The Isabee Bonnet

This knitting pattern is a wink to a disappearing Dutch folklore. It combines the Nordic knitting tradition, which has influenced me a lot while living in Scandinavia. The pattern emerged out of my search for my own heritage, a learning process in the rich history of garments and costumes, and my interest in knitting which living in Scandinavia has brought me.

This bonnet is not an attempt to resurrect some extinct model. Neither does it try to be historically correct.
Instead, this pattern is a synthesis of the so-called “Dutch Bonnet”, which gained in popularity in the 1940s, including a (very tiny) reference to tulips, Delft blue tiles, and the only Dutch knitting folklore I know: “Grolse” mittens. The model makes me think of a so-called “Isabee”: a form of “knipmuts” (hat) which was worn on workdays. This is also where the name of this pattern comes from.

As the brim is knitted in a double layer, it offers you to wear the brim either folded back, or standing forward, guarding you from chilly winds.

For measurements, please check the pictures.

Yarn:
(Merino) wool in 3 colours
185 m per 50 g, with a ‘normal’ gauge of approx. 28 sts x 40 rows
Approx. 48 gram of colour 1, 31 gram of colour 2, 11 gram of colour 3

Needles:

• Circular needles 2,5 mm or 2,25 mm (1x > 120 cm or 2x 80 cm), depending on with which size you obtain the correct gauge (see below)
• DPNs 2,5 or 2,25 mm, depending on with which size you obtain the correct gauge
• Circular needles 3,0 mm (cable > 60 cm)
• Crochet hook 2,5 mm

Optional:

• Grosgrain ribbon
• Any other ribbon/cord
• Lining

Gauge as used in pattern:

• On 2,25 or 2,5 mm needles (depending on with which you obtain the correct gauge): 34 sts x 42 rows in stockinette stitch (important to match!)
• On 3,0 mm needles: approximately 30 sts x 36 rows in stockinette stitch (less important to match)

Techniques:

• Selvedge
• Increase: M1L, M1R and KFB
• Pick up stitches
• Colour chart, stranded knitting with 3 colours
• Knit in the round (with Magic Loop)
• German Short Rows
• Three needle bind off

This pattern is in English - please contact me in case you wish a Dutch or Danish translation.