Seashell Crochet Baby Bonnet – Free Pattern

Crochet baby bonnets are super easy to make, and you can wrap up the entire hat with just one skein of yarn. They are perfect last minute projects for baby showers and baby gifts. You usually don’t need any special knowledge of shaping, no decreases needed, only a few rounds of increases, which are nothing other than two or more stitches made into the same stitch from the row/round below. Easy peasy!

I won’t lie, I didn’t write this one from a scratch. I partially reused one of my old crochet patterns for it. Therefore the back of the bonnet is the same as with the Sunflower bonnet that I posted a while back and you can find here. The rest is a very simple crochet shell stitch pattern on a repeat.

Let’s talk about yarn. The pattern was initially designed with Paintbox Cotton Aran yarn. A great substitution for that yarn would be Drops Paris form Garn Studio, Epic from Yarn and Colors or Rico Creative Cotton Aran from Rico Designs. Those are actually my favorite cotton yarns, and I use them all the time. Most of my patterns are written with those, and I could talk for days about each. My favorite hook to go with any of those is 4.0 mm crochet hook. The stitches are nice and clear and the fabric soft and right enough stretchy.

You won’t need any special supplies for this project, just a pair of scissors and a tapestry needle to cut and hide the yarn tails between the stitches once you’re done crocheting.

If you decide the use this pattern, please share your finished bonnet with me on Instagram tagging me #crobypatterns. I would love to see it and give it a big <3.

Video Tutorial

Materials

• YARN: Aran weight yarn – Yarn And Colors Epic – this is 100% cotton yarn, there is 50 g (1.75 oz) and 75 m ( 82 yds) of yarn in one skein. I will be using it in the color 47 or old pink. I love when the yarn color has a name. It’s so much easier to share what color I use.
• CROCHET HOOK: 4.0 mm or G/6 crochet hook or a hook to obtain the gauge.
• OTHER: two stitch markers, tapestry needle and scissors.

Stitches and Abbreviations

• Sst/sts – stitch/stitches
• ch – chain
• ss – slip stitch
• dc – double crochet
• CL – cluster stitch [skip 2, work 2 dc, 1 ch, 2 dc into the same st, skip 2]
• BPdc – back post double crochet
• FPdc – front post double crochet

Gauge

GAUGE:  Work 11 stitches and 8 rows in SC into BLO using a 6.5 mm crochet hook and Aran weight yarn to measure 10 x 10 cm (5 x 5 inches).

When you find a new crochet project that you would like to make, you usually want to start ASAP. We all do. But please take some time and check the gauge. It might save your project!

Checking the gauge is a crucial step in the process of making a new crochet/knit garment. It will help you achieve the right size of your finish item. Learn how to check your gauge here.

Pattern Notes

• SIZE: 0 – 6 months (available below), 6-12 months (available in the PDF pattern here).
• How to read a pattern: You can learn how to read a crochet pattern herhttps://crobypatterns.com/how-to-read-a-crochet-pattern-2/e.
• The pattern is written in US crochet terms.
• Skill level: Easy/Medium
• Measurements: 15 cm or 9″ across and 15 cm or 9″ in height.

PDF Pattern

I have exciting news for all of you who prefer to work offline or would like to have a copy of the pattern for your own crochet library.
Most of my patterns are now available as beautifully designed and easy to follow PDF files that you can download and save them to your smartphone, tablet or print them out. Hop over to one of my shops that you can find on Etsy, Ravelry, or Love Crochet and get the pattern of your choice in more than just one size.

Instructions

Crochet Baby Bonnet – Seashell

The pattern is written in two simple steps: bonnet and straps. We are going to start with the back of the bonnet and work our way up to the front.

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BONNET

The first part of the bonnet is made in rounds. Each round is joined with a simple stitch, connecting the first and last stitch of the round together. This is also a part of the pattern where the number of stitches increases with each round, each round for ten additional stitches.

The fabric you will be making here should be in the shape of a bowl and not entiery flat as you would expect. After all, baby’s head is not flat at the back eather. Therefore we have to crochet it accordingly.

Work in rounds. Do not turn after each round. Join each round with a ss made into the first st of that round.

MR (magic ring).
Round 1: Work 10 dc into the magic ring. Pull the yarn tail and close the magic ring. Ss. = 10 sts.

Round 2: Ch 1. Work 2 dc into each if next 10. Ss. = 20 sts.

Round 3: Ch 1. Repeat {2 dc into the same, 1 dc into the next one} 10 times. Ss. = 30 sts.

Round 4: Ch 1. Repeat {2 dc into the same, 1 dc into each of next two} 10 times. Ss.= 40 sts.

Round 5: Ch 1. Repeat {2 dc into the same, 1 dc into each of next three} 10 times. Ss. = 50 sts.

From here on work in rows. Turn your work after each row.

Our first row will end up with one stitch less then round 5. In row 6 we are going to stop crocheting one stitch before the end of round 5 chain 1 to lift the row and turn our work. With skipping this one stitch in row 6 we get the perfect amount of stitches we need for our further stitch pattern and a nicer opening at the bottom of the bonnet.

Row 6: Work 1 dc into the same. Repeat {CL, 1 dc into the next} 8 times. Skip the last st of the row, turn your work and start with the next one. = 49 sts.

Row 7: Work 1 dc into the same. Repeat {CL, 1 BPdc into the next} 7 times. CL. Work 1 dc into the last one. = 49 sts.

Row 8: Work 1 dc into the same. Repeat {CL, 1 FPdc into the next} 7 times. CL. Work 1 dc into the last one. = 49 sts.

Repeat rows 7 and 8 two more times.

Cut the yarn and fasten off. Hide all the yarn tails between the stitches and the main part of the bonnet is not complete. Continue with the strap.

STRAP

We are going to start on one end of the strap, then we are going to attach the strap to the bonnet and work our way up to the other end of the strap. 

After that, we are going to turn and create one additional row of stitches to make it stronger and comfortable to wear and tie in a bow.

Row 1: Ch 42 (46). Join with the lower part of the bonnet. Work sc sts across the lower part of the bonnet. 2 sc into every dc from the side and also 2 sc sts into the skipped st from row 6.

When you complete that ch 43 (47). Turn.

Row 2: Start in the 2nd ch from the hook. Work 1 ss into each of next 42 (46) chains, 1 sc into each of next 30 (38) sts. Work 1 ss into each of next 42 (46) chains. = 114 (130) sts.

Cut the yarn and fasten off.

Hide all the tails between the stitches and your adorable baby bonnet is now complete.

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