Parents should relish their child’s first few Halloweens, the only ones where you actually get to choose the costume! After that, gender lines get drawn, popular culture seeps into your child’s imagination, and things don’t necessarily go your way. So, as the mother of a three year old on the cusp of making an unfortunate decision, take my advice: Don’t miss out on the narrow window of opportunity when your kid is nothing but totally cute for Halloween!

Lamb Bonnet | Purl Soho

This little Lamb Bonnet ensures just that. Based on my Winter Baby Bonnet pattern, this version has the addition of floppy lamb ears and is made with a combination of Michael Miller’s sumptuous Organic Sherpa and Robert Kaufman’s dreamy Shetland Flannel in two very lamb-y colorways. Have a very happy (and cute!) Halloween! -Corinne

Lamb Bonnet | Purl Soho

Materials

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  • ½ yard of Michael Miller’s Organic Sherpa, 100% organic cotton
  • ½ yard of Robert Kaufman’s Shetland Flannel, 100% cotton. We used Grey Herringbone and Peach Tweed.
  • Gutermann’s Cotton Thread (110 yards). We used color 1040.

These are enough materials to make 2 hats for sizes 0-3 or 3-6 months; or 1 hat for sizes 6-12, 12-18 or 18-24 months.

You will also need . . .

  • Lamb Bonnet Template, available for free download here, printed and cut out in the appropriate size.
  • A walking foot for your sewing machine.

Sizes

Sizes are for 0-3 (3-6, 6-12, 12-18, 18-24) months.

Notes

Prewash all fabrics before starting. This is particularly important with the Organic Sherpa, which shrinks quite a bit with its first wash and dry.

Use ¼-inch seam allowances unless otherwise noted.

The right side of the Organic Sherpa is the fuzzy side.

Pattern

Cut

Use the prepared template pieces to cut from both fabrics: 2 Hat Sides, 2 Ears and a rectangle, but first, be sure to line up the grainline properly. Here’s how . . .

Lamb Bonnet | Purl Soho

The grainline runs perpendicular to the fabrics’ selvage edges. Line up the templates so that the marked arrows run along the grainline as shown above.

Lamb Bonnet | Purl Soho

Also, if you are using fabric(s) with a clear right and wrong side (like the Organic Sherpa), be sure to cut one Hat Side and one Ear with the right side of the fabric facing up and one of each with the wrong side of the fabric facing up. The Hat Side pair and the Ear pair should be mirror images of each other.

NOTE: The two Hat Sides shown above have their right sides facing up. The Hat Side on the left is the Left Hat Side; the Hat Side on the right is the Right Hat Side.

From each fabric, cut one rectangle measuring 3 ½ by 11 ½ (3 ½ by 12 ½, 3 ¾ by 13 ½, 3 ¾ but 14 ½, 4 by 15 ½) inches. The grainline of the fabrics should run along the long edge of the rectangles.

Transfer Markings

Lamb Bonnet | Purl Soho

Using your preferred fabric marking tool or pins, transfer the marked lines on the Hat Side template to the right side of the two Hat Sides cut from the Outer Fabric.

NOTE: For the White colorway, the Outer Fabric is the Sherpa. For the Brown or Black colorway, you may choose to use the Flannel as the Outer Fabric.

Sew the Ears

Lamb Bonnet | Purl Soho

With right sides together, stack one Ear cut from the Flannel on top of one Ear cut from the Sherpa. Pin in place.

Sew the Ears together along the curved edge. Do not sew the bottom closed.

Trim the seam allowance along the sewn edge, leaving the unsewn area untrimmed.

Pull the Ear right side out through the unsewn bottom edge and press flat.

Lamb Bonnet | Purl Soho

Fold the Ear in half lengthwise so that Outer fabric is on the outside and the two lines at the bottom edge of the Ear align.

Pin the fold in place.

Repeat with the remaining two Ear pieces.

The two finished Ears should be mirror images of each other. The Ear shown above left is the Left Ear. The Ear shown above right is the Right Ear.

Attach the Ears to the Outer Hat Sides

Lamb Bonnet | Purl Soho

Take the Left Hat Side cut from the Outer Fabric and lay it out flat. Lining up the raw edges, pin the Left Ear between the two marked lines, making sure that the folded edge of the Ear faces towards the back of the Hat.

With the walking foot attached, sew the Ear in place with a basting stitch.

Lamb Bonnet | Purl Soho

Repeat with the Right Hat Side cut from the Outer Fabric and the Right Ear.

Now finish the Bonnet following the directions for the Winter Baby Bonnet project, starting at the “Piece” section. Keep in mind that instead of the Liberty of London, you’re probably using Shetland Flannel. Also, for the Lamb Bonnet, the Sherpa may be either the Outer Fabric or the Lining, depending on what you decide!

Lamb Bonnet | Purl Soho

Update 2024: You can explore our current collection of beautiful fabrics and supplies on our page of Sewing Tools + Notions!