I've been reworking a pattern recently from a ginornous gauge (10 stitches to an inch) to a more reasonable gauge (17 stitches to an inch) and while doing this, thought that I would apply the principals of re-gauging a sweater to engineering a neck-down baby sweater with minimum sewing. (My name is Polly and I detest spending time to sew in loose ends.)
Into the mix goes:
Techniques from Daydream and the Everyday cardigan
4 peloutes of Phil Flamme (vintage 2001, bought in Rennes during a visit to Bretagne for a friend's wedding)
1 circular needle size 3.5 mm and 1 circular needle size 3mm
1 tapestry needle
6 small buttons
1 small skein of reinforcing heel thread left over from this
Out comes :
This was all knit in one piece and by the time that I was finished, all I had to do was
(1) sew down the sleeves
(2) pick-up and work the button bands
(3) sew up the buttons. (using reinforcing sock yarn, hey, we never waste things at All Tangled Up).
There were literally, 14 loose ends to weave in.
Of course, I would had finished this ages ago, if everyone hadn't reminded me frequently of, how big the intended recipient was. OK, I know, he was born a little late. He was very long at birth. With each email that I received, I ripped back and cast on a few more stitches. Since I was sort of designing on the fly, I hadn't taken into full consideration that each stitch that I added meant that I also had to knit the body longer and had to accomodate more buttons. So, that extra button that I usually buy to sew in as a spare, got used too. The cardigan is (in my opinion big enough for a 2 year old). I couldn't understand how this happened until I realized that I swatched with a 3mm and knitted with a 3.5mm.
So the yet unnamed baby boy is going to have to do some serious growing to fit into it.
Here are a few more pictures. I rather like this yarn. The colourful little bits not only add texture and interest, but also breaks up my uneven stitches.
See what I mean about being simple and easy? All stocking stitch. I might try doing this on an adult sweater, the only problem is, I better do my maths more carefully and mark my needles to avoid using the wrong ones.
Posted by atu at August 24, 2004 08:26 PMWhat is the yarn?? What a Cute Sweater!!!
Posted by: Susan at August 30, 2004 08:17 PMHi Polly
A quick question on the size of the baby cardigan - you say it's big enough for a 2yo - what width did it end up as? I'm thinking of a top down too, but when I look at the chest sizes in the various books I have, they look enormous!
d:)
That's really sweet Polly. Do you know, though I often think that baby sweaters are enormous - and that's without me changing gauges and so on ! I knitted my nephew a jumper when he was about 4 that was so baggy he was still wearing it at age 7 !
Posted by: Heather at August 27, 2004 02:28 PMGorgeous little Cardi! Makes me kind of Broody! HELP! I has been ages since I knitted a 'little chicks' sweater! I love to knit in the round and have so little finishing too :¬) I say "All Power to Elizabeth Z"
Posted by: Lydia at August 25, 2004 04:32 PMI too am a big fan of top down, minimal finishing. That cardi is beautiful and will be an asset to the baby's wardrobe as it will go with most everything. The one thing we can count on with babies...if it doesn't fit now they will grow into it.
Posted by: Bliss at August 25, 2004 04:11 PMHi Polly,
The cardi is lovely! I've also just completed my first top down seamless sweater. The best part is minimal finishing.
Hi Polly, The cardigan looks good. I like the colour of the yarn.
Posted by: Eva Shiu at August 25, 2004 01:58 AMI love the shoulder seam details. So eleganza! Lucky baby.
Posted by: Ann at August 25, 2004 01:00 AM17st/inch!! It's turned out beautifully, Polly.
The recipient (or mum) will love it!
Dawn :)
Polly, I just love the cardigan and the yarn. The recipient is one lucky little boy, I'm sure he will get a lot of wear out of this cardigan as he is growing into it.
Posted by: Louise at August 24, 2004 10:39 PMWhat a fantastic little cardigan ! It turned out so well.
Hi Polly
the sweater looks good but you need to work on the maths - 17sts to an inch - that's madness even for you !