If you are having a baby...
and know that I may be knitting something for you then do NOT read this post! you've been warned.
I finally got around to mailing this gift off this week and I remembered to take a few pictures before packaging it up. apparently the baby keeps pretending she's going to show up and then psychs everyone out, my theory is that she was waiting for me to finish knitting. she's scheduled to be delivered in a couple of days, perfect timing!
pattern: child's placket neck pullover from lmkg
yarn: rowan designer dk wool (2 skeins)
needles: 4 mm addi turbos
this is my first baby knit ever so I stuck with a simple pattern that I had on hand, partially because I know nothing about babies and because I was scared of finishing too late. I chose to knit the 6-12 month size since I can't imagine a baby wearing a wool sweater right now, but she'll be just the right size come winter.
I was worried that the styling mixed with the yarn color weren't girly enough and I don't want to transfer my severe styling to an innocent child, so I went to a little lux with my choice in beads. baby's going to be sporting some cute, green swarovski crystals. they're probably too big to 'button' but take it as proof that I'm a style over function girl at heart. I like the sparkle they add to the dark sweater and I snuck in some pink thread when I sewed them on.
this was a pretty simple knit, though I made one big change. I knit it top down instead of bottom up. I can't stand knitting raglans from the bottom and then having to put the body on hold as I knit a sleeve, attach it, and knit another sleeve. I just find knitting it from the top a cleaner and less fiddly process with the same end-result.
I hope the mom likes it and that the baby wears it out this winter. I'm just happy I finally found a pattern to use this yarn for. it's been languishing in my stash for over a year or so, since I didn't have enough for a sweater and I couldn't buy more since it's been discontinued forever (why rowan!? why?!). it's the perfect 'plain' pure wool yarn with great stitch definition and it softens up after washing. I loved knitting with it and I still have one or two more skeins in the stash. I just need to find a worthy pattern.
ps. I wrote this last night and uhhh didn't hit publish apparently...oops
Comments
wow, that is GORGEOUS! i am totally a 'style over function' girl (and, occasionally, "fashion over comfort" as well-lol)--this is a completely beautiful sweater that any parents should be proud to put on their offspring.
& you know, they'll be so awash in pastels that they'll be eternally grateful for something this lovely! (this from the girl whose first baby project was a blanket knit in a sandstone/parchment color to go with the chinese characters i put on it [well, that and my selfish refusual to work in pastels]--but it was really pretty and the parents loved it]
Posted by: obsidiankitten | June 7, 2006 10:56 AM
cute! great color and I love the buttons
Posted by: domesticat | June 7, 2006 10:57 AM
I love it, and I think it is totally girlie! That sweater has been on of my favorite things I have knit. Don't worry I will be expecting black sweaters for my child....
(did I just say child *gulp*)
Posted by: joelene | June 7, 2006 11:01 AM
What a sweet sweater! So adorable. I'm sure it will be well loved!
Posted by: Jennifer | June 7, 2006 11:07 AM
Came out great! I love the color for a girl - not typical! The crystals make it totally girly!
Posted by: Stacey | June 7, 2006 11:18 AM
the beads really make the sweater. so dainty and delightful. this really seems like a perfect little pattern, and i don't find the color "severe" at all. though it's hysterical that you describe yourself that way. : )
Posted by: carrie m | June 7, 2006 11:22 AM
Very, very cute sweater, Yahaira!
Posted by: caitlyn | June 7, 2006 11:22 AM
Wow that is cute! and the color is perfect. It kinda reminds me of the very first baby sweater I knitted, except mine was def. not this neat!
Posted by: Paloma | June 7, 2006 11:24 AM
Fantastic shade of purple! The buttons are a perfect touch.
Posted by: Jennifer | June 7, 2006 11:28 AM
Beautiful!! This is the second FO of this pattern I have seen of late - it's a classic. I love the color - perfectly girly and very sophisticated!
Posted by: jillian | June 7, 2006 11:29 AM
hey y! I started this sweater and scrapped it cause I was so not loving knitting it from the bottom up. I'll definitely try it again from the top down. another cute baby pattern is the kimono from Mason-Dixon Knitting. it's pretty basic so I'm planning on spicing it up with a little embroidery. Thankfully for me (not the mom for sure) this baby is also playing the waiting game...
Posted by: jess | June 7, 2006 11:32 AM
I love that sweater. It's perfect it that gorgeous color with the girly beads. A lucky baby indeed.
Posted by: Stephanie | June 7, 2006 11:37 AM
oh, i just love the color and the crystal buttons. a perfect combo.
i'd be interested to know how you changed the pattern to a top-down raglan. i've been mearning to knit this and haven't because of the bottom up factor (same with hourglass)
Posted by: gleek | June 7, 2006 11:41 AM
Too cute! The crystals are a wonderful touch, and the sweater itself is very, very cute :). I love that color (of course), and I hope the baby looks great in it...
Posted by: grumperina | June 7, 2006 11:44 AM
holy crap i love that color. awesome.
rowan always snatches the best stuff out from under our noses JUST as we're discovering their true glory. i'll always be bitter about it.
Posted by: j a r e d | June 7, 2006 11:46 AM
Adorable!! I have a few babies to knit for, and that pattern looks like a winner! I would also love to hear about how you changed this to top down.
Posted by: Lisa | June 7, 2006 11:47 AM
So cute, I love baby clothes in non-traditional colors, and green buttons with dark purple is just perfect. I do wonder how Rowan decides what to pull the plug on. They really should do customer surveys before they do.
Posted by: Steph | June 7, 2006 11:51 AM
I'm far from a baby expert, but I think it's a great sweater! Classic, and a nice warm, cozy color for the colder weather. Rowan has a way with pulling a yarn right before I discover its goodness. Then it's a race to snatch up those last batches.
Posted by: aquaknits | June 7, 2006 12:07 PM
The sweater is adorable!
Posted by: silverarrowknits | June 7, 2006 12:10 PM
Cute! The color is dark for summer, but I think it's awesome and perfect for winter!
Posted by: Angela | June 7, 2006 12:18 PM
GREAT sweater, wish I were still 6 months sized... and what the heck is up with that bad bad Rowan always discontinuing the good yarns that everyone loves...
Posted by: Liz | June 7, 2006 12:32 PM
That sweater is darling. I love the Swaroski crystal buttons as well. And it's perfect...get the girl initiated into the style over function way of life she'll be contemplating for the rest of her life.
Posted by: Skylar | June 7, 2006 12:58 PM
Lovely! I like the top down idea. I did mine from the bottom up. Perhaps next time (and there will be a next time) I'll give it a go Barbara Walker style.
Posted by: nikki | June 7, 2006 01:10 PM
I love that pattern - I made one for my friend's baby a few months ago. Yours looks great!
Posted by: Melissa | June 7, 2006 01:44 PM
It's completely gorgeous! Lucky baby. :) I'm with you on top-down vs bottom-up raglans, too.
Posted by: Chris | June 7, 2006 02:51 PM
awww! how big are those skeins you have left? enough for you to knit me a grownup version?
Posted by: kris | June 7, 2006 04:25 PM
i love it. the color is beautiful, and a nice change from the usual baby pastels. i'm starting my first baby sweater this weekend, if i can only find a color i can commit to.
Posted by: melissa | June 7, 2006 04:25 PM
That turned out so cute! Someone else out there just knit one of these too, I just can't remember who it is off the top of my head...they turn out really cute though.
Posted by: Sarah | June 7, 2006 05:32 PM
That's a beautiful sweater! It's definitely girly enough. Babies look so chic in non-pastel colors anyway.
Posted by: Karma | June 7, 2006 07:25 PM
what a beautiful sweater. that is so adorable. i think the beads add just the right touch to it :0). why is it that all the good yarns seem to get discontinued??? i love the way you changed the pattern to be knit top-down- how do you do that??? x
Posted by: the knitchick | June 7, 2006 07:58 PM
oh that is adorable!
Fantastic for the new baby! And the swarovski crystals? perfect!
Posted by: Stephanie | June 7, 2006 09:46 PM
oh that's too cute! seriously, i can't stand it!!
yeah, i've don't the whole "not pushing the 'publish' button" thing over on MT plenty of times myself. That or pushed the "draft" button instead and not realize until like two days later. Glad to know i'm not the only one. :)
Posted by: Sandra | June 7, 2006 10:23 PM
It's truly adorable. That's one lucky baby!
Posted by: Amy | June 7, 2006 10:48 PM
You're starting this baby girl on style with such a gorgeous colour and swarovski buttons, no less. Perfect!
Posted by: erin | June 8, 2006 02:09 AM
I saw the beautiful little sweater on Flickr and just had to get some more details - a truly beautiful piece, Y. I adore that color!
Posted by: Lolly | June 8, 2006 08:09 AM
Gorgeous! Very stylish for a super chic little baby :)
Posted by: diana | June 8, 2006 10:04 AM
I think the colour choice and beads are perfect. Lucky baby!
Posted by: brooke | June 8, 2006 11:09 AM
It's so nice to see a baby knit in a sophisticated color! It's just so rich. The crystals are a nice touch, also.
Posted by: Lori | June 8, 2006 12:11 PM
Yay!!!!!!!! This sweater makes me so happy. I'll take one please! :D
Posted by: Amanda Woodward | June 8, 2006 12:15 PM
I love it and I think it's plenty feminine - that plum color is gorgeous.
Posted by: Vicki | June 8, 2006 01:13 PM
Such a pretty color for a baby! I love it.
Posted by: Pip | June 8, 2006 01:18 PM
that is really cute! I've been bitten by the baby knits bug, lots of friends who are having babies does that to you and this is definitely goingon my list to knit list. Great color choice.
Posted by: Aimee | June 9, 2006 08:37 PM
i am a member of the "non-traditional colours for babies" club and i think the sweater is gorgeous!
the colour is fine for either boys and girls.
Posted by: tllgrrl | June 22, 2006 12:58 AM