February Baby Sweaters
I’ve gotten pretty used to knitting two of everything ever since my twins arrived. I suppose it’s an unusual obligation – having to do everything twice – but I kind of enjoy it. I can perfect my technique and streamline things a bit once I’m familiar with the pattern. One can absolutely fly through a baby garment the second time around. In fact, it feels weird only knitting one of something for a single baby. Do people even have singleton pregnancies these days? It seems everyone I know is having their kids in sets of two or three. My brother’s twins were born 15 months after mine. And one of my closest friends just gave birth to two boys a month ago. (A word to the wise: If you are of childbearing age I wouldn’t recommend making friends with me. You could end up in the same boat).
These are the “February Baby Sweaters” from Elizabeth Zimmermann’s Knitter’s Almanac. I made them for my neices – my brother’s twin daughters. I had been wanting to knit something special for the girls since I learned I was going to become an auntie. But since I am not an octopus, my would-be knitting hands were occupied caring for my own litter of children. In addition, my brother’s girls were born in August – not exactly the season for curling up indoors with needles and yarn. But Winter is the perfect time for embarking on a new project. As long as I have a comfy chair and a good lamp, it’s amazing how productive my knitting needles become at this time of year.
Elizabeth Zimmermann, the godmother of American knitting…I’ve been known to read her pattern books in bed like a novel. I will spare you an elaborate treatise on my undying devotion to EZ (you’re welcome), but just let it be known that I love her. Oh, how I love her. She taught me that knitted garments should be simple, quick, beautiful and practical. These February Baby Sweaters are exactly that. I knit them with worsted weight wool and they were a breeze. The pattern is easy enough to be knit up quickly, but elaborate enough so you don’t get bored with it. I think the lace pattern is charming.
These little cardigan/shrugs will be perfect for my nieces come Spring. Miraculously, I found some adorable outfits at Gymboree which perfectly matched the yarn I had chosen for the sweaters. I couldn’t believe my luck. What do you think?
I will make sure to post an update when I get photos of the little ladies in these outfits come Spring!
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Funny side note: I was composing this post at a local Starbucks yesterday when I overheard an exuberant group of ladies behind me. I turned around, and to my delight, I found that they were a KNITTING CIRCLE! They all had their needles out and were exchanging stories of yarn, patterns and various and sundry other things…the denizens of Downton Abbey were discussed at length. I thought, ‘These are my people!’. Unfortunately, my shyness got the better of me and I didn’t introduce myself. But I think I’ll go back next week with my current knitting project and ask to join their gang. I’m sure I’ll find some similarly minded Elizabeth Zimmermann devotees among this crew.
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Want to join my virtual knitting gang? Connect with me on Ravelry! Here’s my page.
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Hey, want to go paragliding? Yeah. Me neither. My kind of ‘stunts’ are more centered around the home. I chronicle the ups and downs of my domestic adventures in hopes of offering creative inspiration to folks like me. And failing that, some friendly commiseration at least. Check out my ‘about’ pages for more. Glad you’re here!
Oh goodness, are those sweaters BEAUTIFUL. I’m just learning to knit and I love all the beautiful things I’m finding.
Thanks Kate! I love the pattern. Good luck with your knitting! There are so many resources out there these days. Online tutorials, You Tube etc, etc. It is so much easier as a beginner.
Hi Briana, I’m Julie your long lost old cousin from Missouri. I’m Barbara’s youngest. I am also an avid knitter/crocheter/spinner/yarn dyer and most recently a weaver. Mom just told me about your blog today and I was so excited to see your beautiful babies and all your beautiful knitting and other projects! Keep up the beautiful work (on all fronts) and I will friend you on Ravelry!
Julie