One of the fun things about expecting a baby girl is how many fun knitting patterns there are out there to make! It always seems the most fun patterns (frilly, lacy things) are always for girls. So I’m taking full advantage and I’m so exited to make lots of sweaters, hats, booties, and other projects! (My Ravelry queue is quickly filling up!)
Baby Girl’s Pinwheel Baby Blanket (Project Link on Ravelry)
Pattern: Round or Pinwheel Baby Blanket by Genia Planck
Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Dreamin’ in White/Yellow
The first thing I had to knit for baby girl was a pinwheel blanket. I knit one of these for Myles when he was a baby that he used all the time, so this baby needed one as well! I used a yarn that has been in my stash for probably 10+ years now. I’m thinking this will be our last baby and most of our friends are done having babies, so I thought it was high time to use up the baby yarns in my stash.
It’s really hard to judge how large the blanket is when it’s all scrunched up on the circular needles, and I was too lazy to feed it onto waste yarn and stretch it out, so this blanket turned out a bit larger than Myles’ blanket. Even though I loathe doing seed stitch, I really love the edge turned out. (It was worth the tedious knit-purl-knit-purl!)
Baby Girl’s Baby Surprise Jacket (Project Link on Ravelry)
Pattern: Baby Surprise Jacket by Elizabeth Zimmermann
Yarn: KnitPicks Swish DK in Wonderland Heather, Green Tea Heather, Haze Heather, Blossom Heather, and Frosting
The second knit that I tackled was the classic EZ Baby Surprise. I’ve knit two of these in the past (one for a sample for the knit shop, and a second for a knitting class I taught) but it’s been almost 15 years since I last knit it, so it took dusting off some brain cells to remember how it comes together. It’s an incredibly clever pattern; it’s all knit flat in one solid piece of garter stitch with some very clever decreases and increases. When you finish, you fold it up origami-style and there are only 2 seams (the tops of the sleeves/shoulders) to seam, and POOF you’re done! The toughest part of this pattern is that it is almost written in prose-style, which is not at all the way more modern patterns are written. If you just follow the directions on faith, though, it turns out beautifully!
I started this on a Sunday and had it finished by Thursday, after only spending a bit of time each evening knitting on it. (Not bad for less than a week!) I still need to weave in my ends, seam the shoulders, and go shopping for some cute little buttons – but I’m going to call it 95% done at least.
So, what’s next?
I have leftover yarn from the Baby Surprise Jacket, so I thought I would knit a coordinating Marley Hat (from Itty Bitty Hats by Susan B. Anderson). If there’s still leftover yarn after that, maybe I’ll make some coordinated booties as well. (Because why not?)
I also have some leftover white/yellow yarn from the blanket so I thought I’d dig through my stash and see if I can find a green and another medium-to-dark shade to pair it with and knit the Upside Down Daisy Hat (also from the Itty Bitty Hats book) with that. I’ve always loved that hat and meant to knit one — but I never had anyone to make one for!
I (*cough*) may have also placed an order today for yarns to make a Helena Sweater and a February Baby Sweater. I knit the Helena pattern way back in 2009 for a friend’s baby and I remember loving the pattern, so I’m very eager to do that one next as soon as the yarn arrives! I knit the adult-size version of the February Sweater for myself about 10 years ago also, but I’ve never made the baby-sized version. I guess I’m a creature of habit, and I definitely love lace patterns!
Anyone have any other “must-knit” baby patterns for little girls? I prefer things that can be knit in one piece with minimal seaming. (One of these days I need to get over myself and learn to properly do mattress stitch; I avoid it like the plague.) I’m especially looking for a sock or bootie pattern that actually stays on little feet. (Bonus points if it uses fingering weight yarn because goodness knows I have lots of little leftover balls of sock yarn in my stash!)
