Happy Valentine’s Day Little Lovies! I hope your day is full of CHOCOLATE LOL.
I finished the little sweater that I made for my littlest Valentine this week. It’s been a fun, fairly quick project and hopefully it will fit her ;-D.
The pattern is from the book Baby Knits for Beginners by Debbie Bliss and it’s the “jacket with moss stitch bands” in the 12-24 month size. The pattern calls for size US2 and US3 knitting needles, but, because I’m a fairly tight knitter, I had to go up one size to US3 and US4. I went to my local LYS to choose a yarn, and they recommended Bossa Nova Sport by Molly Girl Yarn in the Sandcastles colorway. It’s a superwash merino mix, so it’s very soft and the finished knit has a really nice drape. But, to be honest, I’m not really a fan. I would have preferred something, I don’t know … maybe a little more “crisp”? If that makes any sense at all. The stitches don’t seem very well defined, and to my eye, just not as pretty as, for example, the little baby dress I knit for FinallyAGirl a few months ago. Plus, the yarn had a few little green marks in it that I couldn’t get out. I would have taken the yarn back, but I didn’t discover them until I was half-way through knitting the back of the sweater. It looks like someone took a little green ink pen and pressed it into the back. Oh well … no picture, but if you see it in person, don’t look LOL.
I love the simple look of this little cardigan, and hopefully FinallyAGirl will be able to wear it with some of her adorable little dresses and tops. I tried a new-to-me technique for sewing up the seams. I usually just hold the pieces right sides together and hand stitch them, like you would fabric, but I’ve never liked the way the seams look. This new method is a bit tedious and time-consuming, but it gives a seamless look and I love it. I’ll definitely be using this method again.
Also, I thought I’d made a mistake in knitting the buttonholes, as they’re to the side of the seed stitch button band instead of the middle, but I double checked the picture in the book, and that’s the way they’re supposed to be. My OCD self is a little bugged by it — I like that they’re off center, but then I don’t. Not sure if I might change that if I were to knit this little cardigan again.
This project is a little Valentine present for our little cherub. I played around with a few different ideas for wrapping it up before I sent it off to her, but in the end, there wasn’t enough room in the mailer with the other little goodies that I sent, so I just sort of squished it into the envelope. Wrapping Fail. ;-(
Oh well. Everything can’t be perfect LOL.
Have a Happy Valentine’s Day!
XOXO,
Anna
sweet!
it is absolutely lovely!!! and sweet … really really sweet!
Squeal!!!! It’s soooo sweet.
Well, it looks pretty well perfect to me! Love the color, too.
It looks very pretty and I’m sure it will be loved. I had chocolate yesterday and ended up wishing I hadn’t!
Wow, that seam is almost invisible! Actually, I like where the button holes are, and speaking of buttons, those are adorable! FinallyAGirl is going to love it, and best of all, it’s from Grandma! Happy Valentine’s Day, a day late.
P.S., you know time is flying by when your own little girl gets a Singing Valentine in school from a secret admirer. Aaaack!
No chocolate for me, alas! Your cardigan is beautiful!
What in the world! Where have I been? I missed your new doors blog and ice cream for breakfast day! We had all our windows and doors replaced several years ago on the coldest day of the year. That was some fun. I love that little sweater. Maybe you could do a tutorial on the new seaming method? And blocking. I don’t think I know how to properly block. That little girl is going to treasure you so much as she grows up. You’re a “great” grannie.
Your little cardi is dear! Have you used a three needle bind off to join shoulder seams? Once you get the hang of it, it goes quickly, the stitches line up so it is fairly invisible, and it gives the shoulder seam a bit of stability. (It is also a good way to join the top of a hood.) Here is a tutorial on the Purl Soho website:
https://www.purlsoho.com/create/3-needle-bind-off/
I think the buttonbands looks great—they are always kind of a bear.
What an adorable sweater, Anna. The buttons you’ve chosen are the perfect finishing touch. Hope you had a lovely Valentine’s Day.
Amalia
xo
I think I made that same sweater for my son many many years ago.
Yours turned out so sweetly with those little buttons are adorable.
yay for chocolate
It is just lovely!!! that little girl is gonna be the best dressed kid in the neighborhood! and the heirlooms she will take with her into her adult life! all of the things you make for her will be cherished. lucky lucky girl!
It’s a darling sweater. Love that red bow you used!