This winter hat for a little girl is really warm and soft. It is also very quick and simple to make.

Instructions are given for either super chunky (super bulky) yarn, or for chunky and double knitting (bulky and 8-ply) held together. The pink bonnet shown in the photographs here is knitted in a super chunky yarn, while the cream bonnet is in a combination of chunky and double knitting yarn. The ties are finger-crocheted, but can also be made as standard crochet chains using an 8mm/UK size 0 hook.

The instructions are for a 46cm/18in head size, but the pattern can be easily adjusted to fit a smaller or larger head, by reducing or increasing the number of stitches and/or rows knitted. Take two measurements of the child’s head - across the top, from just below one ear to just below the other, and also from the crown of the head forwards to just below the top of the forehead.The first measurement should correspond with the width of your knitting (adjust the number of stitches to fit) and the second with the length (adjust the number of rows to fit).

The gauge shown here is for Big Softie yarn - about 70g/2.5oz will be needed per bonnet, or just under 1.5 skeins. If the other two yarns are substituted for the Big Softie and held together when knitting, the gauge is approximately 13.5 sts. and 15 rows to 10cm/4in. About 40g/1.4oz of Bonus Chunky and 20g/0.7oz of Snuggly Spots DK will be needed.

To make the bonnet even more cute, add a knitted embellishment such as a flower or a butterfly.

The pattern was inspired by a similar bonnet worn by the Lyra Belacqua character in the 2007 film “The Golden Compass”.