This kid? Whether she’s born at 40 weeks or sooner, one thing is absolutely certain. She’s coming into the world with no shortage of knitwear, most of it designed just for her.
When it comes to knits for myself or Billy, I’m often quite happy knitting someone else’s designs. But for my kids? Apart from the Child’s Placket-Neck Pullover, which is one of my favorite baby/kid knits of all time (in fact, I have a blue one on the needles for Thumper right now), nothing out there ever seems quite right. I get ideas in my head of what I want to make for them, and those ideas rarely match up with an existing design.
That’s how the Baby Yoda Sweater came to be during my pregnancy with Thumper. And sure enough, I’ve got a Baby Yoda on the needles for the new baby right now. I’m doing it differently this time, knitting it in one piece with raglan decreases and a garter border rather than all those raw edges. Also, I’m toying with the idea of button closures. Different baby, different yarn, different sweater. The raw edges and slubby yarn felt right for the baby I was carrying back then, and turned out to suit him perfectly. This baby feels like she wants a smooth wool and slightly cleaner finished look.
(Lamb's Pride Superwash in Romantic Ruby)
I did use one existing pattern by someone else for her: Elizabeth Zimmerman’s Baby Leggings, from the Knitter’s Almanac. It’s Elizabeth Zimmerman, so you can’t really go wrong there.
(Rowan Wool Cotton)
These longies are awesome for what they are, which is a pair of leggings that are super cozy because they extend up to the baby’s armpits. There’s even genius back shaping since they’re meant to go up so high. What they are not is a pair of plain old up-to-your-waist, loose-legged, regular pants. After I finished the longies, I became kind of obsessed with knitted baby pants. I looked at many pants patterns on Ravelry and just could not find what I was looking for, not in looks so much as in fit and construction. So I designed my own for her. And then I got on an outfits kick, and designed a swing cardi and pants set, and a tunic and pants set. I’m planning to release these sets as patterns for sale, so I can only give you little sneak peeks for now:
(Cardi and pants. Rowan Wool Cotton)
(Tunic and pants: Louet Gems Sport Weight)
Then I couldn’t find a hat pattern that satisfied me, which is weird because there are a million out there. I know… I think it’s a pregnancy thing, this “nothing quite good enough for my baby unless I do it for myself” thing. I’m not much like that in other areas. I wanted her to have some hats in fingering-weight luxury-fiber yarns. I wanted them to be simple and well-fitted and have sweet baby cables. I probably could have found a pattern like that out there, but why bother when some simple math will get you there faster? So now she’s got two hats (and counting). One 100% cashmere, and the other a cashmere blend that’s nearly as soft, Elann’s Baby Cashmere. Both from the stash. (Actually, all of the knitting I’ve done for her, except that green and brown secret project, has been from the stash. Let’s hear it for an embarrassingly deep stash.)
After I made those two hats, I decided she needed matching legwarmers. I’m going to write the hat and legwarmer patterns up as a set. Why am I showing you the hat and legwarmers in their entirety and not the other patterns? I don’t know.
(Elann Baby Cashmere)
(School Products 100% Cashmere)
So there you have it. When the Baby Yoda is finished, I need to finish Thumper’s Placket-Neck Pullover. After that, another hat or two, and another pair of legwarmers for the baby. And then another tunic, same pattern but a different yarn. I think I’m done with designing for her, for now. Time for nesting, not for math, for a while.
I’ll be releasing the patterns one by one. Look for the first one in the coming weeks.
Speaking of which…what would you be most interested in? What should I release first? Cardi and pants? Tunic and pants? Hat and legwarmers?
I’d be interested in the tunic and pants combo. Will you include sizing for toddlers? I have a 18 month old.
I love the hat and legwarmers. A (young!) friend of mine is due in May, and isn’t finding out the sex beforehand. I had planned on knitting her something after the baby was born, but a hat like that, in a nice gender neutral color in a nice yarn would be a nice first gift. And Elann Baby Cashmere is a great yarn to use.
Thanks for the ideas!
I look forward to all of the patterns, but would find it very handy to have the hat and legwarmers pattern. My younger friends are have a mini-babyboom here in Portlandia and I need to keep the needles moving!
Thanks for showing us your work. How lovely to think of your babe snuggled up in your beautiful designs.
I know my mood is weird lately, but this made me so sad because I never knit much anymore. I did try to knit David a very simple scarf, but I’m pretty sure there is something in the yarn I’m allergic to–maybe some mohair. I really should knit more. Why don’t I feel inspired? I hope its my brain and that this new medication works. Hi, I’m a ray of sunshine. D:
I am the worst person to tell you what to put up first. I don’t get to make baby things anymore. None of my friends are even having babies. However, I am torn between the peek of the lavender outfit and the hat/legwarmer combo. I like the texture I see in the picture. What a lucky kid to get so many handknits!
They all look fantastic, Cari. The pink I cord woven through the purple is killing me. She is a lucky, lucky girl indeed.
Cari they all looks so adorable! I’m the most excited by the tunic and pants. And thinking lots of good thoughts for you and this little girl of yours!
Either with the pants. I’m totally into making some pants for next winter.
I’m really loving the tunic & pants! Great patterns! Look forward to reading them!
I’m a fan of those legwarmers and matching hat (if only because I tried to make something similar for my daughter and failed completely). Plus, legwarmers are a not-too-common baby gift – anything to be rare and handy, I suppose!
Lovely baby things – and is the burst of finishing maybe the start of that little nesting thing that means it’s nearly baby time?
I ‘m curious on that cardi & pants set!
Oh my. So beautiful. I completely agree with you about baby longies; the ones that are loose and floppy don’t appeal to me. Cozy ribbed ankles and tummy would be my choice. So I’d love to see your longies pattern.
I could outfit a new baby from my current stash as well, lol.
My best friend’s second son was born at about 35/36 weeks, healthy with fat creases in all the right places. It seems you have a horde of waiting arms in your comments, wishing your family and your new daughter well. :))
Love.
I think the tunic and the pants – those are great!
The tunic. I’m intrigued and way too many of my friends are expecting and BSJ will send my brain round the bend one time too many.
You’re baby girl is going to look *fine* in all that knitwear.
Love the leggings.