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]

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Knitters are always looking for ways to continue to knit and to wear their knits even when it’s hot outside, so there are tots of great T0shirt knitting patterns to choose from. I love knitting short-sleeved shirts because they feel so much faster than sweaters, and you can wear them on top of dresses or even longer-sleeved items when it gets cooler.

There are lots of different styles of knit tops, from the basic to the more detailed. On the more basic side are things like the Perfect T-Shirt from Originally Lovely, a basic raglan tee with nine sizes and worked in worsted weight yarn; Paper Bloom by Yvonne Hugo (free on Ravelry), available in six sizes and worked with cotton and silk yarn for extra coolness; or Iris H’s Amelia Top, also on Ravelry, a slim fit, DK weight top with nine size.

Jazz it up with a bit of lace like on the Athens Lace Hem top by Sarah Hatton (Ravelry). This otherwise simple project has a bit of lace at the bottom, which is an easy way to make a project more interesting without a ton of work. This one uses fingering weight yarn and comes in nine sizes.

Another simple embellishment is to emphasize the lines of your top with different stitches. The Spring Lines top uses twisted ribbing at the center front and V-neck and along the raglan lines to give it a slimmer fit and more interest. This design from Turquoise Toque Designs has 11 size options and is available on Ravelry.

Silfurberg by Joji Locatelli uses both of these elements, with lace panels at the center front and back and purl ridges throughout to make it a little more fun to knit and to wear. The pattern uses fingering weight yarn and comes in 10 sizes. Learn more on Ravelry.

Keep it simple or add puffed sleeves (and/or long sleeves) to the slim fit Knitty Committee top by Lily Kate France. This one has two length options, waist shaping and optional bust darts to fulfill all your curvy top dreams, and it comes in nine sizes. You’ll find it on Ravelry.

Take it even more romantic with the Daphne Top from Friday Knits, which has puffed sleeves and applied I-cord to emphasize the bust and sweetheart neckline. It comes in eight sizes and uses DK weight yarn.

Or add some sweet flowers with the Gigio pattern from Emilie Luis. This pretty pattern found on Ravelry has cable panels running up the front with the option for adding sweet embroidered flowers. You can also add decorative buttons if you like. It comes in 11 sizes and calls for sport weight yarn.

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