Animal Ear Bonnets to Knit for Little Ones

Last year I shared a couple of different options for sweet pixie bonnets for little kids with animal ears. The patterns are from Fox and Pine Stitches, and they actually have quite a few different options for kids in your life who like different kinds of animals.

I had already shared a mouse and bunny hat, but there are also a cat, which you can see above, fox and bear options. The bear or cat could also be a dog, depending on the type of ears that you would like your dog to have.

Each of the patterns is worked in worsted weight yarn and they come in seven sizes: newborn, 0-3 months, 3-6 months, 6-12 months, 1-2 years, 3-4 years and 5+.

They each use the same basic pattern for the hat but are worked in different colors and with different ears to evoke different animals. And because of the bonnet shape you don’t need to worry about adding eyes, whiskers or other features because there’s not really a place to do so.

The I-cord ties on these are super cute as well. (Check out my post on how to knit cord if you aren’t sure how to do this part.)

These hats would be great to encourage kids to keep warm in the winter months (and they’re quick to knit so you can still make one for this season in the Northern Hemisphere, or to prepare for colder weather in the South), or you can make them as an easy addition to a Halloween costume, or even just for everyday dress up.

All of the patterns are free and available from Fox and Pine Designs at the links above. And don’t miss their little bear ears beanie, which you could adapt to have any of the ears that are shown in these patterns to make whatever animal your little one desires.

[Photo: Fox and Pine Stitches]

Next Pattern:

Blankets are a great blank slate project that you can change up in a million different ways. From color to stitch pattern to size, the possibilities are almost endless.

Jared Flood, the designer behind Brooklyn Tweed, was inspired by a log cabin quilt his mother made in 1995 to re-create that design in knitting, which led to more blankets and ultimate Brooklyn Tweed’s Knit and Crochet Blankets, which includes 25 patterns from an array of designers using different skills and techniques to make cozy, pretty blankets.

The patterns are divided into three aesthetic themes: traditions, minimalism and colorplay. The patterns are rated on a scale of one to five, with one being the easiest, and there aren’t any pieces rated five. Two blankets are rated one, 14 are two, eight are three and one is four.

In addition, three of the 25 patterns are crocheted, but they either use single crochet or granny stitch, so they are pretty easy even if you don’t do a lot of crochet. You can see all the patterns on Ravelry.

Some of my favorites include Rattan by Rastus Hsu, a chunky blanket worked in knits and purls with simple crossing stitches to make a raised woven look; Homewood by Seth Richardson, covers in dramatic, loopy cables; Ainur Berkimbayeva’s Tessellate, one of the beginner projects that doesn’t really look beginner but is totally worked in knit and purl stitches; Warp + Weft by Aist? Butkevi?ien?, which is mostly knits and purls but makes a fun woven look fabric that blew my mind a little bit; and the same designer’s Canyonland, a multicolored blanket with wavy stripes.

The patterns tell you how to resize them for different dimensions and include information on pattern repeats where it is possible to make a totally custom size.

Many different techniques are included here such as cables, lace, shadow knitting, intarsia and other colorwork techniques, as well as modular knitting and lots of sewing pieces together. The patterns are all presented with charts, but there are line by line written instructions available on the Brooklyn Tweed website if you need them.

The book ends with a deep dive into log cabin knitting, telling the story of the quilt Jared’s mom made and how he made it in knitting, as well as the multitude of variations you can make if you want your own log cabin style design.

The back of the book includes a little written information about some of the special techniques needed, but there are no photos.

This is a lovely book full of inspiration for knitting and crochet blankets for any skill level. If you like to make blankets as gifts or aspire to have a handmade blanket in every room of the house, these designs would be a great place to start.

About the book: 192 pages, paperback, 25 patterns. Published 2024 by Abrams Books, suggested retail price $24.99.

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