Unless you’ve been living under a rock lately, you’ll have noticed that knitted bonnets have become the go-to hand-knitted accessory. If – like me – you aren’t the biggest fan of hats (and what they inevitably do to your hairstyle once you take them off), a bonnet is a cute, slightly off-kilter way of keeping your head and neck warm ‘n’ whimsical during those cooler months.
What makes them so appealing is their versatility: whether you lean towards something something classic, or that “it-girl wandering through Paris” aesthetic, a bonnet has a way of elevating a winter look. Hats will always have their place (everyone loves a good hand-knitted beanie) but bonnets feel like the next step, right?
For the past few months, I’ve been researching, sketching, and generally obsessing over the ideal bonnet shape. And I’ve finally come to the conclusion that simple is best. This is the first of my bonnet designs that I’m sharing with you, and I couldn’t be happier with the construction. It’s straightforward, approachable, and doesn’t require you to be an advanced knitter which is always a bonus when it comes to approaching accessories and garments as a newbie knitter! The best thing is that this bonnet works up quickly, and although you definitely need to make sure your gauge is bang on, it is a forgiving style that fits most adult-sized heads and allows you to play around a bit with texture. I love it and I’m sure you will too.
| At A Glance: The Porsen Bonnet Advanced Beginner | |
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| Materials & Tools |
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| Craft Style | Knitting |
| Sizing | Adult (One Size) |
| Gauge | 21 sts x 28 rows = 10 cm / 4″ in stockinette stitch |
| Key Features | Flat construction, integrated knit ties |
| Maker’s Note Make sure to check your gauge flat before starting to guarantee the perfect, cozy fit for the adult frame. Soft wool or alpaca blends work beautifully to give this piece its signature warmth and drape! | |
So, on to the story behind this pattern. After many weeks of false starts (and staring longingly at my mohair stash wondering how I’m ever going to get through it all) I finally came up with this sweet little design for the Porsen Bonnet. One of the best things about this design is how adaptable it is. You can customise it entirely to suit your taste, by keeping the ties short and minimal, or making them long and dramatic, allowing you to tie them in a show-stopping bow or keep them short like I did, allowing you to tie them loosely and keep your look low profile. The structure is light and airy but still structured and warm, and as you already know how much I adore garter stitch (the OG stitch with an unbeatable squishfactor), this stitch gives the bonnet a pleasing chunkiness.
Because the shaping is minimal, the construction is approachable for confident beginners, while still offering the chance to practise essential techniques like k2tog decreases and picking up stitches. These small structural elements add polish and shape without introducing unnecessary complexity. For this pattern, I held three strands of mohair-blend yarn together: two shades of red and one soft light pink, but you can obviously choose your own colour scheme. I love the idea of this bonnet knitted up in neutrals with a few brightly coloured thin stripes, in solid neon or keeping it scrappy using your own yarn leftovers. Whichever colourway or yarn composition you use, you’ll love this pattern and are sure to make yourself a few to match every outfit and maybe one for your cat?
Porsen Bonnet · Knitting Pattern
Do you love bonnets? Take a look at my FREE pattern for The Chive Bonnet – just the thing if you fancy a slightly more complex knitting project, but still suitable for beginners.
The Porsen Bonnet
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| At A Glance: The Bonnet | |
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| Materials & Tools |
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| Sizing | Adult (Women: 55 cm / Men: 57 cm) |
| Gauge | 24 sts x 26 rows in garter stitch (blocked) |
| Key Stitches | Long-tail cast on, k, p, k2tog, picking up stitches |
| Construction | Worked flat in one piece, folded and seamed, with picked-up ribbing and ties. |
| Maker’s Note When using multiple strands at the same time, it is a good idea to roll the yarns together into a ball or cake it up on a ball winder to make it easier to work with. | |
Pattern:
Using all three strands held together, CO 40 sts.
Knit every stitch until the piece measures 12.5 inches from the cast-on edge. (40 sts)
Shaping the Crown
Row 1: K2tog across the row. (20 sts)
Row 2: Knit all stitches. (20 sts)
Row 3: K2tog across the row. (10 sts)
Row 4: Knit all stitches. (10 sts)
Bind off all stitches loosely. Weave in ends. If your piece looks a bit wonky at this point, don’t worry. We will be picking up stitches on the garter edge later and blocking your work will also smooth things out.
Seaming:
With the right side facing inward, fold the piece in half vertically and seam the top closed using mattress stitch or slip stitching with a crochet hook. Turn the bonnet right side out.
Ribbed Face Edging
Using 7.0 mm needles, pick up 72 stitches evenly around the face opening (the exact number is not crucial, so just ensure it’s an even number).
Rows 1–5: K1, P1 across.
Bind off loosely using 6.0 mm needles for a snugger edge, or 7.0 mm needles for a more relaxed finish.
Ties
From the bottom edge of the bonnet, incorportaing the ribbed edge and the base of the gerter stitch body, pick up 7 stitches. Knit every row until the tie measures your desired length (sample shown: 12 inches / 30 cm). This length is enough to tie it secuerely under your chin but not enough for a big bow. If you’d like a more extravagant knot or bow, consider knitting double this length or more. The amount of yardage/meterage stated allows for this.
Shape the End:
Row 1: K2tog, knit until 2 sts remain, K2tog.
Row 2: Knit all stitches.
Row 3: K2tog, knit until 2 sts remain, K2tog.
Bind off all stitches and repeat on the opposite side.
Finishing
Weave in all ends neatly on the wrong side and gently block to shape.
Now you’re finshed and can take your bonnet out for a stroll!
If you loved this pattern and want to help me carry on offering you even more fantastic free projects, it’s be lovely if you could donate to me on Ko-fi! Thank you so much and happy crafting.
Ellie Bonnet · Crochet Pattern – Emmaknitty
March 25, 2026 at 11:14 am[…] is!I’ve previously shared my love for bonnets, including the adorable pattern for my popular Porsen Bonnet, so it’s only fitting that I design a crocheted version for my fellow hooky friends. If you […]
Chive Bonnet · Knitting Pattern – Emmaknitty
April 6, 2026 at 5:08 pm[…] it already this far into the year?), and while it’s similar to my (now viral – thank you!) Porsen Hood, it has a slightly different feel. This version sits a bit further back on the head, with a little […]