Basic Sitches for a Superb Sweater

I tried to post this yesterday from my mobile phone, but it didn't work. It sent the blog entry in 5 entries instead of 1. I'm sorry for the inconvience.

If you have ever shopped for an infant than you know how incredibly difficult it is to find a warm sweater or jacket for a baby under 12 months. Last year, my mom and I searched at least 10 stores before finding a sweater for my niece, who was 6 months at the time. We ended up buying the larger size so that her mom could layer her outfit. This year, with the arrival of my nephew, I decided it would be easier to just make his sweater.

I incorporated basic stitch # 3, which can be found in a previous posting, and basic stitch # 1. The ribbing created by stitch # 3 is brought out by the garter made with stitch 1. I began knitting this sweater in white yarn and accented it with blue. I chose white because when I started this sweater we weren’t sure what she was having. It was going to be all white, but I found out the sex before I finished.

The white yarn is Lionbrand Baby Pound of Love in White, which is lightweight enough for everyday use, while still warm. The blue yarn is Lionbrand Homespun in Sky Blue. Homespun is wonderfully soft yarn, but when knit on the same needles as the Pound of Love, is wider than the white. It is neither noticeable nor a problem that the blue is slightly wider than the white in the finished sweater.

I cannot wait for the little guy to finally be here to wear it, but until then a stuffed monkey will serve as the model. I think the monkey is charmingly handsome and he helps keep the sweater’s shape.

This sweater can be easily adapted to any child. Use pink instead of blue for a baby girl or a child’s favorite color if they are older. I absolutely adore this sweater and plan on making many more. If you or your loved ones live in a colder climate you might want to try a warmer yarn. Wool and other natural yarns provide natural warmth, but remember that wool will shrink and is the yarn used when felting. In situations where yarn content is unknown or shrinking is possible, knit a tension square and wash as you would the final project. Make sure you measure the tension square before washing so you have something to compare to.