This sweet little hat was released a couple days ago (you can still get an automatic 25% off! for a few more hours!), and I thought it would be fun to share a bit about how it came about.
As a mom, I quickly discovered that baby hats can be finicky. They tend to slip off babies' heads and can end up covering their eyes, which produces much shrieking and irritation and can result in your child declaring a no-hat embargo . My solution is to favor what was a staple of a baby's wardrobe in the "olden days" (and still is very popular here in Germany): the bonnet.
I am a huge bonnet fan. I find them irresistible on a baby's noggin and they do tend to stay put. better than regular beanies.
This one has another practical perk: it also covers up the delicate neck skin that is typically exposed to drafts and sunlight in the Spring when it's sunny but still chilly out, but without adding bulk like a scarf would (plus I don't know many moms who use scarves on babies anyway).
The leaf scarflet is built-in and is nice and stretchy, so it follows the curve at the back of the head and neck for a great fit.
In my initial design sketch, I had only planned on making the simpler version of this bonnet, but once I knit it up, I couldn't resist adding a contrasting ruffle (as a pattern option) to create this over-the-top-cute, flower-in-bloom effect. I wish I had a real live baby to model this, but my daughter's dolly will demonstrate the fit (this doll is a true 3 month size which is quite convenient!):
I think this design would work particularly well as a new baby gift: Work the bonnet/scarflet first (it's very fast to knit in worsted weight yarn, and completely seamless) and wait until you know if the baby is a "bud" or a "blossom" -- you can add the ruffle at the last minute if need be ;)
The pattern is perfect to stash-bust your worsted weight remnants! It comes in three sizes: Newborn, Baby and Toddler and you can purchase it here or on Ravelry.