Dainty Bonnet for Baby Design in Irish Crochet

This bonnet design in Irish crochet was originally published in February 1928 in The Needlecraft Magazine.

For the bonnet illustrated No. 100 crochet-cotton was used, with No. 14 crochet hook; as has been frequently suggested, however, a worker should choose the size best suited to her methods, and with which she can obtain the most satisfactory results. At center of crown is a rose, surrounded by six leaves, one attached to each petal, and between these leaves are rings, fastened to the rose between petals, and to the leaf at each side; the leaves are joined by a picot-chain, and - nearer the tip - by larger rings.

For the rose: Chain 7, join to form a ring.

1. Ch 6, (tr in ring, ch 3) 5 times, join to 3d of 6 ch. making 6 sp in all.

2. Fill each sp with 1 d c, 5 tr, 1 d c.

3. Ch 4, d c in top of tr between petals; repeat, letting the ch pass at back of petals.

4. Fill each ch with 1 d c, 7 tr, 1 d c.

5. Ch 5, d c in d c between petals; repeat.

6. Fill each ch with 1 d c, 9 tr, 1 d c.

For the leaf: Chain 22; miss 1, 20 doubles in 20 stitches, 3 in next, or end stitch, double in each of 18 doubles down the other side of chain, chain 1, turn; 19 doubles in 19 doubles, working in the back part of stitch to form a rib, 3 doubles in 2d of the 3 doubles, 18 doubles in 18 doubles, turn. Continue in this way until you have 4 ribs or ridges each side of the center chain, or the leaf is as wide as required.

For the rings: Wind the working thread six or eight times around two matches held close together, slip off and fill the ring closely with doubles; this for the smaller rings. The larger ones are made in the same way, using three matches instead of two.

The joining of the different parts of the medallion may be done as one finds easiest. An excellent plan is to leave the rose until the last, and when working the last row of petals, join the middle treble of petal to the 2d of the 3 doubles at base of leaf, and a small ring between petals. If the rose is made first, join the 2d of 3 doubles of leaf, in working the last row of doubles, to middle treble of petal, the 3d or 4th double from this to the side of small ring, joined between petals and 11th double following to the side of large ring. Between the rings the leaves are joined by a little picot-chain of (chain 6, catch back in 4th stitch for a picot) twice, chain 2, join to corresponding doubles in last row of preceding leaf. A fine needle and thread may be used for joining the rings between the leaves, if preferred, or for all joinings which one is not quite sure of. The little picot-chain should be of just the right length to let the crown lie flat.

Having completed the medallion, join thread to corner of one leaf, make a picot-chain as directed, of 4 picots, or long enough to extend to corner of next leaf, join neatly, turn, make a 2d picot-chain in same way, catching into the 1st between picots, and join where 1st started; repeat around. The double chain, as described, prevents stretching when the following row of picot-chains or loops is worked, and keeps the hexagonal shape of the medallion. Fasten all ends of thread neatly, with a needle. Work around medallion as follows:

1. Starting at corner of leaf where last reverse p ch is fastened, ch 7, catch back in 4th st, ch 8, catch back in 4th st, ch 3, d c between p of the ch made between leaves, make 4 more loops in the same way, fastening the last with d c at corner of next leaf, 6 loops, spaced evenly over the leaf, and repeat. The last loop may be joined where 1st started, and the following row begun by sl st to the middle of 1st loop, or one may work around and around.

2 to 9. One loop, made as directed, d c between 2 p of next loop; repeat.

10. D c in p of loop, ch 3, d c in next p; repeat around, joining last 3 ch where 1st started.

11. Ch 3, 4 tr under each 3 ch all around, join to top of 3 ch.

12. P-ch, miss 2 groups of 1 d c, fasten with d c between next 2; repeat around.

13 to 17. Same as 2d row.

18, 19. Work loops across front of bonnet, leaving remaining 15 loops for back of neck; or, if preferred, the entire 8 rows may be worked around.

For the front make a row of 7 square medallions, as follows: A rose for the center, like that at center of crown; work around this.

1. Sl st to 2d tr of 1st petal, p-ch, miss 5 tr, d c in next, p-ch, d c in 2d tr of next petal; repeat around, making 12 loops of p-ch in all, and joining last where 1st started.

2. Sl st to middle of 1st loop, * ch 8, d c between p of next loop, turn, ch 2, 11 tr under 8 ch, turn, d c in each tr, ch 3, fasten between same 2 p as before, (1 loop, fasten between p of next loop) twice, repeat from * around, joining last loop where 1st ch started.

3. Sl st up to corner of shell, 1 loop, d c in middle d c of shell, 1 loop, d c at end of shell, (1 loop, d c between picots of next loop) twice, 1 loop; repeat from * around, join.

4. Same as 2d row, making 4 loops between corner shells.

5. Like 3d row, making 2 loops over each corner shell, and 5 loops between shells. Larger medallions may be made by continuing the work as directed.

Join the medallions as you make them, thus: When working the 2d loop over a shell in last row of 2d medallion make 1st half of loop as usual, chain 2, catch under chain between picots of corresponding loop of 1st medallion, chain 6, catch back in 4th stitch for the 2d picot, chain 3, and continue, joining 5, loops along the side and 1st loop of next corner.

Join the strip of medallions to the last row of loops worked across front of bonnet in the same way medallions were joined, and between medallions work also a double treble in the joining of the 2 corner loops of medallions. Fill in any little space at neck, after joining the medallions, with loops worked back and forth, as required; this is very easy, with the work before you, but directions in detail would be confusing, particularly as there is always some variation in these "fillings."

To straighten the edges, before adding the scallop:

1. Fasten in between 2 p of corner loop of medallion, at front, ch 7, d c between next 2 p, and repeat. Between medallions ch 3, a t tr in the joining of corner loops, ch 3, and continue.

2. Under 7 ch work a scallop of 2 tr, 2 d tr, 2 t tr, 2 d tr, 2 tr, all separated by 2 ch, then ch 2, d c under next 7 ch, ch 2 and repeat. At corner of front make 3 scallops or shells consecutively.

3. D c under 2 ch, ch 3; repeat. This finishes a simple but dainty little scallop, which may be varied, however, as liked.

A fitted lining of wadded silk, to which the lace is tacked with fine stitches, knotted rosettes of ribbon matching the lining in delicate color, complete a very lovely bit of head-gear for any little lady from one to two, or older. The ties may be of hemstitched mull or of ribbon matching the rosettes.

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