Hello! I’m so delighted to share this pattern with you today! The Spice Bonnet is a textured bonnet pattern for the little ones, from preemies all the way to children. This was designed for the Preemie Crochet Challenge that is put on by Sunflower Cottage Crochet every year. I’m so glad to be a part of it this year! For the release of this pattern it will be available as a free download from Sept 19, 2025 through the end of the month!
The Preemie Crochet Challenge is an event through the whole month of September, which is Prematurity Awareness Month! When you download one of the free patterns available through the month, you pledge to make one item to donate to your local NICU or pregnancy/baby center. It’s really a beautiful event and you should go read more about it here. Though I haven’t had a premature birth myself, my youngest son did have a short NICU stay due to fluid in his lungs and those five days were a tiny glimpse into the difficulty those families experience. Participating in this event to help raise awareness and give to those families is wonderful!
You’ll need worsted weight yarn for this pattern in three colors, though I do think the texture is lovely and you could make a one color version. A 5 mm hook met gauge for most of my testers, though I personally used 5.5 mm as I have tight tension. This pattern is an intermediate pattern, as the bead stitch may not be familiar.
I’ve used one of my favorite yarns for this one, Lion Brand Heartland. I love the slight heathered look in this yarn line and I think it’s very soft and easy to work with.
Let’s get to making it!
Supplies
- CYC 4 worsted yarn: color A: green: 75 yards, color B: orange: 75 yards, color C: tan: 60 yards (sample is acrylic worsted yarn)
- crochet hook 5 mm or size needed to obtain gauge
- tapestry sewing needle
- scissors and measuring tape/gauge ruler
Notes
- Stitch counts are marked in [ ] at the end of each row, with different sizing in parentheses as follows: Preemie, Infant: 0-6 months, (Baby: 6-12 months, Toddler: 1-3 years, Child: 4-10 yrs)
- Turning chains do not count as stitches.
- There is a RS (right side) noted in Row 5.
- Color changes are noted as “with color x,” at the beginning of the rows. If there is not a color noted, you are continuing with the color from the previous row. I like to change colors by finishing the final stitch of the previous color with the new color.
- The striped top of the bonnet will have numerous ends. You could minimize end weaving a bit by carrying color C along the edges of the stripes. This will be hidden because you will be crocheting a neckband along those edges.
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch = chain
- st/sts = stitch/stitches
- sk = skip
- sc = single crochet
- dc = double crochet
- sl st = slip stitch
- hdc = half double crochet
- dec = hdc two stitches together
- sc FLO = single crochet front loop only
- linen st = sc, sk st, ch 1
Special Stitches
- bead st = skip next st, sc next st, yo, insert hook around post of the sc just made, pull up a loop, yo, insert hook around post again, pull up a loop, yo, pull through all loops on hook
- FSC= foundation single crochet: ch 3, insert hook in 3rd ch from hook, *pull up a loop, yo, pull through one loop on hook, yo, pull through two loops, insert hook in st made by bold section above, repeat from *
Gauge Swatch
4 in by 4 in swatch = 9 bead sts in 4 row 2-5 repeats
Row 1: With color A, FSC 24 [24 sc]
Row 2: With color B, ch 2, bead st across [12 bead sts, 1 dc]
Row 3: With color C, ch 1, linen stitch across.[14 linen sts]
Row 4: Repeat row 3.
Row 5: With color A, ch 1, *sc FLO, sc ch-1 sp, repeat from * across [12 sc, 12 sc FLO]
Rows 6-14: Repeat rows 2-5 respectively.
Written Instructions
Size: Preemie (Infant: 0-6 months, 17,Baby: 6-12 months, Toddler: 1-3 years, Child: 4-10 yrs)
ALL SIZES
Row 1: With color A, FSC 32 (38, 44, 50, 56). [32 (38, 44, 50, 56 sc)]
Row 2: With color B, ch 2, bead st across until last, hdc last st. [15 (18, 21, 24, 27) bead sts, 1 hdc]
Row 3: With color C, ch 1, linen st across.[15 (18, 21, 24, 27) linen sts]
Row 4: Repeat row 3.
Row 5: With color A, ch 1, *sc FLO, sc ch-1 sp, repeat from * across [15 (18, 21, 24, 27) sc, 15 (18, 21, 24, 27) sc FLO]
Row 6-13 (17, 17, 21, 21): Repeat rows 2-5 respectively.
Continue below to appropriate size.
Preemie
Row 14: With color A, hdc first 4 sts, dec, hdc next 3 sts, dec, hdc next 2 sts, dec, hdc next 2 sts, dec, hdc next 2 sts, dec, hdc next 3 sts, dec, hdc last 4 sts.
Row 15: Hdc first 3 sts, dec, hdc next 3 sts, dec, hdc next 2 sts, dec, hdc next 2 sts, dec, hdc next 3 sts, dec, hdc last 3 sts.
Row 16: Hdc first 3 sts, dec, hdc next 3 sts, dec, hdc, dec, hdc next 3 sts, dec, hdc last 3 sts.
Continue to page 8 for neckband.
Infant
Row 18: With color A, hdc first 4 sts, dec, hdc next 4 sts, dec, hdc next 4 sts, dec, hdc next st, dec, hdc next 4 sts, dec, hdc next 4 sts, dec, hdc last 4 sts. [6 dec, 25 hdc]
Row 19: Hdc first 4 sts, dec, hdc next 4 sts, dec, hdc next 7 sts, dec, hdc next 4 sts, dec, hdc last 4 sts. [4 dec, 23 hdc]
Row 20: Hdc first 3 sts, dec, hdc next 3 sts, dec, hdc next st, dec, hdc next st, dec, hdc next st, dec, hdc next 3 sts, dec, hdc last 3 sts. [6 dec, 15 hdc]
Row 21: Hdc first 3 sts, dec, hdc next 2 sts, dec, hdc next 3 sts, dec, hdc next 2 sts, dec, hdc last 3 sts. [4 dec, 13 hdc]
Row 22: Hdc first 2 sts, dec, hdc next 2 sts, dec, hdc next st, dec, hdc next 2 sts, dec, hdc last 2 sts. [4 dec, 9 hdc]
Continue to page 8 for neckband.
Baby
Row 18: With color A, hdc each st across. [44 hdc]
Row 19: Repeat row 18.
Row 20: With color A, hdc first 4 sts, dec, hdc next 4 sts, dec, hdc next 5 sts, dec, hdc next 5 sts, dec, hdc next 5 sts, dec, hdc next 4 sts, dec, hdc last 4 sts. [6 dec, 31 hdc]
Row 21: Hdc first 4 sts, dec, hdc next 4 sts, dec, hdc next 4 sts, dec, hdc next st, dec, hdc next 4 sts, dec, hdc next 4 sts, dec, hdc last 4 sts. [6 dec, 25 hdc]
Row 22: Hdc first 4 sts, dec, hdc next 4 sts, dec, hdc next st, dec, hdc next st, dec, hdc next st, dec, hdc next 4 sts, dec, hdc last 4 sts. [6 dec, 19 hdc]
Row 23: Hdc first 3 sts, dec, hdc next 3 sts, dec, hdc next 5 sts, dec, hdc next 3 sts, dec, hdc last 3 sts. [4 dec, 18 hdc]
Row 24: Hdc first 2 sts, dec, hdc next 2 sts, dec, dec, hdc next st, dec, dec, hdc next 2 sts, dec, hdc last 2 sts. [6 dec, 9 hdc]
Continue to page 8 for neckband
Toddler
Row 22: With color A, hdc first 4 sts, dec, hdc next 4 sts, dec, hdc next 4 sts, dec, hdc next 4 sts, dec, dec, hdc next 4 sts, dec, hdc next 4 sts, dec, hdc next 4 sts, dec, hdc last 4 sts. [8 dec, 32 hdc]
Row 23: Hdc first 4 sts, dec, hdc next 4 sts, dec, hdc next 4 sts, dec, hdc next 4 sts, dec, hdc next 4 sts, dec, hdc next 4 sts, dec, hdc last 4 sts. [6 dec, 30 hdc]
Row 24: Hdc first 4 sts, dec, hdc next 4 sts, dec, hdc next 3 sts, dec, dec, hdc next 3 sts, dec, hdc next 4 sts, dec, hdc last 4 sts. [6 dec, 22 hdc]
Row 25: Hdc first 3 sts, dec, hdc next 3 sts, dec, hdc next 2 sts, dec, dec, hdc next 2 sts, dec, hdc next 3 sts, dec last 3 sts. [6 dec, 16 hdc]
Row 26: Hdc first 3 sts, dec, hdc next 3 sts, dec, hdc next 2 sts, dec, hdc next 3 sts, dec, hdc last 3 sts. [4 dec, 14 hdc]
Continue to page 8 for neckband
Child
Row 22: With color A, hdc each st across. [56 hdc]
Row 23: Hdc first 4 sts, dec, hdc next 3 sts, dec, hdc next 4 sts, dec, hdc next 4 sts, dec, hdc next 2 sts, dec, hdc next st, dec, hdc next 2 sts, dec, hdc next 3 sts, dec, hdc next 4 sts, dec, hdc next 4 sts, dec, hdc last 4 sts. [10 dec, 35 hdc]
Row 24: Hdc first 4 sts, dec, hdc next 4 sts, dec, hdc next 4 sts, dec, hdc next 2 sts, dec, hdc next st, dec, hdc next 2 sts, dec, hdc next 4 sts, dec, hdc next 4 sts, dec, hdc last 4 sts. [8 dec, 29 hdc]
Row 25: Hdc first 4 sts, dec, hdc next 4 sts, dec, hdc next 4 sts, dec, hdc next st, dec, hdc next 4 sts, dec, hdc next 4 sts, dec, hdc last 4 sts. [6 dec, 25 hdc]
Row 26: Hdc first 4 sts, dec, hdc next 4 sts, dec, hdc next 7 sts, dec,, dec, hdc next 4 sts, dec, hdc last 4 sts. [4 dec, 23 hdc]
Row 27: Hdc first 3 sts, dec, hdc next 3 sts, dec, hdc next st, dec, hdc next st, dec, hdc next st, dec, hdc next 3 sts, dec, hdc last 3 sts. [6 dec, 15 hdc]
Row 28: Hdc first 3 sts, dec, hdc next 3 sts, dec, hdc next st, dec, hdc next 3 sts, dec, hdc last 3 sts. [4 dec, 13 hdc]
Row 29: Hdc first 2 sts, dec, hdc next 2 sts, dec, hdc next st, dec, hdc next 2 sts, dec, hdc last 2 sts. [4 dec, 9 hdc]
Continue to page 8 for neckband
Neckband ALL SIZES
Fold the last hdc row in half and sl st together to close the back of the bonnet, or fasten off and seam together. Fasten off, turn right side out.
Reattach color A in the bottom corner of bonnet (Row 1.) Sc 38 (44, 48, 54, 60) evenly across the bottom of bonnet, working approximately 1 st in the end of each row, ch 1, turn. Continue for 4 rows of single crochet for Preemie, Infant and Baby sizes, 6 rows for Toddler and Child. Do not fasten off.
Create ties: Ch 27, sl st each ch across, then sl st along bottom of bonnet (where you just completed the single crochet rows) to opposite corner. Ch 27, sl st each ch across, fasten off and weave in ends.
Alternatively, if you dislike the ties for practicality, make two small pom poms and attach to the corners of the bonnet, this would be equally as sweet!
I’d love to help you make this pattern! Please contact me with any questions! Send an email to [email protected] for assistance. Come and see what I’m sharing on Pinterest so you can find your next project. Join my newsletter so you can get the best discounts on new pattern releases. Follow me on Instagram where I love to share funny reels about crochet!
Priscilla- FYI, as of 5:30am central, the Ravelry code doesn’t reduce the total cost! 😊
Thank you! I just checked and the promotion us running on my end, and I can see it has 20 uses so far. Did you also try to download from the download page? Try one of those options and if neither work for you, send me an email to [email protected] and I will email the file! Thanks!
The Ravelry code didn’t work. I did download direct from you, but I like to keep them in Ravelry i if possible. Thank you very much for the pattern.
I love this hat. I would like to be able to make it for an adult as well. I am relatively new to crochet. Can you give me an idea of how many to FSC to do this? Thank you.
Hi Christine! I think if you measured about from the bottom of each ear across the top of the head and crocheted the fsc in an even number, that would give you a good start! Then add one or more repeats of the rows 2-5. Hope that helps!