One of my colleagues and his wife are expecting their second child in early January and while I don’t usually feel confident enough to gift knit for many people, this was an exception. He is a young expat on assignment from our parent company, I really enjoy working with him, and I have been wanting to make this pattern for awhile so all the forces converged.

Pattern: Baby Bear Bonnet by Pernille Larsen for Knitting for Olive

Yarn: Knitting for Olive Merino / Knitting for Olive Soft Silk Mohair held together (both in Pearl Gray)

This was one of the most fun knits I’ve ever done. It was challenging and I had to rip back and restart three times and find tutorials for the German short rows which shape the back and the neck as well as for the i-cord bindoff on the neck. However, those challenges made it all the more enjoyable and it was a true pleasure to see it come together. It’s definitely not a perfect knit but I’m not embarrassed to gift it (the pattern is so well drafted and truly adorable). I would definitely knit this again, even just to have one in my stash to gift for a future as yet unidentified arrival.

Raveled.