch 3, sk next 3 sts, sc in the next st] until approximately 1.5 (1.5, 2, 2, 2.5) inches are left unworked. The number of stitches unworked does not matter. Turn.

Row 2 (RS): Ch 3 (counts as a dc throughout), 4 dc in the next ch-3 sp, [sk sc, 4 dc in the next ch-3 sp] across to the last sc, dc in the last sc. Turn.

Row 3: Ch 1, sc in the first st, ch 3, sk next 4 sts, [sc between the 4th st of one set of dcs and the first st of the next set, ch 3, sk next 4 sts] across to the last st, sc in the 3rd ch of the turning ch. Turn.

Repeat Rows 2 & 3 until work measures 2.25 (2.5, 2.5, 2.75, 3) inches from Magic Loop or until desired length.

Choose a Ruffle or a Scallop for finishing.

Ruffle

End Brim with a Row 2.

With WS facing and working in the blo, sl st in each st across Brim. Turn.

Ch 4, working in the blo of the last row of the Brim (this is the loop opposite from the sl st row), tr in the same st, 2 tr in each st across. Finish off.

Scallop

End Brim with a Row 3.

Sl st in first st, [4 dc in ch-3 sp, sl st in the next st] across. Finish off.

Ties

The ties are made with a crocheted I-cord. If you prefer, you can use a simple chain or sew on a knitted I-cord instead.

Create a crocheted I-cord as follows. Leaving a 48-inch long tail, make a slip knot. * Make a loop on your hook by bringing the long tail over the hook front to back, yo with working yarn, and pull through both loops. Repeat from * until I-cord measures 12 inches.

Drop the long tail. With RS facing, sc evenly along the left edge of Brim, sc in each unworked st on the Crown, sc evenly along the right edge of the Brim.

Pick up a second 48-inch strand and continue making an I-cord for 12 inches.

Finish off. Weave in ends. Block as desired.

Tech edited by Fiat Fiber Arts.