As I said in the shop newsletter sent out this week, I have been knitting for a plethora of babies. I always find this exciting because I can use it as an excuse to practice techniques that I have wanted to try or just love to do. A few knitters in the shop this weekend asked about the sweater that's in progress right now so I thought I would share it here with you. Just another way to knit a sweater. Mabye worth a try if you haven't already!
First, I must admit. I rarely swatch for baby things yet I always try to knit it for at least a 6 month old. I like to stay away from 0-3 months. Sometimes those babies come out with a full set of teeth and forming complete sentences. Then the sweater never gets worn. I would rather have it stained and full of holes than wrapped in tissue paper and packed away for "safe keeping".
Down to the details....I grabbed this pattern out of the Dale of Norway #152 book. The whole sweater was to be done in purl stitch with cables up the front, back and arms. I avoid purling like the plague so I knit rather than purl but kept the rest as written. The pattern also called for Dale Baby Ull. Unsure of what sex this baby will be, I opted for a soft grey from the Dale Falk. Still washable wool, just a slightly heavier gauge. Size 2 needles.
CO for the body and rib for an inch or so. My new favorite rib is to knit the knit sts through the back loop. It gets rid of that ugly second knit stitch that always seems to be sloppy. It also causes that knit stitches to pop up a little more.
Once the body is up to the armpits, throw it aside and start the sleeves. They aren't that long so I worked them separately on dpns. Another choice? Knit them using the Magic Loop Method (one long circular needle) or 2 circular needles and at the same time.
Increases are worked on the underside every 3rd round. There is one stitch that acts as the seam stitch and then the increases are worked on either side of them. I picked up the leg fo the stitch from the row below and increased into that...no holes.
Once the sleeves are finished, the seam stitch from both the body and the sleeves, along with equal numbers on each side are placed on a scrap yarn. The pattern called for them to be bound off and later stitched together. Rather than having ugly seams, don't BO but rather kitchener them. Completely seamless!
Below is what Elizabeth Zimmermann referred to as a "phoney seam". A disadvantage to seamless knitting can be the fact that the sweater doesn't always lay flat or fold well because there is no seam at the side. EZ "fixed" this by inserting phoney seams. Once the body is finished, I drop the very side stitch on each side of the sweater down to right above the ribbing. Using a crochet hook, the stitch is "knitted" back up by going through one ladder then two. Alternating this until I'm back at the top, my sweater folds nicely in half.
The two footer's dad saw me doing this and asked what was going on. After I explained it to him he looked at me with disbelief that I could truly care whether my sweater laid completely flat or not....There are some details that I am a sucker for. Only having black, brown and grey to knit with because dyed yarn no longer exists?...not a problem...
....and happy baby to miss emily. She joined us for open knit on thursday night. still waiting for the stinker she has now dipped into her "hospital knitting" bag to keep her busy. She appeared in the store late yesterday afternoon. Still no baby but almost completely out of knitting projects. A couple more skeins of wool and she is ready to have the baby now. Tomorrow is supposed to be the day so everyone send her healthy baby and fast labor thoughts!
