Romper progress
I’m in the home stretch on the romper, but I’m not sure I’m happy with it. Take a look:
There isn’t enough of a top to knit the top in a solid color, I think. It looks off-balance. I’m also not thrilled about the way the double seed stitch looks against those stripes. I think I’m going to rip the top out and reknit it in st st. Then I’ll pick up and knit an edging, probably garter. I’ll continue the striping all the way up the top and see how that looks… Definitely need to knit more of a top, too. The sizing is right this way, lengthwise, but it looks funny. Maybe if I continue the striping and don’t do decreases before the top, but just knit straight until the armhole decreases? Hmmm… But the bottom is wider to accomodate a diapered bottom, so would it then be too loose on top?
Sigh.
Cobbling together a pattern for a baby is really hard when there isn’t yet a baby in the house to try the stuff on.
I agree that the seed stitch doesn’t work on the top and I agree that st st is the way to go. I would try knitting the top in the light green and the garter stitch borders in the darker green.
As far as the size of the top is concerned, you could try using a schematic from a similar romper to compare against. Or an actual article of clothing.
Posted by: LaurieM
I agree about the seed stitch. I say continue the striping. The sizing looks fine. Don’t worry too much about the shaping. They can swim in things a bit and be comfortable but it is good to have some decreases. I think it looks great though. Very cozy! Maybe you can figure out how to do one with feet on the bottom but the whole feet exposed thing won’t be as difficulte for you – I had a winter baby! Are you going to put buttons on the top?
Posted by: Sarah
If you look in Elizabeth Zimmerman’s Knitting Almanac, there’s a pattern for baby “longies” (which are the bottom of what you’re going for) that include what kind of shaping works on diapers. If you email me, I can go try to look it up.
Posted by: Chialea
I agree that the seed stitch doesn’t work on the top and I agree that st st is the way to go. I would try knitting the top in the light green and the garter stitch borders in the darker green.
As far as the size of the top is concerned, you could try using a schematic from a similar romper to compare against. Or an actual article of clothing.
Posted by: LaurieM
I agree about the seed stitch. I say continue the striping. The sizing looks fine. Don’t worry too much about the shaping. They can swim in things a bit and be comfortable but it is good to have some decreases. I think it looks great though. Very cozy! Maybe you can figure out how to do one with feet on the bottom but the whole feet exposed thing won’t be as difficulte for you – I had a winter baby! Are you going to put buttons on the top?
Posted by: Sarah
If you look in Elizabeth Zimmerman’s Knitting Almanac, there’s a pattern for baby “longies” (which are the bottom of what you’re going for) that include what kind of shaping works on diapers. If you email me, I can go try to look it up.
Posted by: Chialea
You have to remember that it isn’t going to be seen stretched flat most of the time – there’ll be a baby shape wiggling around in it.
That being said, the seed stitch in the light color does look a little…aenemic. I like the idea of wide straps. With big buttons.
Posted by: Juno
That’s what you have dogs for!!! I think Sadie would look lovely in green.
So glad to hear Oscar is fine!!! I can’t believe Billy wants to let more evil kittens into your lives. It’s the unbearable cuteness.
Can’t. Look. Away. So. Cute. Must. Have. More…
Posted by: Serena
Eh, babies are off-balanced, too. I say finish it and try it on him when he’s here and see what HE thinks. I like it.
Posted by: Rachael
I can’t remember if you know what you are having, but with the seed stitch, it looks very girly…in addition to the style of the top not “fitting” the bottom.
Posted by: Amy in Seattle
Welcome to the bizarre notion that clothing and pattern companies think babies are shaped like Sponge Bob….
My kid wasn’t a square either. Still isn’t, and we’re still dealing with pants that are almost as wide as they are long. Who knew I’d have to tailor a seven year old’s clothes?
Posted by: Lee Ann
Sorry I don’t like it. I agree babies aren’t exactly balanced, but it just looks a bit off. I’m not sure if it’s the amount of solid or the double seed stitch.
Maybe a different stitch would make all the difference.
Posted by: Rebekah
My only advice is that babies have huge heads so make neck openings wider than you ever think possible. Same with diapers. Also – quick on and off capabilities is a really handy feature.
Posted by: stephanie
The new Knit Simple (spring 2006) had a romper pattern with sizes up to 1 yr. Maybe looking at another pattern would help you with writing your own? There were also 1 or maybe 2 adult sweaters that were nice but not much else in my opinion.
I think you are doing great with the handknits for baby. My first didn’t get any until after she was born. A helmet hat for her first winter & her first pair of socks a month ago. (she will be 2 in June) I hope to at least make the next one a pair of socks with matching hat for the hospital. I have almost 2 months left so I think that should be very doable.
Rachel
Posted by: Rachel
You have to remember that it isn’t going to be seen stretched flat most of the time – there’ll be a baby shape wiggling around in it.
That being said, the seed stitch in the light color does look a little…aenemic. I like the idea of wide straps. With big buttons.
Posted by: Juno
That’s what you have dogs for!!! I think Sadie would look lovely in green.
So glad to hear Oscar is fine!!! I can’t believe Billy wants to let more evil kittens into your lives. It’s the unbearable cuteness.
Can’t. Look. Away. So. Cute. Must. Have. More…
Posted by: Serena
Eh, babies are off-balanced, too. I say finish it and try it on him when he’s here and see what HE thinks. I like it.
Posted by: Rachael
I can’t remember if you know what you are having, but with the seed stitch, it looks very girly…in addition to the style of the top not “fitting” the bottom.
Posted by: Amy in Seattle
Welcome to the bizarre notion that clothing and pattern companies think babies are shaped like Sponge Bob….
My kid wasn’t a square either. Still isn’t, and we’re still dealing with pants that are almost as wide as they are long. Who knew I’d have to tailor a seven year old’s clothes?
Posted by: Lee Ann
Sorry I don’t like it. I agree babies aren’t exactly balanced, but it just looks a bit off. I’m not sure if it’s the amount of solid or the double seed stitch.
Maybe a different stitch would make all the difference.
Posted by: Rebekah
My only advice is that babies have huge heads so make neck openings wider than you ever think possible. Same with diapers. Also – quick on and off capabilities is a really handy feature.
Posted by: stephanie
The new Knit Simple (spring 2006) had a romper pattern with sizes up to 1 yr. Maybe looking at another pattern would help you with writing your own? There were also 1 or maybe 2 adult sweaters that were nice but not much else in my opinion.
I think you are doing great with the handknits for baby. My first didn’t get any until after she was born. A helmet hat for her first winter & her first pair of socks a month ago. (she will be 2 in June) I hope to at least make the next one a pair of socks with matching hat for the hospital. I have almost 2 months left so I think that should be very doable.
Rachel
Posted by: Rachel
What Stephanie said and what Rachael said. The seed stitch does look too light, and I’m not sure how far you are along with the straps, but they look short – the arm hole area looks small? You don’t want knitted fabric right up against a babies chin area – it’ll catch drool and irritate their skin so what Stephanie said about babies heads and openings is right on.
And big buttons – needs big buttons! Love the striping though – I’m on a stripe thing at the moment.
Posted by: Alison
Very cute little leggies!!!
The top is a little odd, but I’m sure you’ll work it out and it will be equally cute!
Posted by: pippy
Thank goodness baby things are small and babies aren’t picky about what they wear! So whatever you decide upon, your little one will wear it happily. Those colors are so jaunty! Cute.
Posted by: Karma
I think it is lovely but agree about the seed stitch. I would keep on with the striping and put a little solid shirt under it. I agee…Big Buttons. You could always make it a UFO until the baby gets here…..I am sure that whatever you decide it will be cute because it already is!!
Posted by: emmy
Cute. I think I’d use solid ribbing at the top for easy fitting and make sure the little straps are long enough you can move the buttons as baby grows.
Posted by: michigancatholic
That’s so derned cute it hurts!
Posted by: Sachi
Off-balance or not, (which it isn’t)..it’s still for the cutie pahtootie, so WHO CARES!!!! That’s part of a baby’s job…everything they put on – INSTANTLY cute.
Posted by: john
I made something similar for my little one-except to accomodate big head, I did a crossover thing on the top-so instead of a “bib top”, the front (and back) were knit to look like a wrap over surplice style top. You could try that, in the light green, and then pick up and do attached i cord with the dark green. That way, to get baby body and head in, the top part opens really wide. As I recall, the arm openings went down to the seam (the “waist” if baby actually has one). Good luck!
Posted by: Deb
I think you’ll like the top better in ss too. Really it’s pretty cute though.
Posted by: Karen
I love the way the bottom half looks but agree with everyone else that the top doesn’t quite work. How about continuing the striping pattern at the top but in skinnier stripes to balance the smaller top? My daughter had a tank top jersey dress/jumper (in cooler weather she wore it with solid tights and a LS tee) that she wore to death (she waited by the dryer for it to come out!) that had skinny stripes for the tank and wider stripes of the same color for the skirt and it was very cute. You could also top it with a solid cardi with contrasting trim and a hat done in the opposite colorway for a nice “baby about town” outfit if you have enough of the yarn.
Posted by: Tish
Hi. Looks cute! Are you knitting any onesies? I live onesies!
Vermont was awesome, so nice. Mountains, hikes, fires, nookie. That’s the life.
Talk soon?
PK
Posted by: Philip K.
Oops, maybe I should say everything on your blog, eh? sorry.
Posted by: Philip K.
I love the colors! I think your knitting is beautiful.
I’m not entirely sure that it looks off. I actually think it looks, uhm… you know how they used to dress boys up very fancy, shirts with ruffles and that sort? Well, it reminds me of that. And I also remember using a romper in which the top portion was high, bust like. Perhaps the person who designed this was thinking of that, in which case it’s fine, just that it would look better in solid colors.
Anyhoo, my 2 cents. YOU need to be happy with what you knit. 🙂
Posted by: zee
What Stephanie said and what Rachael said. The seed stitch does look too light, and I’m not sure how far you are along with the straps, but they look short – the arm hole area looks small? You don’t want knitted fabric right up against a babies chin area – it’ll catch drool and irritate their skin so what Stephanie said about babies heads and openings is right on.
And big buttons – needs big buttons! Love the striping though – I’m on a stripe thing at the moment.
Posted by: Alison
Very cute little leggies!!!
The top is a little odd, but I’m sure you’ll work it out and it will be equally cute!
Posted by: pippy
Thank goodness baby things are small and babies aren’t picky about what they wear! So whatever you decide upon, your little one will wear it happily. Those colors are so jaunty! Cute.
Posted by: Karma
I think it is lovely but agree about the seed stitch. I would keep on with the striping and put a little solid shirt under it. I agee…Big Buttons. You could always make it a UFO until the baby gets here…..I am sure that whatever you decide it will be cute because it already is!!
Posted by: emmy
Cute. I think I’d use solid ribbing at the top for easy fitting and make sure the little straps are long enough you can move the buttons as baby grows.
Posted by: michigancatholic
That’s so derned cute it hurts!
Posted by: Sachi
Off-balance or not, (which it isn’t)..it’s still for the cutie pahtootie, so WHO CARES!!!! That’s part of a baby’s job…everything they put on – INSTANTLY cute.
Posted by: john
I made something similar for my little one-except to accomodate big head, I did a crossover thing on the top-so instead of a “bib top”, the front (and back) were knit to look like a wrap over surplice style top. You could try that, in the light green, and then pick up and do attached i cord with the dark green. That way, to get baby body and head in, the top part opens really wide. As I recall, the arm openings went down to the seam (the “waist” if baby actually has one). Good luck!
Posted by: Deb
I think you’ll like the top better in ss too. Really it’s pretty cute though.
Posted by: Karen
I love the way the bottom half looks but agree with everyone else that the top doesn’t quite work. How about continuing the striping pattern at the top but in skinnier stripes to balance the smaller top? My daughter had a tank top jersey dress/jumper (in cooler weather she wore it with solid tights and a LS tee) that she wore to death (she waited by the dryer for it to come out!) that had skinny stripes for the tank and wider stripes of the same color for the skirt and it was very cute. You could also top it with a solid cardi with contrasting trim and a hat done in the opposite colorway for a nice “baby about town” outfit if you have enough of the yarn.
Posted by: Tish
Hi. Looks cute! Are you knitting any onesies? I live onesies!
Vermont was awesome, so nice. Mountains, hikes, fires, nookie. That’s the life.
Talk soon?
PK
Posted by: Philip K.
Oops, maybe I should say everything on your blog, eh? sorry.
Posted by: Philip K.
I love the colors! I think your knitting is beautiful.
I’m not entirely sure that it looks off. I actually think it looks, uhm… you know how they used to dress boys up very fancy, shirts with ruffles and that sort? Well, it reminds me of that. And I also remember using a romper in which the top portion was high, bust like. Perhaps the person who designed this was thinking of that, in which case it’s fine, just that it would look better in solid colors.
Anyhoo, my 2 cents. YOU need to be happy with what you knit. 🙂
Posted by: zee