Introducing the Christmas Santa 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!
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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. Pompom – Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick.
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
Note on Changing Colors:
Once the brim is complete, you will alternate from white to red and back to white while working the main part of the bonnet. Create a bobbin of white yarn to use on one end and use the main yarn ball for the other end.
When it is time to change colors in the row, “lock” the old yarn color in place when both tails of yarn are on the wrong side (WS) of the bonnet. After completing the last stitch in the old color, place the new yarn color strand over the old yarn color strand. This will lock the old color in place. Continue working the row with the new color.
Directions:
Newborn:
** See the “note on changing colors” section above for more information on alternating back and forth with the red and white yarn once you complete the brim**
Cast on 41 stitches with contrast color (white).
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 (white), K to last 3 stitches (red), P3 (white). Turn work.
Row 6 – P3 (white), P to last 3 stitches (red), P3 (white). Turn work.
Repeat rows 5 and 6 until your work measures 5.25” deep.
Cast off. While doing this, cast off the white stitches with the white yarn and the red stitches with red yarn. Cut yarn, leaving a long enough tail in both colors to stitch the back seam of the bonnet. When stitching up the back of the bonnet later, use the white tail with the white section of the work and red yarn with the red section.
Move to the “Finishing the pixie bonnet” directions below.
0 – 3 Months:
** See the “note on changing colors” section below (page 9) for more information on alternating back and forth with the red and white yarn once you complete the brim**
Cast on 45 stitches with contrast color (white).
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 (white), K to last 3 stitches (red), P3 (white). Turn work.
Row 6 – P3 (white), P to last 3 stitches (red), P3 (white). Turn work.
Repeat rows 5 and 6 until your work measures 5.5”.
Cast off. While doing this, cast off the white stitches with the white yarn and the red stitches with red yarn. Cut yarn, leaving a long enough tail in both colors to stitch the back seam of the bonnet. When stitching up the back of the bonnet later, use the white tail with the white section of the work and red yarn with the red section.
Move to the “Finishing the pixie bonnet” directions below.
3 – 6 Months:
** See the “note on changing colors” section above for more information on alternating back and forth with the red and white yarn once you complete the brim**
Cast on 49 stitches with contrast color (white).
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 (white), K to last 4 stitches (red), P4 (white). Turn work.
Row 8 – P4 (white), P to last 4 stitches (red), P4 (white). Turn work.
Repeat rows 7 and 8 until your work measures 6”.
Cast off. While doing this, cast off the white stitches with the white yarn and the red stitches with red yarn. Cut yarn, leaving a long enough tail in both colors to stitch the back seam of the bonnet. When stitching up the back of the bonnet later, use the white tail with the white section of the work and red yarn with the red section.
Move to the “Finishing the pixie bonnet” directions below.
6 – 12 Months:
** See the “note on changing colors” section above for more information on alternating back and forth with the red and white yarn once you complete the brim**
Cast on 53 stitches with contrast color (white).
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 (white), K to last 4 stitches (red), P4 (white). Turn work.
Row 8 – P4 (white), P to last 4 stitches (red), P4 (white). Turn work.
Repeat rows 7 and 8 until your work measures 6.75”.
Cast off. While doing this, cast off the white stitches with the white yarn and the red stitches with red yarn. Cut yarn, leaving a long enough tail in both colors to stitch the back seam of the bonnet. When stitching up the back of the bonnet later, use the white tail with the white section of the work and red yarn with the red section.
Move to the “Finishing the pixie bonnet” directions below.
1 – 2 Years:
** See the “note on changing colors” section above for more information on alternating back and forth with the red and white yarn once you complete the brim**
Cast on 57 stitches with contrast color (white).
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 (white), K to last 6 stitches (red), P6 (red). Turn work.
Row 10 – P6 (white), P to last 6 stitches (red), P6 (white). Turn work.
Repeat rows 9 and 10 until your work measures 7.25”.
Cast off. While doing this, cast off the white stitches with the white yarn and the red stitches with red yarn. Cut yarn, leaving a long enough tail in both colors to stitch the back seam of the bonnet. When stitching up the back of the bonnet later, use the white tail with the white section of the work and red yarn with the red section.
Move to the “Finishing the pixie bonnet” directions below.
3 – 4 Years:
** See the “note on changing colors” section above for more information on alternating back and forth with the red and white yarn once you complete the brim**
Cast on 61 stitches with contrast color (white).
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 (white), K to last 6 stitches (red), P6 (white). Turn work.
Row 10 – P6 (white), P to last 6 stitches (red), P6 (white). Turn work.
Repeat rows 9 and 10 until your work measures 7.75”.
Cast off. While doing this, cast off the white stitches with the white yarn and the red stitches with red yarn. Cut yarn, leaving a long enough tail in both colors to stitch the back seam of the bonnet. When stitching up the back of the bonnet later, use the white tail with the white section of the work and red yarn with the red section.
Move to the “Finishing the pixie bonnet” directions below.
5 + Years:
** See the “note on changing colors” section above for more information on alternating back and forth with the red and white yarn once you complete the brim**
Cast on 65 stitches with contrast color (white).
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 (white), K to last 6 stitches (red), P6 (white). Turn work.
Row 10 – P6 (white), P to last 6 stitches (red), P6 (white). Turn work.
Repeat rows 9 and 10 until your work measures 8.25”.
Cast off. While doing this, cast off the white stitches with the white yarn and the red stitches with red yarn. Cut yarn, leaving a long enough tail in both colors to stitch the back seam of the bonnet. When stitching up the back of the bonnet later, use the white tail with the white section of the work and red yarn with the red section.
Move to the “Finishing the pixie bonnet” directions below.
Finishing the pixie bonnet:
The photos below are shown in our solid pixie bonnet. The directions are the same for our Santa version.
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.
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