No Friday baby pictures, but I do have a bowl of baby pink yarn to share. This yarn is Rowan Purelife Organic Cotton. It's a beautiful cotton yarn, in DK weight, and it has a lovely sheen. It's perfect for babies because not only is it organic, it's also been dyed with natural dyes. Ms. Z is showing the same sensitive skin issues that her mother has, so it's wonderful to be able to find products where I don't have to worry quite as much about chemical compounds that might cause her some irritation.
I absolutely love the color of the yarn and I picked it without really thinking about its pinkness. But I do have to admit that lately I have been picking out girly colors for Ms. Z's clothes because so many people still come up and ask me if she's a boy -- including the parents of other baby girls! I know at this age, this question doesn't bother the baby, but for some reason it bothers me that her identity as a girl is not clear.
Okay, maybe one baby picture, taken last weekend while we were in Michigan.
So now I am in search of a good basic template sweater pattern that I can use to create her a fall cardigan. I'd like to find something simple and raglan that I can use as background so that I can play with the details myself -- for instance, she looks so sweet in bell sleeves and I'd like to add my own simple lace motif. Any suggestions? I've made a first pass through Ravelry, but nothing is jumping out at me. And my Ann Budd book of basic sweater templates doesn't quite go small enough (although it would certainly be easy to shrink one down if I needed to -- I'm just feeling lazy right at the moment).
I absolutely love the color of the yarn and I picked it without really thinking about its pinkness. But I do have to admit that lately I have been picking out girly colors for Ms. Z's clothes because so many people still come up and ask me if she's a boy -- including the parents of other baby girls! I know at this age, this question doesn't bother the baby, but for some reason it bothers me that her identity as a girl is not clear.
Okay, maybe one baby picture, taken last weekend while we were in Michigan.So now I am in search of a good basic template sweater pattern that I can use to create her a fall cardigan. I'd like to find something simple and raglan that I can use as background so that I can play with the details myself -- for instance, she looks so sweet in bell sleeves and I'd like to add my own simple lace motif. Any suggestions? I've made a first pass through Ravelry, but nothing is jumping out at me. And my Ann Budd book of basic sweater templates doesn't quite go small enough (although it would certainly be easy to shrink one down if I needed to -- I'm just feeling lazy right at the moment).
I always tried to avoid the girly girl sort of clothes on my daughter when she was little. Now that my son is a toddler and wearing a lot of his sister's old clothes I notice people thinking he's a girl... So much for avoiding the girliness. :)
As for pattern suggestions, why not try just a simple top down raglan? Or is your lace motif one that needs to be worked bottom up?
Oh dear, I've felt so many times embarrassed when I've not been sure if I'm adoring a wonderful little girl or a boy... :D I've got no kids of my own, either have I any small children in my family, so I'm always grateful if the little person is dressed with pink or blue.
I thought same as Kristel - I'm a fan of topdown raglans because it's so easy to work them the way you will.
when I was a baby people ALWAYS thought I was a little boy, even if my mom dressed me in frilly pink dresses and stuck bows to my (bald) head with toothpaste.....one time someone asked why my mom would dress her little boy in pink dresses!
the ignorance of some people still never ceases to amuse me
People always assumed that my nearly bald girls were boys. This seemed to happen even when they were dressed from head to toe in pink. MIss Z. is a beauty.
I love that yarn so much! It subs in pretty easily in any of the Nashua Blossom patterns, and there's a couple different sweaters in there that you could probably rework into template sweaters.
I had the opposite issue, my little guy even in football jersies or farmer overalls and a baseball cap was always commented on what a beautiful little girl. I think it was his curls. At six, he is quite capable of correcting them and has been keeping his hair short.
If you're not finding something you like already written up as a pattern, there's always the option of making up your own.
Jacqueline Fee's book 'Sweater Workshop' goes through how to make a seamless raglan in any size with any type of yarn. She borrows a lot from the EZ tradition of matching your work to your yarn and gauge, not the other way around. Once through the basics of a simple sweater, she gets into variations on collars, patterning, sleeves, etc.
It does take a little more work to figure out the stitches. But I've really enjoyed making myself a sweater with her directions and knowing it's my unique design.
Maybe something like this? http://www.mariegracedesigns.com/marie_grace/2007/05/daisy_cardigan_.html
In my experience, I think people are just trying to be polite and not hurt the mother's feelings when they ask if the child is a boy or a girl. (As you mentioned, it does hurt your feelings.) Babies look like babies. They shouldn't be forced into gender roles ever. Pink is a color to keep babies calm and passive. Black and white together and bright primary colors such as red and blue are much better for a child's development, unless you want a pink and pale purple princess who is easily controlled. Yes, I have a degree in child development. Yes, I post anonymously, because people gave me such a hard time about my opinions that are backed up by education. When did colors acquire gender? Why does dressing a boy in purple imply that you want him to be shall we say "odd"? This is one of my pet peeves, in case you can't tell.
That cream sweater you made this past winter would be a good template. It's not raglan, but that's so easy to change. There's also raglan, top down generators on the internet, and KnitWare is a design software that you can download a free demo version that is actually quite good.
What about Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's Daisy sweater - http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEsummer03/PATTdaisy.html - from Knitty? It might work as the template you're looking for. It's a basic raglan cardi & is easily customizable.
Not a raglan, but another good template pattern is Elizabeth Zimmermann's Tomten.
Ms. Z is adorable, whatever her wardrobe.
Try the Babies Neck Down Cardigan by Knitting Pure and Simple. It's a top-down raglan ... clearly written pattern, and easy to make your own.
You aren't the only one with the gender issue annoyance.
My daughter is 6 months old and even when she is wearing a pink frilly dress on a pink blanket and playing with a pink and purple toy people still ask "How old is HE?" I always answer, "SHE is 6 months old, HER name is Laura". But they usually continue to refer to her as "he" for the rest of the conversation. Grrr!
i have a neat, very simple, seamless-top down sweatr pattern. there are pictures on my ravelry site, under sam's green sweater, as well as a multicolor koigu one.
it is an addictive pattern and i have another in progress for the new addition we have on the way. anyway, i'd be happy to share, just email me.
jen
Have you looked at the Twilleys new baby book which is done with their organic cotton?
It has a raglan cardigan in it, the only problem is, it only goes up to size 12-18 months.
I could post you my copy if you want it.
I've had great luck with the Dream in Color Tulip Baby pattern. Easy to adjust and best of all, no sewing at the end!