on knitting for babies, when you don't really know any
so, i mentioned before that our first ever niece is due in april. this is the first baby to be born in either of our immediate families in roughly 30 years. a few months ago, i picked out a bunch of patterns, bought all the yarn, then, figuring that those tiny little things would practically knit themselves, i waited until the baby shower was only a few weeks away. bad idea.
every single thing i've started in the last week or two has caused me major knitting distress.i don't really know any babies in real life, so i have no point of reference. i knit a hat, it looks too big. i knit another, it seems sooo small. is it just me, or does every baby cardigan seem to have a ridiculously small neck opening? i want to warm this baby with a sweater, not cut off her circulation. needless to say, there has been much ripping out of baby sweaters. the next one i make should be ok, because i do tend to learn from my mistakes.
there is one sweater that i'm totally thrilled with. i do worry though, that my taste, is not necessarily the same as everyone else's. i fear the horrified looks of on-lookers at the upcoming baby shower.
pattern: february baby sweater from the knitter's almanac
yarn: roughly 230 yards of handspun superwash wool from this etsy shop
needles:4.5mm/us7 32" circular
knitting time: just over 1 day
mods: i omitted the lace, because it wouldn't have worked with this yarn. i knit the sleeves in the round, using magic loop, because i wanted to. i didn't do any decreases at the bottom.
because of my previously mentioned paranoia about small neck openings, i stretched the neck a bit and pinned it during blocking to widen it slightly. when i knit this one again, i'll just use the backwards loop cast on, which creates a looser cast on edge, and thus a wider neck. this time i used my standard long tail cast on.
well there you go. a stinkin' cute little baby sweater. i am still freaking out that they'll hate it.
Comments
Oh my gosh, I totally love it! I love the colors and the texture...it's so cute! It's girly without being too baby girly! Great job!
Posted by: Christie | March 6, 2008 07:30 PM
All I can tell you is that if it were MY baby, I'd love it. But I feel you -- I have entirely lost the ability to tell what my knitted items look like to a nonknitter. And that's not even accounting for differences in taste.
But it's SO cute I figure the odds are good that they'll love it too.
Posted by: Stella | March 6, 2008 07:32 PM
I can say with 100% surety that there is no way they will hate it. You MADE it, and they will love it to pieces for that reason alone---and then, because it's cute! It totally makes me realize that Jared was influenced by this when he designed the Cobblestone Sweater.
Posted by: Mintyfresh | March 6, 2008 07:35 PM
I love it! Great colors and mods. If it makes you feel any better, I have a kid and I STILL can't figure out if things will fit!!
Posted by: Carrie | March 6, 2008 07:40 PM
Gorgeous! I made the Feb sweater recently but you're tempting me to make it again - with your mods! It's just gorgeous with that yarn!
Kristie
Posted by: kristie | March 6, 2008 07:58 PM
I think it turned out really cute! Don't feel nervous about it.
I just got the Knitters Almanac in the mail today, it really is a nice little book.
Posted by: Lauren | March 6, 2008 08:10 PM
That is the most beautiful baby sweater! I love it when baby things aren't the traditional "baby" colors, don't worry that sweater rocks :)
Posted by: Brittani | March 6, 2008 08:12 PM
I made this same sweater last weekend and I'm really LOVING yours. Love the yarn and love that you did it stockinette instead of the lace. Makes me want to knit another! So cute!
Posted by: Keri | March 6, 2008 08:19 PM
i like the feb sweater without the lace! interesting :) it looks good either way.
Posted by: gleek | March 6, 2008 08:22 PM
I love it. I think the colors are fabulous. I can't imagine how any on-lookers would be horrified at seeing this adorable sweater!
Posted by: bea | March 6, 2008 09:04 PM
well, if i were a baby (or it were adult sized), i would totally wear it. It's beautiful!
Posted by: jennie | March 6, 2008 09:07 PM
beautiful and cute with no lace pattern. love the colour.
Posted by: handknit168 | March 6, 2008 10:28 PM
It's impossible for them to hate it, trust me. That is such a gorgeous little sweater! The yarn is lovely – I favorited the seller right away. :-)
Posted by: terhi | March 7, 2008 01:24 AM
That is truly adorable. I LOVE the colors.
Posted by: Emily | March 7, 2008 02:49 AM
I love this sweater and the yarn. I'll have to check out the almanac.
Posted by: Becky | March 7, 2008 04:22 AM
this little sweater is adorable.
Posted by: maryse | March 7, 2008 06:36 AM
The parents may think they want everything pink, but they will never want to see any shade again in 6 months. I think your sweater is beautiful! I agree the handmade quality will make it a total winner. Better than anything you could buy in a store!
Posted by: kate | March 7, 2008 07:29 AM
I love it!
As a mommy that turned a little green in the sea of "baby blue" at her own shower, I would have LOVED it. And if I was having a girl, I don't like pale pink either. :)
Posted by: Kristin | March 7, 2008 07:45 AM
It´s beautiful. And cute. They´ll. Love. It.
For sure!
Posted by: Ana | March 7, 2008 08:55 AM
love it love it love it! i guess babies are big in april bc i too have family and friends who are due the same time. (it must of been a cold cold fall!). you shouldn't worry- its stinkin' cute,you love it, gf loves it, i love it, alot of folks here (and ravelry) love it and if the 'onlookers' dont love it...well they can go...(beeeeeeep)them selves! [beeeeeeep= k1}...heeeheee
Posted by: darlene | March 7, 2008 09:36 AM
It is perfect - I love it without the lace. Will have to knit one just like yours for my niece.
Posted by: lisa | March 7, 2008 09:48 AM
I think it's adorable! But I love brighter, funkier colors on babies. I have a knitter friend who has a great story about TRYING to buy chocolate brown yarn for a baby sweater at one of our LYS's. :)
Posted by: jenna | March 7, 2008 10:24 AM
I've had this fear too - but believe me, they will love it. It's gorgeous, unique, and will be so different from the pink-themed stuff they'll get en masse.
Posted by: Elizabeth | March 7, 2008 10:24 AM
I guess whether or not the recipients like it depends on the kind of people they are. Are they crazy? Crazy with no taste? Crazy with no taste and also blind? They might not like it as much as they should, then. If this is the case, let me know and I will send you a self-addressed, stamped envelope to stick in the giftbox. If they are crazy, tasteless and blind, then can send it off to me for my imaginary children! I am such a sucker for handspun.
In three words or less: Beautiful!
Posted by: marisa | March 7, 2008 10:24 AM
I really like your no-lace modification, I think this yarn really pops in stockinette. Gorgeous sweater, a person would have to be a fool not to love it.
Posted by: kim | March 7, 2008 10:28 AM
I totally feel the same way about knitting for babies--I have no clue what sizes to make, if the parents will like it, etc. In the end, though, most people seem to really appreciate handmade baby clothes, for all our obsessing. And, truly, that is one cute baby sweater you've got there.
Posted by: femiknitter | March 7, 2008 11:02 AM
There's no way anyone could hate that sweater! It's gorgeous and unique. I'm sure it will be a welcome break from the pastel-y stuff they'll be getting!
Posted by: Alice | March 7, 2008 11:46 AM
I can't believe that *anyone* could do anything but squeal with delight at this sweater. Nicely done!
Posted by: Amy | March 7, 2008 11:59 AM
Nobody could possibly hate that sweater. Not only could no one in her right mind hate something so lovingly made for her own child, but that sweater is really darn cute in its own right. I really love the colors. Lucky kid. You'll have to teach her to knit!
Posted by: hadley | March 7, 2008 12:09 PM
This was a great idea! I love it!
Posted by: Monika | March 7, 2008 12:51 PM
Super cute! I love the colors!
Posted by: Viktoria | March 7, 2008 01:53 PM
Oh, it's simply darling! Fear not - this is going to be treasured for years and years.
Posted by: kristin | March 7, 2008 03:38 PM
you're freaking out cuz you fear they won't like it? melissa, if i didn't know you any better i'd accuse you of fishing for compliments cuz that sweater is so obviously gorgeous and perfect in every way. silly. i'm especially in love with that colorway. gonna poke around some at that etsy shop now. . .
Posted by: Sandra | March 7, 2008 04:20 PM
I love the baby sweater! The garter stitch looks great with that yarn. I can't imagine there's a human alive who wouldn't love that! The colors are country, funky, and bright, and any baby will look amazing in it. So sweet!
Posted by: mick | March 7, 2008 07:33 PM
How on earth could anyone possibly hate that gorgeous sweater. It looks absolutely wonderful. The color, fit, style, etc. are PERFECT. Who ever is receiving that should feel very blessed to know you and be honored with your mad knitting skills - 1 day, very impressive.
Posted by: Devon | March 7, 2008 11:20 PM
I love baby knitting. I just knit and no matter how deformed I hope that the baby is as misshapen as the sweater.
Don't worry, I know I'm going to hell.
Posted by: Christine | March 8, 2008 01:26 AM
Oh man, I love it! The colors are great! Thanks for the inspiration!
Posted by: Knitterella | March 8, 2008 09:08 AM
I think it's beautiful, but I know exactly what you mean. I was so excited to knit some baby things recently, as one of my coworkers had a baby. I knit a hat and booties out of some Shibui sock yarn, in beautiful, but decidedly non-babyish colors, but I think his wife just thought it was ugly. Then I knit a sweater out of peartree baby merino, which is beautiful yarn, but uneven i.e. a "knitter's yarn" which isn't necessarily appreciated by non-knitters.
Posted by: Liz | March 8, 2008 11:05 AM
How could they not love the sweater?! It's adorable! And I always reassure myself with the notion that baby stuff will fit at some point even if not right away, and I think it would be helpful for new parents to have a store of clothes as the baby grows...Anyway, great job!
Posted by: Mandy | March 8, 2008 12:17 PM
Who could NOT love that sweater? it's gorgeous!
I get so damn sick and tired of pastels for babies - they need visual stimulation. This is beautiful and I think you did a great job. And you're planning it again? Good on you!
Posted by: Leslie | March 8, 2008 03:29 PM
They'd have to be idiots because it is PERFECT!
Posted by: Cirilia | March 8, 2008 09:34 PM
I LOVE this sweater! it's perfect- I'm always looking for something to make for friends/family that keep squeezing out kids, but can never find anything that's more MY personality and less baby gap... this is PERFECT. And I want to make a me-sized one too! Thanks for your always interesting blog!
Posted by: cristalle | March 9, 2008 07:06 PM
I'm so glad someone else has gone through this. I had a lot of people laugh at me when I was knitting a baby gift last spring, saying, "but i have no idea how big babies are!" I thought I was knitting way too small, and it turns out it won't fit her for another year still. Ugh!
I really like the garter yoke with this yarn. It has that nice homemade/natural look to it that I really like, and those colors are fantastic. It's such a great pattern - you have a lucky neice!
Posted by: lekkercraft | March 10, 2008 11:39 AM
Dude that's a beautiful wee sweater! I really like it with the lace omitted. I'm not for sure, but I think babies necks are proportionate, and their heads are huge, and this is a cardigan, and doesn't have to go over the head, so I think you're gold. I want an adult size version for me!
Posted by: Julia | March 11, 2008 10:05 PM
this is adorable! don't worry!
Posted by: barefootrooster | March 13, 2008 10:31 AM
Oh my gosh, that's so cute!! I would totally put that on my baby girl! I got way to much pink and lavender at my baby shower. I would have killed for something that pretty and classic looking. The neck opening looks jut fine.
Posted by: casey | March 16, 2008 03:24 PM
It's absolutely gorgeous, M, and so sophisticated it will make all the pastel presents look even more insipid by comparison. :)
Posted by: pamela wynne | March 21, 2008 05:20 PM
I can't stand pastel baby sweaters, so this one is stunning and will look so nice on the baby. I, for one, would be thrilled to receive this at a baby shower.
The first cardigan (dark brown!)that I knit for our younger son ended up fitting him for, I swear, about only 2 days, and that was with the top button left undone. Then it went to clothe a sock monkey. After that I just started knitting the largest size in baby patterns because they can always wear them a little bit big, and they'll always grow into it...and out of it, quickly.
Without a baby, or older child too, right there in front of you to try things on, it's hard to tell what will fit or not.
As for the Knitter's Almanac, I fully agree. If I could only buy one knitting book, this would be the one, and I think I bought my copy when way back when it went for only $3.50! It actually was the only knitting book I had for quite some time.
Posted by: Siri | April 8, 2008 02:04 PM
Wow!!! This sweater is darling!!! It turned out fantastic!!! I'm sure this sweater will be a real WoW!!!
Posted by: Shannon | May 31, 2008 08:31 PM