Pattern: Handmaid’s Bonnet

“nolite te bastardes carborundorum”

This bonnet is inspired by the novel and new mini-series “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood. “The Handmaid’s Tale” is one of my favorite books and I have read it several times. Atwood is my favorite author and she is the inspiration for my dog’s name.  This bonnet is inspired by the print, theatre, and film designs for the handmaiden’s costume and adapted for crochet.

The hat is crocheted in 2 sections and then sewed together. The bonnet is made with 1 strand of yarn and a size H hook. The outer wing is made with 2 strands of yarn held together with a size K hook.

Adult sized hat. Bonnet is approximately 20″ in circumference and 8″ in length (including rowed section). Outer wing extends 5″ forward and 4″ below from bonnet.

Pattern written in standard US crochet terms.

Materials:

Approximately 340 yds of worsted weight yarn. I used Red Heart Super Saver in white
Size H hook
Size K hook
Needle to weave in ends
Removable stitch markers

Bonnet (Use size H hook)

Gauge: The 1st 3 rounds should be approximately 3″ in diameter.
This section of the pattern is worked in the round with no turning chains or joins between rounds.

Using the Magic Circle method work 6 single crochet (sc) stitches in circle chain (ch) 1.
Round 1: Work 2 sc in each stitch (st) in round (12 sc)
Round 2: *Work 2 sc into next st, work 1 sc into next st* repeat from * around (18 sc)
Round 3: *Work 1 sc each into next 2 st, work 2 sc into next st* repeat from * around (24 sc)
Round 4: *Work 2 sc into next st, work 1 sc each into next 3 st* repeat from * around (30 sc)
Round 5: *Work 1 sc each into next 4 st, work 2 sc into next st* repeat from * around (36 sc)
Round 6: *Work 2 sc into next st, work 1 sc each into next 5 st* repeat from * around (42 sc)
Round 7: *Work 1 sc each into next 6 st, work 2 sc into next st* repeat from * around (48 sc)
Round 8: *Work 2 sc into next st, work 1 sc each into next 7 st* repeat from * around (54 sc)
Round 9: *Work 1 sc each into next 8 st, work 2 sc into next st* repeat from * around (60 sc)
Round 10: Work 1 sc in each st around. (60 sc)
Rounds 11-18: Repeat row 10.  (60 sc) (If you have a larger head or thicker hair you can add a few extra rounds. This section of the bonnet is meant to cover the hair.)
This is the end of working in the round. The remainder of the bonnet will be worked in back & forth rows.

Round 19: Work 1 in each of the next 50 st. (50 sc) Ch 1 and turn
Round 20: Work 1 sc in each st across (50 sc)
Rounds 21- 27: Repeat round 2o. Finish off and weave in ends.
If you want to make just the inner bonnet you can stop here. The bonnet should fit the head snuggly but bobby pins can be used to secure it.

Outer Wing

The gauge for this section is 20 stitches and 5 rows is 7″ by 2″.

Split the remainder of the yarn into 2 balls/skeins. For this section you will use the size K hook and work with 2 strands held together.

Row 1: Chain 40, turn and ch 1
Row 2: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and across. (40 sc) Turn and ch 1
Row 3: 2 sc in 1st st, sc across, 2 sc in last st.  (42 sc) Turn and ch 1
Row 4: 2 sc in 1st st, sc across, 2 sc in last st.  (44 sc) Turn and ch 1
Row 5: 2 sc in 1st st, sc across, 2 sc in last st.  (46 sc) Turn and ch 1   
Row 6: 2 sc in 1st st, sc across, 2 sc in last st.  (48 sc) Turn and ch 1
Row 7: 2 sc in 1st st, sc across, 2 sc in last st.  (50 sc) Turn and ch 1
Row 8: 2 sc in 1st st, sc across, 2 sc in last st.  (52 sc) Turn and ch 1
Row 9: 2 sc in 1st st, sc across, 2 sc in last st.  (54 sc) Turn and ch 1
Row 10: 2 sc in 1st st, sc across, 2 sc in last st.  (56 sc) Turn and ch 1
Row 11: 2 sc in 1st st, sc across, 2 sc in last st.  (58 sc) Turn and ch 1
Row 12: 2 sc in 1st st, sc across, 2 sc in last st.  (60 sc) Turn and ch 1
Row 13: 2 sc in 1st st, sc across, 2 sc in last st.  (62 sc) Turn and ch 1
Row 14: 2 sc in 1st st, sc across, 2 sc in last st.  (64 sc) Turn and ch 1
Row 15: 2 sc in 1st st, sc across, 2 sc in last st.  (66 sc) Turn and ch 1
Row 16: Sc across (66 sc) Turn and ch 1
Row 17: Sc the 1st 2 st together (2scdec), Sc 62 st across, Sc the last 2 st together (2scdec) (64 sc) Turn and ch 1
Row 18: 2scdec, sc 60 st across, 2scdec (62 sc) Turn and ch 1
Row 19: 2scdec, sc 58 st across, 2scdec (60 sc) Turn and ch 1
Row 20: Sc across (60 sc) Finish off and weave in ends.

           

Assembly

Fold the outer wing in half. (short ends meeting) Place a stitch marker in the middle of row 1.
Fold the bonnet in half. Find the middle stitch of row 19. Place a stitch marker in this stitch. This is the 1st row of 50 sts after the rounds.
Line up the 2 stitch markers with the outer wing on top of the bonnet. The outer wing should cover the rowed section of the bonnet and extend to cover the face. Sew the outer wing to the bonnet, follow the edge of row 19  down the sides and across the top. Weave in ends. Secure hat to head with pins if needed.

 

This pattern is written and owned by Crochet Anything. You can sell items made from this pattern, just note that you have used my pattern. This pattern is not for resale.

Happy Hooking!

“My name is Offred, and I intend to survive”