Yarn: Lion Brand :: Vanna’s Choice [Brick (133)]
Needles: Knit Picks 24″ Options Interchangeable Nickel Plated Circulars :: US 8/5.00mm
Start: 9 September 2011
Finish: 24 October 2011
Made for: Andre
Pattern: Baby Sophisticate [Linden Down]
Size: 0-3 months
Oops! It seems the month got away from me… No matter. On with the show!
Have I ever told you how baby/child sweaters are a bit like crack for me? I absolutely love making them! Deep down, I really do enjoy making sweaters; I just haven’t brought myself to the point where I’m ready to knit enough fabric to cover my substantial figure. So, little sweaters are where it’s at for me. They are fun, functional and, above all, fast to knit. Also, kids look adorable in hand knit sweaters! Anyway, enough ranting on that topic.
This particular sweater was made for the recently born baby of one of our knitting group members. The baby’s name is Andre and he is adorable.
I fell in love with this pattern while searching out sweater patterns that would be boy-appropriate. (I find there are so, so many cute baby girl sweaters but so few fun, but not fussy, baby boy sweaters. Do you have any that you would recommend?) Baby Sophisticate reminds me of a smoking jacket; I just adore the shawl collar. The pattern is free and easy to understand, with minimal instruction. I made slight modifications to the pattern including paired make-1 increases for the raglan shaping and false purl-ridge side seams for a bit more structure.
Despite my typical misgivings regarding acrylic yarn, I knit this piece out of Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice. While the person receiving the gift could totally care for handknits, there is nothing worse than trying to hand wash newborn spit up out of a wool sweater. Also, who needs the added stress of hand washing during the first few months of caring for your first baby? The answer, my friend, is: no one! I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised by the yarn, as I always am when I use it. The squeak factor is still there, but with nothing close to the viciousness of Red Heart. In addition, the drape and feeling next to the skin are quite nice.
Although the project dates don’t reflect it, this was a very quick knit. I kind of put off knitting on the button band/collar for the longest time. I’m not really sure why. Most likely I was simply distracted by other projects…
Overall, I really enjoyed knitting this sweater, and the new parents seem to love it. Also, I got to use some buttons from the button stash I inherited from my mother:
What more could you really ask for?
PS I have such are hard time photographing red. Does anyone have any tips?
This sweater is so very cute. Good work.
This is SERIOUSLY cute!!
I’ve wanted to knit something like this for myself for ages!