I’ve done this bonnet before, only last time, I wasn’t quite as seasoned with knitting as I am now. The figure 8 cast on is no longer intimidating and I managed to do it, though it’s a little loose on top, but it’s for a very young baby in the summer and it won’t bother him.

Instead of Totoro, I am going to make it a frog this time (to match another project of mine)

If all goes well, it will be part of his “coming home from the hospital” outfit.

The chinstrap is not an icord: instead, I made a 2x2 rib over 6 sts with two button holes at the end. (I wrapped the yarn around three times and then dropped two of those sts to make larger button holes for the big frog button I used)

Upon finishing the bonnet I decided to make bulgy eyes. All you need is some white yarn, a pair of needles, and the following steps:

CO 6
KFB all sts (12 sts)
K1, KFB to end (18 sts)
KFB, P2 to end (24 sts)
K 1 R
BO in purl

Then sew the eyeball up so it’s a circle instead of a semi circle (I used mattress stitch) and attach it to the hat with mattress stitch and fill with stuffing to make it pop out when you’re almost done attaching it to the hat.