Handmade Baby Gift

When my newest niece was born I hustled off to the yarn store to treat myself to try something new (to me). I bought the fingerling weight Loft from Brooklyn Tweed in Camper. It's got little fleck of other colors in it knitting into a really dynamic fabric. So I did a little math and converted my Simple Ribbed Pixie Bonnet pattern to the light weight yarn. Thing is, one little hat doesn't look like a very satisfying gift. I went shopping for something else to add to the present and I saw this sweet fleece vest. It didn't come in baby sizes, the lining was the wrong color, and I don't feel good about giving cheap stuff to tiny babies, so I made one with fabrics from my stash.

A hand knit pixie bonnet and a home sewn vest make a great baby gift, all tucked into a bento bag that Mama can use to stash a spare diaper and wipes later on. All fabric & pattern details below.

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Hat Pattern: Simple Ribbed Pixie Bonnet by SweetKM
Hat Yarn: Brooklyn Tweed Loft in Camper from Loop Yarn in Philadelphia
Hat Button: Vintage

Bag Pattern: Wholecloth Bento Bag by SweetKM
Bag Fabric: Robert Kaufman Essex Linen Blend from Fabric.com*

Vest Pattern: Improvised
Vest Fabric: Michael Miller Organic Sherpa Fleece from Fabric.com*
Vest Lining: Long Stashed Cotton Print (similar)
Vest Binding: Robert Kaufman Essex Linen Blend from Fabric.com*


*Fabric.com links are affiliate links.

Sewing Pattern: The Blizzard Bonnet A Kid's Pixie Bonnet in 5 sizes

(Updated Dec. 9, 2022) 

I love the classic look of a knit pixie bonnet, and a sewn version seems like the logical next step. My daughter still loves the hat, so I decided to make a Wholecloth Blizzard Bonnet sewing pattern and instructions with expanded sizing from newborn (14in/35.4cm) through child's large (21in/53.5cm).

This design is a very simple, beginner friendly sewing pattern. The woven exterior is lined with warm sherpa fleece, and has a bias bound edge that extends to make strings. It can hang open, or tie at the chin for extra warmth. It's a great way to showcase a favorite print, or use flannel for the lining and create a quilted layer for the exterior. The possibilities are endless.

For my version I used the delightfully warm and soft RK Mammoth Flannel in Red Buffalo Check . The fabric is very thick and is perfect for outerwear, hats, and mittens. I love the classic buffalo check, but there are plenty of other great prints to choose from. I've tried a few different brands of sherpa fleece as I was testing out this pattern. My favorite is the dependably sturdy Michael Miller Organic Sherpa.

I've got a few other knitting and sewing patterns that are just as simple and versatile as this one. If you'd like to be the first to hear about them (and possible testing) sign up for my new newsletter. You'll only get it if something is happening like a sale or new pattern. No spam here!

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STYLO : Gretel's Knits

My STYLO looks were inspired by these two knit pieces. The Pixie Bonnet and Heartwarmer are themes I keep coming back to. I love that they look a little vintage and homespun. Not including knits would have been like not inviting my favorite kid to the party. Here are the details:

Heartwarmer Pattern : Bless Your Heartwarmer by SweetKM 

Heartwarmer Yarn : Palette Yarn in Brindle Heather by Knit Picks 

I'm a sucker for a little girl in a heartwarmer. I tend to make brightly colored ones for L, she loves to wear them, but they rarely go with the rest of her outfit leaving us looking a little bit homeless when we're tooling around town. I love this Brindle Heather from Knit Picks. It all wool, reads as a neutral but is still firmly in the yellow family. Knit Picks Palette yarn is a fingerling weight, but this was made as a worsted weight by knitting with two strands at once. Its a technique I've been using a lot to mix my own custom colors, or create my own bulky weight yarn. My Stylo heartwarmer is a slight variation on the Bless Your Heartwarmer Pattern. To get the articulated spine down the middle I slipped the middle stitch on the right side and purled it on the wrong side. I also substituted twisted strings for the fabric ones for a more traditional look. 

Bonnet Pattern : Big Kid Bonnet (Similar pattern HERE, or buy your own ready made HERE)
Bonnet Yarn : Brava Worsted in Paprika by Knit Picks

Normally, I only knit with natural fibers (with the exception of these guys). I made an exception for this bonnet for the color. The rusty red color took the look out of the christmas card photo and into the autumn woods. Its the pop of color the makes the more neutral tones of the rest of the outfit work. This is my favorite bonnet to make at the moment. The front half is folded over on itself making a double layer of cozy knit around the ears.

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First and last photos are by my husband (who has a name but would rather I not use it).

Bright Red Bonnet

Meet my new favorite big kid pixie bonnet: Bright Red. I admit I had the holidays in mind then I made this, and it will be just perfect for Christmas, but we will be wearing ours all winter long. After all February in Philadelphia could use a pop of color just as much as December.

To further extoll the virtues of this pixie bonnet style:
     1. Two layers of worsted weight knit around the ears. Super Warm!
     2. Ties at the chin for a snug fit. Stays put!
     3. Comes in sizes up to children's size 10. Bring on the big kids!

The Bright Red Bonnet is now available, along with our full line of big kid color choices.

The Part You Don't See.

Listed : Big Kid Pixie Bonnet

My pixie bonnet pattern has grown with my kids, and this is the logical next step. I replaced the chin strap with strings for little ones who want to dress them selves. This version has a double thickness of worsted weight yarn to keep tender ears extra warm on the recent 20 degree days. 

Finished versions, in colors perfect for a March Easter, are available in the shop.

Simple Ribbed Mittens

I've been cranking out Simple Ribbed Mittens since  closing down the shop for the holidays. This is my go-to mitten pattern, that I have been knitting for a few years. In the past, I just wing the sizing and never seem to remember what I've done when I'm finished. 

This time I was as methodical as I can possibly be, and took lots of notes. I also ended up with a couple for really cute mittens for the kids. I wanted something that matched the hats I made them last year, but wasn't exactly the same.

Get the Simple Ribbed Mittens pattern and the Simple Ribbed Bonnet pattern as a set, in the shop today! I'm selling these patterns together so you have the option of adding a holly embellishment to make the Holly Bobble Hat and Mittens, you may have seen in the shop over the holidays.

Its completely unlike me to have a sale, but I'm feeling optimistic about the new year. Enter coupon code PATTERN10 at check out, and get 10% off all pattern purchases. This sale will run until next Sunday, January 22rd. You may notice, I haven't yet relisted my own hand knit pieces. They will be back in the shop next Monday.

New Baby

To keep a new little baby I know warm and toasty through the Irish winter. The Pale Pink Ribbed Pixie Bonnet, with a covered button. The Shawl Collar Baby Coat in Heather Grey with Pale Pink trim and covered buttons to match the bonnet. Love this combination, wish it didn't take me so long to finish. I've got another (hopefully) unisex one in the works for the shop. 

Pattern: Shawl Collar Baby Coat
             Ribbed Pixie Bonnet
Fabric: The Heyday Shop

Holly Bobble Hat and Mittens

Holiday bonnets are back for the season. It seems much too early to be thinking of Christmas, but I want everyone to get as much wear as possible out of these great sets. L's in on the needles as we speak. She only wore last year's set once, before someone bought it right off her little head.

Stay tuned for the Holly Bobble Hat and Mittens Pattern! There I said it, now I have to finish it, right?

Ribbed Bonnet

Here is a little preview of the hats that will be showing up in the shop in the next few days. Cozy and simple, great for a boy or a girl. This gray blue really makes L's blue eyes pop.

I'm hoping for some sunnier weather so we can take some brighter photos. The weather and I are clearly not on the same schedule.

In Progress

Some new hat colors for the shop, or a new color and a remix of old colors. I am loving this grey. So soft and buttery, and perfectly subtle.

Boys

I am slowly coming out of the knitting frenzy started by an Etsy Finds email a few weeks ago. Now that I have time to survey my work, I'll share a few custom orders. This is my favorite little boy bonnet so far. So simple and I already had the yarn from the Shawl Collar Baby Coat.

I am in hot pursuit of more boy friendly items. Stay tuned.

Pixie Tips

I have gotten a few questions from overseas knitters about what yarn is most appropriate for the iddy Biddy Pixie Bonnet Pattern. Here in the U.S. I use worsted weight yarn on size 7 or 8 needles, depending on the yarn brand. Based on my own internet research, and feedback from a few knitters, I would recommend that Australian knitters use 8 ply yarn and UK knitters use double knit yarn. If you are using metric needles use 4.5mm or 5mm. Of course, it is always good practice to make a gauge swatch before you start knitting.

Please leave a comment, or contact me at the email to the right, if you have more to add to this topic.

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