Thursday, September 1, 2011

the end of summer baby jacket


 Sweet little baby Jesse, 10 weeks old.
I purposefully disconnected this summer to connect more with my family and like that the summer has flown by! And what a great summer we had, but wow! 3 months since my last post?! Although I've been disconnected in the technological sense I haven't been disconnected from knitting and here's my latest design... a stylish end of summer jacket for the little one.

 

Before I had kids I made the mistake of making a friends twins matching sweaters that were sized 3 months. I just wasn't thinking about how fast they grow! It was a lot of work for such limited use I learned my lesson with those, although their mom really cherished the sweaters and that made it worth it.

 
 someone didn't last long for this photo shoot!

 

So with a few late summer babies to knit for I wanted to make something that would get used a little longer. Designed with a growing baby in mind this long sleeve jacket for a newborn becomes a cropped 3/4 length sleeve jacket for a toddler.

Worked top down in a raglan style the upper body, sleeves and mini shawl collar are in reverse stockinette stitch while the lower body is worked in a 1x1 rib and finished with a kitchener bind off. One of the best things about it is it only uses @ 218yds (@199m) of a bulky weight yarn with #10.5 needles also used #10 for the ribbing & #8 for the kitchener bo. I used Cascade's Venezia Bulky but was sadly informed that this yarn, a wonderfully soft merino/silk combo is being discontinued. They do carry this in a worsted and a sport, which ironically I used for Wilhelmina's Baby Sweater the worsted same color too! Subconciously I must have something for this green.

The use of different increases & a kitchener bind off being the most difficult parts of this jacket would make me rate it for the intermediate knitter, but with the bulky yarn it's a quick knit... good thing too since my list of babies to knit for keeps growing!

 
I thought the handmade buttons helped complete the look. 

 
A simple slip stitch crochet button loop. 

 A crochet chain piping in a contrasting color around the neckline & under the collar gives a hint of color.

 
The kitchener bind off, a nice polished finish.


I think she's done.

Available as a PDF download $6.50

5 comments:

  1. Awwwww...beautiful on big and small babies. Always a pleasure, and worth the wait!

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  2. This is just so lovely and the colour is very refreshing. Personally I tire of baby pastels and pink/girls & boys/blue and whilst this does have some pink in the trim, that is what sets it of - love the closure too.

    Brilliant design for ALL the reasons you mentioned and looks equally wonderful on bub or a little person who doesn't like the limelight...lol ;D
    LOVE the green !

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  3. What a fabulous pattern and I love that you chose apple green to showcase it in. And your little beauties are wonderful models!

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  4. Another great one!!! And you are so right, it makes it so much more satisfying if they can wear it for a couple of years instead of a couple of months!
    You're my favorite designer!!!

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  5. Love it Karen! Going on my needles this Fall for a V.S.B. (very special baby). xo

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