Introducing our bear ears pixie bonnet knitting pattern. This free knitting pattern comes in sizes newborn, baby, toddler, children. It is made with medium #4 worsted weight yarn. You’ll be making hats for all the little ones in your life. They make wonderful additions to Halloween costumes or to wear year round.
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Although our patterns are always free on our blog, many prefer our premium ad-free, printer friendly, PDF versions. These are available to purchase here.
Supplies:
Yarn – Any worsted weight (#4).
The yarn used in the photos is Loops & Threads Impeccable. Colors – Chocolate and Soft Taupe.
Purchase online: (Amazon USA) (Amazon Canada) (Michaels)
Needles – Please check your gauge before starting as you may need to go up or down a needle size to get the fit just right. Size US 6 /4mm circular needles for the brim. Size US 7/4.5mm, circular needles for the body.
Size US 7/4.5mm double pointed needles for the I-cord ties (circular needles will also work). When making the bonnet, I prefer working back and forth on circular needles as there is plenty of room on the needles to fit all the stitches as I work the pattern.
Darning needle, stitch marker, measuring tape and scissors.
Gauge:
4” x 4” = 16 stitches and 23 rows in stocking stitch.
Be sure to check your gauge to ensure the bonnet will fit properly. When checking your gauge, use the needles recommended for the body of the hat (not the brim).
Abbreviations:
K = Knit
P = Purl
Sizes:
Newborn, 0-3 Months, 3-6 Months, 6-12 Months, 1-2 Years, 3-4 Years, 5+ Years
Directions:
Newborn:
Cast on 41 stitches.
Row 1 – *K1 P1; repeat from * to last stitch, K1. Turn work.
Row 2 – *P1 K1; repeat from * to last stitch, P1. Turn work.
Repeat rows 1 and 2 until you have completed 4 rows.
Switch to your larger needles.
Row 5 – P3, K to last 3 stitches, P3. Turn work.
Row 6 – P all. Turn work.
Repeat rows 5 and 6 until your work measures 5.25” deep.
Cast off. Cut yarn, leaving a long enough tail to stitch the back seam of the bonnet.
Move to the “Finishing the pixie bonnet” directions below.
0 – 3 Months:
Cast on 45 stitches.
Row 1 – *K1 P1; repeat from * to last stitch, K1. Turn work.
Row 2 – *P1 K1; repeat from * to last stitch, P1. Turn work.
Repeat rows 1 and 2 until you have completed 4 rows.
Switch to your larger needles.
Row 5 – P3, K to last 3 stitches, P3. Turn work.
Row 6 – P all. Turn work.
Repeat rows 5 and 6 until your work measures 5.5”.
Cast off. Cut yarn, leaving a long enough tail to stitch the back seam of the bonnet.
Move to the “Finishing the pixie bonnet” directions below.
3 – 6 Months:
Cast on 49 stitches.
Row 1 – *K1 P1; repeat from * to last stitch, K1. Turn work.
Row 2 – *P1 K1; repeat from * to last stitch, P1. Turn work.
Repeat rows 1 and 2 until you have completed 6 rows.
Switch to your larger needles.
Row 7 – P4, K to last 4 stitches, P4. Turn work.
Row 8 – P all. Turn work.
Repeat rows 7 and 8 until your work measures 6”.
Cast off. Cut yarn, leaving a long enough tail to stitch the back seam of the bonnet.
Move to the “Finishing the pixie bonnet” directions below.
6 – 12 Months:
Cast on 53 stitches.
Row 1 – *P1 K1; repeat from * to last stitch, P1. Turn work.
Row 2 – *K1 P1; repeat from * to last stitch, K1. Turn work.
Repeat rows 1 and 2 until you have completed 6 rows.
Switch to your larger needles.
Row 7 – P4, K to last 4 stitches, P4. Turn work.
Row 8 – P all. Turn work.
Repeat rows 7 and 8 until your work measures 6.75”.
Cast off. Cut yarn, leaving a long enough tail to stitch the back seam of the bonnet.
Move to the “Finishing the pixie bonnet” directions below.
1 – 2 Years:
Cast on 57 stitches.
Row 1 – *P1 K1; repeat from * to last stitch, P1. Turn work.
Row 2 – *K1 P1; repeat from * to last stitch, K1. Turn work.
Repeat rows 1 and 2 until you have completed 8 rows.
Switch to your larger needles.
Row 9 – P6, K to last 6 stitches, P6. Turn work.
Row 10 – P all. Turn work.
Repeat rows 9 and 10 until your work measures 7.25”.
Cast off. Cut yarn, leaving a long enough tail to stitch the back seam of the bonnet.
Move to the “Finishing the pixie bonnet” directions below.
3 – 4 Years:
Cast on 61 stitches.
Row 1 – *P1 K1; repeat from * to last stitch, P1. Turn work.
Row 2 – *K1 P1; repeat from * to last stitch, K1. Turn work.
Repeat rows 1 and 2 until you have completed 8 rows.
Switch to your larger needles.
Row 9 – P6, K to last 6 stitches, P6. Turn work.
Row 10 – P all. Turn work.
Repeat rows 9 and 10 until your work measures 7.75”.
Cast off. Cut yarn, leaving a long enough tail to stitch the back seam of the bonnet.
Move to the “Finishing the pixie bonnet” directions below.
5 + Years:
Cast on 65 stitches.
Row 1 – *P1 K1; repeat from * to last stitch, P1. Turn work.
Row 2 – *K1 P1; repeat from * to last stitch, K1. Turn work.
Repeat rows 1 and 2 until you have completed 8 rows.
Switch to your larger needles.
Row 9 – P6, K to last 6 stitches, P6. Turn work.
Row 10 – P all. Turn work.
Repeat rows 9 and 10 until your work measures 8.25”.
Cast off. Cut yarn, leaving a long enough tail to stitch the back seam of the bonnet.
Move to the “Finishing the pixie bonnet” directions below.
Finishing the pixie bonnet:
* Although the instructions are the same, the photos below that show how to stitch up the bonnet and make the side ties are not the same color yarn as this animal ears pixie bonnet.
Fold the bonnet in half with the wrong side facing out (purl side). Thread the yarn from the cast off edge onto the darning needle. Using the whip stitch, work along the back seam from the bottom to the top.
* I like to start seaming the edge a few stitches in along the base of the bonnet and work my way up the back seam. This helps the bonnet stay in place better at the back of the neck.
Secure the yarn at the top and weave in the end. Turn work to the right side facing out (knit side).
Making the ties:
The side ties are made with an I-cord. Using double pointed needles, with your work facing right side out, pick up 4 stitches along the corner of the bonnet. Your yarn should be on the left hand side once you have done this.
Slide the needle across so the stitches are on the right end of the needle. Carry the yarn over on the inside of the bonnet and knit across the 4 stitches. Slide the stitches back to the right end of the needle and repeat. Tip – your work will always be facing right side out. Never turn your work while completing the I-cord.
Continue until your ties measure the length below, or your desired length:
Newborn, 0-3 months, 3-6 months – 8”
6-12 months, 1-2 years – 10”
3-4 years, 5+ years – 12”
Cast off, cut yarn and leave a tail length enough to weave in. Insert the tail into a darning needle and weave it through the middle of the I-cord.
Repeat for the other side, making sure the length is the same as the first tie. Tie a knot at the end of the I-cords.
Making The Ears
Use the same size needles you used for the main section of the hat (not the brim).
Outer Ear (make 2):
Cast on 12 in main color.
Row 1 – Purl. Turn after completing each row.
Row 2 – Knit
Row 3 – Purl
Row 4 – Knit
Row 5 – Purl
Row 6 – Knit
Row 7 – Purl
Row 8 – K1, K2tog, K6, K2tog, K1 (10 left)
Row 9 – Purl
Row 10 – K2tog 5 times (5 left)
Cut yarn and weave through the remaining 5 stitches. After, weave through the 1st stitch again to secure all the stitches and create a round shape at the top.
Inner Ear (make 2):
Cast on 10 in contrast color.
Row 1 – Knit. Turn after completing each row.
Row 2 – Purl
Row 3 – Knit
Row 4 – Purl
Row 5 – K1, K2tog, K4, K2tog, K1 (8 left)
Row 6 – Purl
Row 7 – K2tog 4 times (4 left).
Cut yarn and weave through the remaining 4 stitches. After, weave through the 1st stitch again to secure all the stitches and create a round shape at the top.
Attaching The Ears:
Place the inner and outer ear pieces together. The purl sides go on the inside (touching one another) and the knit sides facing the outside. The outer ear should frame the inner ear.
Using the contrast color tail, begin stitching the two pieces together. When picking up on the inner ear, insert your needle into the turn stitches. When picking up on the outer ear, insert your needle into the 1st pearl stitch of each row (not the turn stitch). This will hide the yarn along the back the best possible. If you pick up the turn stitch on the outer ear, the contrast color yarn will be visible on the front and back of the ear
Continue working up the ear to the top and back down the other side. When you get to the tip of the ear, tuck the two tails from when you finished the ear pieces into the inside of the ear. Once you finish the ear, give those two ends a gentle tug if you want to adjust the shape of the ear at the top. Tuck these tails inside the ear or cut if they are quite long. Do not cut the two tails from the starting of each ear piece. If the contrast yarn is showing along the back, gently pull the white stitches next to it to try and hide it. If the pink is fully exposed on the back, you may be inserting your needle into the wrong spot.
When attaching the ears to the hat, use the contrast color tail to attach along that same colored section of the ear and main color tail to stitch along the sides and back.
Repeat for the second ear, making sure they are placed evenly on the bonnet.
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