Baby

A Year of Patterns

I’m not one to make New Year’s Resolutions (too much pressure), but I do find myself reflecting on my accomplishments at the end of each year. I posted nine (9!) projects on website and I’d like to celebrate that with you.

From now until midnight Sunday, January 5, you can receive 30% off the Ravelry purchase price of all of my 2019 patterns. Use the code 9in2019 when you check out with any (or all) of the following patterns.

1.Aubrey Cardigan                       2.Beach Cusps Cowl                       3.Dalton Cardigan

 

4.Florentine Filigree Cowl     5.Junior Goat Herder Pullover       6.La Jolla Shores Cowl

 

7.Mont Tremblant Cowl       8.Port Townsend Swing Cardi           9.Walker Baby Blanket

Junior Goat Herder Pullover

In response to the popularity of my adult-sized Goat Herder Pullover, I’ve reworked the design in fingering weight yarn for baby and toddler sizes, and named it Junior Goat Herder Pullover.

Like the adult version, the body is worked in rounds from the hem to the armholes where wide ribs give way to a chevron pattern worked with twisted stitches (no cable needle necessary!). The upper back and front are worked separately in rows to the shoulders. Stitches are picked up around the armholes, the sleeve caps are shaped with short-rows, then the rest of the sleeves are worked in rounds down to the cuffs. There are no seams to sew!

The pattern is written for four sizes: About 17 1/2 (21, 24, 27)” (44.5 [53.5, 61, 68.5] cm) chest circumference to fit 3-6 (6-9, 9-12, 12-24) months.

I used Emma’s Yarns Practically Perfect Sock yarn (80% superwash Merino, 20% nylon; 400 yards (365 meters)/100 g) in the color Beach Please on size U.S. 2 (2.75 mm) needles at a gauge of 8 stitches and 10.5 rows/rounds per inch.

Use the code JUNIOR to receive 20% off the purchase price of the Junior Goat Herder Pullover on Ravelry through midnight Tuesday, September 17.

Oh, Baby!

In celebration of my niece’s baby (the first grandchild on my side of the family), I designed what I believe is my first knitted baby blanket. I named it Walker Baby Blanket, in honor of my side of the family. My hope is that this soft and squishy blanket will keep her little nugget warm and cozy in a stroller, car seat, or crib.

The blanket begins with a circular cast-on in the center, and then progresses outward in four sections of ever-widening stripes of moss stitch bounded by eyelet increases. It’s edged with garter-stitch stripes and finished with a decorative Channel Island bind-off.

 

This practical blanket is knitted out of machine-washable Knit One Crochet Too DungarEASE (60% cotton, 40% acrylic; 250 yards [228 meters]/100 grams) in Sand (gray), Chambray (blue), Cactus (green), and Buttercup (yellow) on size 8 (5 mm) needles for a gauge of 18 stitches per 4″ (10 cm).

To encourage the new parents to use the blanket, I added a fun “wear it out” tag that I purchased from Four Purls knit shop in Winter Haven, Florida, last fall.

Use the code BABY to get 20% off the purchase price of this pattern on Ravelry between now and midnight on Friday, July 26.

Pretty in Pink

With my niece expecting the first grandchild on my side of the family, I’ve been enthusiastically knitting baby things. I designed the Aubrey Cardigan in case her baby is female (though there’s no reason a male wouldn’t look adorable in it, too!).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Knitted in the softest pink color, this sweet little cardigan is worked in one piece from the top down with yarnover increases along the four raglan lines. Sleeve stitches are then placed on holders while the body is worked to the hem. Stitches are increased across the back to create a feminine ruffle and a comfortable fit. The lower body, cuff, and neckband edges are punctuated with eyelets and a simple rib pattern. Tiny shell buttons provide the finishing touch.

The pattern is available in two sizes: about 191/2 (221/2)” (49.5 [57] cm) buttoned chest circumference, which fit 3-6 (6-9) months. The sweater shown here is knitted in the larger size and shown on an 8-month-old miracle.

You can use any fingering weight yarn for this design. I used Manos del Uruguay Alegria (75% superwash merino wool, 25% polyamide; 445 yd [407 meters]/100 g) in color #A2149 Petal. I used size 3 (3.25 mm) needles for a gauge of 16 sts and 21 rows to 2″ (5 cm).

Use the code SWEET! to receive 20% off the Ravelry purchase price of Aubrey Cardigan between now and midnight on Sunday, April 7.

Baby Blue

I’ve posted the Dalton Cardigan on Ravelry. This sweet little cardigan is worked from the top down in a simple garter rib pattern. Tailored details such as shaped shoulders and set-in sleeves give it sophisticated appeal, even on the smallest infant. The instructions follow the basic set-in sleeve instructions from The Knitter’s Handy Book of Top-Down Sweaters, adapted for smaller sizes than offered in the book.

The upper back and upper fronts are worked separately in rows from the neck/shoulders to the underarms, then joined for working the lower body in one piece to the lower edge. Stitches for each sleeve are picked up around the armhole, the sleeve cap is worked back and forth in short-rows, then the lower sleeve is worked in the round down to the cuff.

Sizes include 3–6 (6–9, 9–12, 12–18) months with chest circumferences of 18 1/2 (19 1/2, 21 3/4, 23 3/4)” (47 [49.5, 55, 60.5] cm) when buttoned. The smallest size is shown here.

The fingering weight yarn I used is River City Yarns Hat Trick Semi-Solid (80% superwash merino, 20% nylon; 382 yd [352 meters]/100 g): Faceoff (gray), 1 (2, 2, 2) skein(s). The sweater is knitted at a gauge of 14 stitches/2″ (5 cm) on size U.S. 3 (3.25 mm) needles.

I couldn’t resist adding a “handmade” label that I got at River City Yarns when I purchased the yarn.

Use the code BABY BLUE to get 20% off the purchase price when you order this pattern on Ravelry before midnight on Sunday, March 17.

Great Expectations

My niece is expecting what will be the first grandchild on my side of the family. Needless to say, I’m over-the-top excited! So excited that I’ve been busy designing a blanket and two cardigans for the soon-to-be bundle of joy.

The blanket is knitted with Knit One Crochet Too DungarEASE, a machine washable cotton-acrylic blend.

We don’t know the gender of the baby (all will be relived in late April) so I designed one sweater in pink (with ruffles) out of Manos del Uruguay Alegria.

Then I designed a and one in blue (without ruffles) In River City Yarns Hat Trick Semi Solid.

If the baby is a girl, I’ll send both sweaters; if it’s a boy I’ll probably stick to tradition and only send the blue one.

I’m in the process of getting the patterns tech edited and photographed and hope to post them on Ravelry in the upcoming weeks. Stay tuned for price discounts when I do!