Tulips Baby Cardigan
What is it about small things that makes them so magickal? All the while I was working on this little sweater I kept stopping to look at it and to imagine wrapping a small person into it. My small person. As I worked on it, it seemed as if the baby would get more active. Telling me she approved, maybe? Or just that my knitting position wasn't as comfortable for her as she would have liked it to be? Either way, watching this sweet little project work up on my needles was a very happy thing. It will be much too large for a newborn, but should do nicely for her when the Chicago winter rolls around.
This project is from Dream in Color Designs -- the people who make Dream in Color Yarn. As far as I can tell, it pretty much uses all the mostly solid colorways that they have available in their "Classy" yarn. Classy is approximately worsted weight. I was surprised though, that to get gauge (4.5 stitches/inch) I had to go up to a size 9 (5.5 mm) needle. No matter, even on needles that seemed too huge to be used for a baby garment, everything came out to the sizes described in the pattern.
This project has several nice features beyond stimulating one's color sense. It's knit all in one piece with no seams. It has no buttons or button holes to fuss with. And it has very lovely instructions for making the applied I-cord edging work out well. Perhaps the only drawback to this pattern is that the color changing means that there is a good deal of weaving in of ends at the end.
I used to be very skeptical of the whole idea of knitting for babies. Now that I've watched this little sweater come together, it's much easier for me to understand the allure of baby garments. Not only do they come together so quickly they are practically instant gratification, but it is hard to think unhappy thoughts with something so tiny and sweet in your hands.
When I first got pregnant, I didn't think there was any chance that I would be making sweaters for Miss Z. After all, why make something by hand for someone who will not really know about it or appreciate it and who will grow out of it after a couple of wearings? Having finished this little sweater, I now know that while on the surface I am knitting this garment for my baby, when I look underneath the surface, I am clearly knitting this garment for me, and for all the happy memories, now and in the future, that this garment will give me. Every time I pull it out, even long after she has outgrown it, it will help me remember the process of becoming a mother, and what it was like to hold a small person in my arms.
The baby sweater turned out lovely. And there is so much truth to what you said about how we knit baby things as much for our selves & for our memories of them as for the babies who will grow out of them seemingly in moments & who will be sure to spit up on them the instant they're on.
The baby sweater turned out lovely. And there is so much truth to what you said about how we knit baby things as much for our selves & for our memories of them as for the babies who will grow out of them seemingly in moments & who will be sure to spit up on them the instant they're on.
You really made quick work of the adorably colorful sweater for Baby Z!
Well said re: the reason for baby hand knits. They are heartfelt, tangible memories.
Beautifully said and so true, I'm sure. And the sweater is really beautiful too. I am actually pondering if I should order the kit from Lettuce Knit. :)
That is a very, very beautiful sweater! Your daughter will look wonderful and very comfortable in it. I always had the feeling my children "knew" when they had something handknitted about them, they were more cosy with them.
Your thoughts about knitting for a baby are so true. And the best: this feeling still is there, when I knit for my children - they are nearly 4 and 6 meanwhile and love their handknitted sweaters and are so proud of them.
Don't underestimate the power a handknitted garment has. I knit for my baby girl all I can and SHE gets noticed for it. Positive attention can never be a bad thing for a child and its not a bad thing for a creative, hard-working mom either. You'll see. People are going to love that little jacket, oogle over your child and get you wrapped up in more than one pleasant conversation because of it.
You are right about the meaning behind the baby sweater. I made a tiny cabled cardigan for our daughter while we waited to adopt her. After it was finished, I used to carry it around across my shoulder with one arm hanging over, as if she were actually in it.
It was huge on her, so she got a lot of wear out of it, and I love looking at pictures of her in it. Once in awhile I come across it and marvel that she ever fit into something so tiny (and big on her at that).
It's like a sneak preview of your baby and a future memory. Know what I mean?
Beautiful work! I can't help but believe that I put something of myself into my knitted items. When I wrap a handknit scarf around my neck or pull on a cherished sweater, I feel like I'm putting on a hug that will stay with me all day. I hope this sweater makes baby Z feel the same way!
The sweater is adorable and I can't believe how fast it went!
Ah, the lure of handknit baby garments! I've saved every item that was handmade for my children by myself and others because I know what they represent. I can't resist handmade baby items at church rummage sales because I think they need a baby & a good home. I tell my 14 & 16 yr. old sons that the ~25,000 stitches in the socks I knit for them is just a fraction of my love for them. Happy Knitting for Miss Z!
Beautiful sweater and beautiful sentiments. You've put a smile on my face and recalled some warm memories. Thanks.
Long time lurker. Well said about baby knitting. I love the look of that yarn too. It reminds me a bit of Manos. Does it have the feel of Manos as well?
That little sweater is just adorable!
Beautiful sweater, and beautiful thoughts about knitting for babies.
I have just ordered a double kit to make this sweater for my one year old niece! The pictures are irresistible!
Ow, my biological clock! :) I just know that once I get pregnant, I'll be knitting little sweaters non-stop.
How did I miss you are pregnant?? I'm at the end of week 27 now yikes!
I only started up knitting again like 2 weeks ago or so. I didn't knit the first whole 5 or 6 months I was pregnant, so weird! So far I have finished some cute Seude Booties and 2 cardigans. I have atleast 4 more knits lined up. I am totally knitting them for myself and I never even worried about the fact she couldn't wear them past a few months, however they will make WONDERFUL doll and bear clothing, won't they? :)
That was so sweet it made me misty-eyed.
One thing to know about baby clothes - they never fit. The wearer is constantly either growing into them or growing out of them. Especially the first year. So if something is a skosh big, roll up the sleeves and let it go because five minutes later it will be too small.
I've always loved baby knitting. In fact it's what finally got me to make the switch from crocheting afghans and I haven't looked back.
You know what? I itch to knit for my children (who are four). I haven't done it yet, because I knit slowly and They Grow So Fast... but I am inspired now, and I will work to get it done by Christmas. I'm looking at Knitty's "Briar Rose" sweater (spring 07), with less picot for my son than for my daughter. :)
You do nice work -- that Tulip sweater is really lovely.
My "baby" is well on her way to being three years old. I've kept all the handknit sweaters my mom and I made for her hanging on teeny hangers in her closet instead of in the boxes with the rest of her too-small clothes. Sometimes I pull them out and marvel at how little she was!
That really is a lovely sweater. If I ever have another baby girl I'm definitely going to have to order that kit!
Oh it's just beautiful. and I agree completely that knitting for babies is more knitting for you. I remember fondly all of the wee knitting I've done over the years, long after the little ones have grown.
I was wondering the same thing about the sweater I am knitting for my baby girl (due in Sept). Then as I started seeing it come together it started to make sense, but I couldn't put it into words. You just did that. Thank you. The sweater is beautiful!
I've got 3 boys 9, 11 & 13, under my bed in a storage bin are all the tiny precious things made for them by me & others, ready to be passed on to the next generation, it includes several items that were handed down from my MIL. I love them all. I can't resist opening the box & tripping down memory lane whenever I clean beneath the bed (this does not happen too often!)
wow, that sweater came out quick! It's really cute. Baby Z will look just adorable in it.
oh my gosh, i looooooooove that sweater (wish i could have one for myself). it turned out great! no babies in my own future for now, but perhaps for someone else in the family...
do you know if it's possible to order it as a kit online?
I just finished a little cardigan for my son-arriving in the fall. I absolutely agree with your thoughts on baby knitting. None of the other baby knitting I've done for others has even compared to knitting the few hats and that sweater for mine.
Congratulations on a very precious finished project!
Most of motherhood will slide by *much* smoother if you're able to keep what you learned here in perspective... it's never about getting adequate appreciation or affection or gratitude or recognition for what you're doing, because that will never come. But you'll know how much you've worked and loved, and that's what matters.
That's exactly why I knit for babies. Thanks for putting it so well! Of course, now that Jacob is almost two, he really does notice and appreciate the handknits--he hugs things I make for him and smiles, and asks to wear them. And that makes it all the more special. So rest assured, even better things are to come!
What a beautiful sweater, I love all the colours in it. Your child will love it too.
My girls are now grown (18 and 25), but they both have stored away favourite pieces that were "made by mom" over the years. They both say this is in case they have babies of their own one day. Recently my oldest confessed to looking at these things more frequently, and that they spur some of her most precious memories.
Savour the moments, all of them. Time really does fly far too fast.
What a pretty little sweater! I want to make that for my daughter and she's 8. You're right that the knitting isn't only for the baby but if you're lucky you'll get a girl like mine who really does love getting something hand made for her to wear. Not that she takes any better care of it than something bought - but she does seem to know it's special and she loves it for that reason. Also, if you get a girl like mine, anything that goes around her at age 1 will continue to go around her at 3 or even 4 and just be a 3/4 sleeve cropped cardi instead of a rolled-sleeve thigh-length car coat.
That sweater is fabulous!!!! After "Baby Z" outgrows it, it would be wonderful to put it in a shadowbox with other small mementos. Somebody did that with a wee sweater that I had made for their baby. It was such a great idea and I was very flattered that it was "suitable for framing". Blessings on you as you nurture this new life now and forever. Feeling a wee bit misty as our "girls" are now 40 and 37. Yikes!!!
I totally had to order that kit, after you and the Harlot. It is the cutest thing!
So cute! And colorful!
As a pregnant knitter, this post made me tear up and I will be expanding my baby knitting beyond booties and blankets because how can I deny my own sweet girl something so precious.
I have a heart of stone but even I teared up with the last paragraph!
You've done a lovely job of rendering a really cute jacket.
Gorgeous! Miss Z is going to arrayed like an entire bed of flowers.
If it's any comfort on the subject of knitting for babies who don't know they're being knit for--I have a special corner in my closet where I keep several of the pieces my mom knitted for me when I was an infant. I love to look at them and think of her waiting for me and knitting them up. Even though I sure can't remember them from the days I wore them, they feel comforting and familiar. I have no kids of my own to put them on, but I'll definitely be dressing my sister's children's children up in them once those babies start to arrive in another decade or so.
Gorgeous! Miss Z is going to arrayed like an entire bed of flowers.
If it's any comfort on the subject of knitting for babies who don't know they're being knit for--I have a special corner in my closet where I keep several of the pieces my mom knitted for me when I was an infant. I love to look at them and think of her waiting for me and knitting them up. Even though I sure can't remember them from the days I wore them, they feel comforting and familiar. I have no kids of my own to put them on, but I'll definitely be dressing my sister's children's children up in them once those babies start to arrive in another decade or so.
I love knitting for my 3.5 year old daughter. I knit her a cardigan every year for her birthdday I call the "birthday cardigan" and she wears it all year. (Actually she can still fit in the last 2 so she has choices.) I always challenge myself with something new - the first year Intarsia, the 2nd was seaming (I'd only done top-down before,) and the 3rd was a hood. I also knit her a long blue dress that is her favorite dress ever -- I made it from sock yarn and it has survived an amazing number of stains (including some bright red lipstick that was smashed EVERYWHERE.) She asks to wear it at least once a week and it warms my heart so much. I also knit her socks and they are nicer than any store-bought socks I've ever bought her. Whenever I knit something she comes up and asks "Is that for me??"
You're going to love knitting for your little one!
I need to knit that for my new granddaughter. That is an amazing sweater, I just love the colors...ciao
children love handknits once they are old enough. beforehand, it truly is for the mom. i have knit sweaters for a friend's 3 daughters, and it was great to hold the littlest in the sweater i knit her. so sweet!
That is so cute. This inspiration has me closer to casting on for a baby sweater that I would like to knit.
I can't believe how fast that went!
It's really cute!
Theresa, I wasn't knitting when my children were little, but my daughter had some special items of clothing that I couldn't bear to give away when she was all done with them. Instead, I put them on a few teddy bears. I still have them, ready to hand on to her when she ever has children. So knit little things to your heart's content.
Aw, that is one cute sweater! My twins are 15 months old...how big does the sweater pattern go up to? I think it would be really cute on a toddler too. Knitting is never wasted on babies, they need to be cozy in wool for as long as you can keep it on them.
It's so beautiful. Do you know how large the pattern goes to? I'd need a 3T for my dd....
That is gorgeous! I adore the colors!!
Not only do we knit our hopes and dreams into these tiny sweaters; but they can be put lovingly away when outgrown (what a concept, eh, that the little bump will someday outgrow that sweater?!) in order to give to your daughter for her children. . . .