Plum Granny Square Baby Bonnet Free Crochet Pattern

Introduction

This little bonnet is made for the smallest Thanksgiving guest in the room — a sweet, heirloom-style hat for a baby girl aged roughly 6 to 12 months. It is built from four solid granny squares joined into a curved band, topped with a simple half-circle crown, then finished with a mauve border, two ties, and a tiny six-petal flower. The result is a soft, smooth double-crochet fabric with just enough granny-square texture to look handmade and special. In plum with a mauve trim, it feels warm, vintage, and a little bit fairycore — perfect for photos, a first holiday, or a handmade gift.

Materials Needed

• Yarn: DK weight (light worsted) baby-soft acrylic, approximately 150 yards total — 100 yards plum (Color A) and 50 yards mauve (Color B).
• Hook: 4.0 mm (US G-6) crochet hook.
• Notions: Tapestry needle, stitch markers, scissors, rust-proof pins for blocking.
• Finished size: Fits head circumference 17–18 inches (43–46 cm); bonnet height 7 inches (18 cm) from crown to bottom edge.

Abbreviations

• ch — chain: make a loop of yarn and pull it through the loop on your hook.
• sl st — slip stitch: insert hook, yarn over, pull through everything on the hook.
• sc — single crochet: insert hook, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through both loops.
• dc — double crochet: yarn over, insert hook, pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through two loops twice.
• sp — space: the gap made by a chain (for example, a ch-2 sp).
• st(s) — stitch(es).
• beg — beginning.
• rep — repeat.

Gauge

One solid granny square measures 3 inches (7.5 cm) square after blocking. Work one square first and measure it; if it is larger, go down a hook size, and if it is smaller, go up a hook size so the finished bonnet fits correctly.

Tips Before You Start

• Make all four granny squares first and block them to exactly 3 inches each so the band lines up evenly when joined.
• Keep your tension relaxed on the crown rounds — the half-circle should lie flat, not cup, before you attach it.
• Count your crown stitches at the end of each round; you need exactly 48 stitches on the final round to match the band edge.
• Use a stitch marker at the first stitch of each joined round so you never lose your place.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Solid Granny Square (make 4, Color A)

Set-up: Ch 4, join with sl st to form ring.

R1: Ch 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc in ring, [ch 2, 3 dc in ring] 3 times, ch 2, join with sl st to top of beg ch-3. (12 dc, 4 ch-2 sps)

R2: Ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next 2 dc, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next ch-2 sp, *dc in next 3 dc, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next ch-2 sp; rep from * around, join with sl st to top of beg ch-3. (28 dc, 4 ch-2 sps)

R3: Ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next 4 dc, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next ch-2 sp, *dc in next 7 dc, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next ch-2 sp; rep from * around, join with sl st to top of beg ch-3. (44 dc, 4 ch-2 sps)

Fasten off. Square measures 3 inches (7.5 cm).

Crown (Color A)

Worked in joined rounds.

R1: Ch 4, join with sl st to form ring. Ch 3 (counts as dc), 11 dc in ring, join with sl st to top of beg ch-3. (12 dc)

R2: Ch 3, dc in same st, 2 dc in each dc around, join with sl st to top of beg ch-3. (24 dc)

R3: Ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next dc, 2 dc in next dc; rep from * around, join with sl st to top of beg ch-3. (36 dc)

R4: Ch 3, dc in same st, *dc in next 2 dc, 2 dc in next dc; rep from * around, join with sl st to top of beg ch-3. (48 dc)

R5: Ch 1, sc in same st, sc in each dc around, join with sl st to first sc. (48 sc)

Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Joining Squares

Arrange the 4 squares in a row, right sides facing up. Join squares along their vertical edges using sc (Color A) through both loops, working 1 sc in each dc and 1 sc in each ch-2 sp. This creates a band of 4 squares, 12 inches wide and 3 inches high.

Attaching Crown to Band

With right sides facing, align one long edge of the band with the outer edge of the crown (48 sts). Pin in place, distributing evenly. Join with sc (Color A) through both layers, working 1 sc in each st. (48 sc)

Edging (Color B)

R1: With B, join yarn at bottom right corner of band. Ch 1, sc evenly along bottom edge, up right side, around crown, down left side, and back to starting point, working 1 sc in each st and 1 sc in each row-end. At each corner, work (sc, ch 1, sc) to turn. Join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off.

Ties (Color B) — make 2

Tie: Ch 50, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Fasten off. Sew one tie to each bottom corner of the bonnet.

Flower (Color B)

Set-up: Ch 4, join with sl st to form ring.

R1: Ch 1, 6 sc in ring, join with sl st to first sc. (6 sc)

R2: Ch 1, *sc in next sc, ch 3, sl st in same sc; rep from * around. (6 petals)

Fasten off, leaving a tail. Sew flower to the bonnet at the join between two squares on the right side.

Assembly and Finishing

If you have not already joined the pieces, seam the four squares into a band, then sew or sc the crown to one long edge as described above. Weave in all ends on the wrong side, working them through several stitches so they stay secure. Block lightly to shape: mist the bonnet, pin the band and crown flat to the measurements given, and let it dry completely. Sew the flower and ties in place last so they sit neatly after blocking.

Pro Tips and Variations

• Swap the plum and mauve for any two baby-friendly colors to match a holiday outfit or nursery theme.
• For a warmer bonnet, work the crown in a soft wool-blend DK, keeping the same gauge.
• Add a second flower or a small pearl button at the center of the flower for extra vintage charm.