Thank You so much for all of your very sweet comments about FinallyAGirl. I’ve been missing her terribly this week and luckily, we’re going to see her this weekend. Yay!
I’ve been busy over the last few months making a few baby sweaters that I couldn’t show you until they were given to SweetiePie – which we did when the baby was born. I love little knitting projects because I can take them to work and knit at lunchtime a few days a week. The first sweater is the famous Baby Surprise sweater by Elizabeth Zimmerman. This was a super fun sweater to knit, but boy, the first time, it takes a leap of faith. This is what the sweater looks like when you finish knitting.
Does that look like a sweater to you? Me neither. But, have faith, a little change-o presto and it looks like this:
I don’t even remember how I twisted it to put it together, but I do remember that the only seams are along the top of the sleeves. No side seams, so that was nice! My only frustration with this pattern was that there was no indication as to what size the finished sweater would be — maybe it’s because you can use this pattern for babies all the way to adult sizes, depending on the size yarn and needles that you use. I was hoping for a 3 – 6 month size, but I think this is more like a 0 – 3 month size. For those interested in the details, I used US size 3 needles with a Koigu yarn. The pattern has been published in several books and all the details, along with pictures of other Baby Surprise sweaters, can be found on Ravelry, here. Not included in the pattern is the little picot edge along the front and bottom of the sweater and around the sleeve edges. My buddy Bonnie mentioned that she had a friend who did a picot edge on her baby surprise sweater, so I googled a picot edge and crocheted it when the sweater was finished. I think this makes a really fun baby gift and I’ll definitely be making it again!
The second little sweater I made is the Nouveau-né by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (aka The Yarn Harlot). This was another fun little knit, and oh, what a pretty little sweater pops out at the end! This sweater is knit in a much more traditional manner — top down on circular needles, so there are no side seams, which I love. I also LOVE that beautiful little honeycomb stitch on the yoke and around the sleeve and body hems. It’s so pretty and and it’s fun to run your fingers along the top to feel the bubbly texture.
The pattern also has instructions for little booties, so I made them too. It only contains instructions for a 0-3 month size — oh, how I wish it also included larger sizes. I’d definitely make it again for when our little miss gets bigger. The booties seem large to me — more like a 6 month size, but what do I know — it’s been a long time since I’ve been around little baby feet.
For those interested, I used US size 3 needles and the yarn is Millamia Naturally Soft Merino. Both little sweaters have flower shaped buttons (sorry, the whites aren’t showing up very well — white is so hard to photograph!). Yarn and buttons for both sweaters were purchased at my LYS, Knitting Off Broadway.
I LOVE baby knitting and I’ve started on another new project — a few lunch times a week, week after week, add up to some fun finished projects!
And now … it’s the weekend. T minus 2 until I can cuddle that little baby — Yipee!!! If you’re an American, I hope you have a wonderful 4th of July weekend!!!
XOXO,
Anna
wish I could knit like that!! how cute make sure to take photos when she is wearing them this fall
Your knitting amazes me, Miss Thimble! Such sweet, sweet sweaters. Reminds me of the children in Eloise Wilkins books. Well done, Grammy!
They both look fab, anna. Enjoy your baby cuddles! :o)
Grandma you done good :) . Love both sweaters and booties. Keep the pictures coming. Enjoy your cuddle time. xoxo
Gorgeous baby knits! Have a wonderful weekend!
Ohhh, even if she only wears them once, those sweaters are keepers! They are lovely. Safe travels for baby snuggling and parent spoiling!
What a lucky little baby.
Beautiful!!! Little missy is so fortunate to have such a talented adoring granny. The sweaters are absolutely adorable. They will keep her warm and cozy all wrapped up in love from you. Enjoy all that snuggle time with her. Hugs, hugs, hugs!
You do such lovely work! Gorgeous sweaters! Thanks for sharing!
Such cute little sweaters. I love knitting baby things too and will have a chance now as my step daughter is expecting her first baby in December. A winter baby will need plenty of sweaters!
Both sweaters are darling but I bet not quite as adorable as FinallyAGirl! I’m not a knitter; I might need to learn before I become a grandmother but think I have plenty of time.
Gorgeous baby sweaters!! I love that one is bright and the other is white. Different colours for different occasions. Happy knitting and happy 4th of July.
adorable xxx happy 4th of July and happy baby snuggles xxx
Adorable little sweaters… love the clever little bright one, and the sweet pale one with the matching booties is such a lovely texture. Such a lucky little baby to be dressed in your beautiful knitting! Happy July 4th Anna!
Helen xox
Oh my – what sweet little knitted items for your special little princess.
I love booties they are such a classic.
The first sweater is adorable! love the pattern it creates on the front.
Have fun cuddling!
Will there be photos of the little darling in her new sweaters? I think Finally A Girl is going to have the best made goodies from Grandma. Beautiful sweaters, pattern and color.
Both sweaters are gorgeous! Here is my favorite baby sweater pattern:
http://knittingpureandsimple.com/products-page/free-patterns/easy-baby-cardigan/
It is easy, cute, and comes in a nice range of sizes. The gauge is 5sts./inch, so you can knock it out in a weekend. I have made it many times, but my favorite version of this was in a soft, heathery pink yarn with pewter heart-shaped buttons.
cuh-ute!!! almost makes me want to take up knitting again … wait – i stopped knitting because it makes me frown – i don’t need anymore frown lines…
still, waaaay cute sweater and waaaay pretty sweater – give that Baby Girl hugs and kisses from me, ‘kay?!?
Your sweaters are beautiful, Anna. You’re a very talented knitter. FinallyAGirl is going to be the coziest baby around this fall.
Such beautiful projects! And oh how fast they grow! I really did forget that from our kids, I think because you’re so tired you hardly notice anything in that sleepless fog! Enjoy the snuggles, they are the best!
What beautiful little sweaters! That is certainly a novel way to make that first one. I’ve never seen anything like that, but then again I don’t look at knit patterns, so that might just explain my ignorance!
those sweaters are just lovely…the picot edge is so beautiful you’ll be able to find larger size patterns somewhere. knitting is so popular again. hope you had a safe and fun weekend! xo
Oh Anna, those sweaters and booties are so precious. I know you’ll be knitting and sewing for her as those little ones do grow so fast :)
Aww! LOVE them both! seriously! How far away from you does the FINALLYAGIRL live?
Where do you work?
As my brother would say, “Totes adorbs.” ;) SO cute. Very nice work, and interesting to see the “before” picture of the Baby Surprise. I have only seen afters. My favorite thing about teeny projects is the finishing – high quality with less time investment than something big. Congrats on finallyagirl!!
Both of these turned out so beautiful. Baby surprise scares me to death! I’d love to see them photographed on Finallyagirl.