Rubbishknitterjunior - newborn slip-stitch hat. I know I've been a bit quiet, but I've been busy!
So here are some of the things I have been making recently. A son, born last SundayA slip stitch hat for newbornsThe former was 8lb 12oz and quite cute. The latter was made up out of scrap yarn during a sleepless night last week while I pondered whether I was in labour or just having indigestion (with hindsight, I suspect a combination of the two). I have never really done much with slip stitch patterns, so was quite surprised to see how it's not just the pattern but the texture that is affected - it looks kind of like ribbing. The hat's also actually been very useful. Newborn slip-stitch hat Yarn: Oddments of Rowan 4 ply cotton in leaf green and purple, scrap of Debbie Bliss Cathay in turquoise (I know, this is a slightly thicker yarn, which is a Knitting Crime, but it was the most suitable scrap yarn i could find in the cupboard at 1 am!) Juju - Knitty: Spring 2008. Waistband Using circular needle, CO 112[116, 120, 128] sts.
Do not join. Rows 1-8: [K2, p2] to end. Row 9 [RS]: P all sts. This row forms a turning ridge for waistband elastic casing. Place marker and join to begin working in the round, being careful not to twist. Rounds 10-17: [K2, p2] to end. Round 18: P6, place marker, p44[46, 48, 52], place marker, p12, place marker, p44[46, 48, 52], place marker, p6; remove end-of-round marker, k4, p2. Free pattern friday: organic baby wrapper. This baby wrapper & hat set makes a great new-baby gift.
I especially love using organic cotton for newborn items. Blue Sky Alpacas organic cotton is about the softest yarn you've ever felt, and of course it's grown without pesticides and other nasty chemicals - good for the environment and a delicate new baby. The openwork pattern used here is also easy to memorize, so it looks fancy but is simple to work. I made a little wrapper like this on a whim last year for a friend who had a preemie. Organic cotton seemed like a must for him, and his small size inspired the small blanket. Size: 0-6 mos. Materials: Blue Sky Alpacas organic cotton. 3 skeins sage (MC), 1 skein bone (CC)Size 7 (US) needles for wrapper16" Size 6 circular needles and Size 6 DPN's for hatStitch markers in 2 colorsTapestry needleSize G crochet hookGauge: approx. 4.5 st/inch (in stockinette stitch) WrapperCO 85 st in MC, placing a marker after every 17 st (you will have 4 markers dividing 5 sections).
OpArt. Using A, CO 4 sts onto one needle.
Slip 2 sts to second needle and join to begin working in the round, being careful not to twist. After working a few rounds, you may wish to place a safety pin or split ring marker in the work to indicate beginning of round. Set-up Round: [Pfb, place marker, pfb] twice. 8 sts. The work is now divided into four sections. Each needle holds 2 sections; ends of first and third sections are indicated by stitch markers, and ends of second and fourth sections are at ends of needles. Using B, work as follows: Round 1: [Kfb, k to end of section] four times. 12 sts. Continue in pattern, working rounds using colors as follows. Work 2 rounds A. 24 sts. LJ - Converse Chuck Taylor-style baby booties. Materials Main Color- Black (MC)Contrast Color-White (CC)I used Caron Simply Soft (worsted weight) One pair sizes 4 and 5 straight needles (or size to obtain gauge for smaller size), and 1 pair size 5 and 6 straight needles (or size to obtain gauge for larger size)Other Supplies: large-eye yarn needle; row counter (optional) Gauge: smaller size: 24sts over 4" on size 5 larger size: 21sts over 4" on size 6 To BeginWith smaller needles and CC cast on 26 stitches and knit 1 row.
