Sprout Blanket

June 2011

I’m still on a “determined not to make baby things that are too pastel-y” kick, and so I was delighted to stumble across a pattern which just begs to be made in a real acid-green.

I had a bit of difficulty finding a washable aran in the right colour - the only other option at my LYS was some Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran, but that would have cost something like three times the £10 we paid for the yarn I did use. After much deliberation the solution we came up with was to use a 4-ply held double to make an Aran. I think it worked very well.

I’ve taken pictures of both sides of this blanket, because although the side which is predominantly reverse stocking stitch looks slightly prettier, it IS reversible and won’t need lining which is great and will make it nice and lightweight.

Pattern: Sprout Blanket by Hanna Breetz

Yarn: King Cole Zig-zag

Amount: 2 skeins

Colourway: 762

Needles: 5.00mm

Size: One size

On ravelry: here

Offset Wraplan

May/June 2011

I know, I know. Baby clothes made from 100% wool. But I’m the one who’s going to have to be in charge of washing it, so it’s okay.

I made this is just under a week whilst on holiday in Paris. I wanted something unisex and colourful, I think the colours in this yarn are just gorgeous. Slightly autumnal, which is great for a November baby. And it matches this guy’s scarf, which is everso cute. I’m also planning to make a hat out of this yarn, to match this cardigan.

The buttons are from Boyes in York. I make the button band in the same ribbed stitch as the neckline, waist band and cuffs, although the pattern suggested using stocking stitch. I found it easier to work out where to put the buttons this way by counting the ribs between each one.

The body of this was knitted back and forth on a circular needle, and the sleeves were knitted in the round on DPNs, so it’s a seamless knit. The button bands were picked up and knit at the end. Oh, and it’s a freebie pattern too, which is obviously a bonus!

Pattern: Offset Wraplan by Sarah Morris

Yarn: Twilleys of Stamford Freedom Spirit

Amount: 1.5 skeins

Colourway: Destiny

Needles: 3.50mm

Size: Smallest

On ravelry: here

Baby Berry Hats

May/June 2011

Last summer my favourite LYS, Ramshambles, was running a special offer which meant that anyone spending over £10.00 got a free magazine. Not one to let that sort of enabling behaviour pass me by, I grabbed a skein of purple Debbie Bliss Rialto, without any clear idea of what I was going to do with it. Then I remembered this hat, which is one of the first things I ever queued on ravelry, many moons ago.

I'm not sure what sort of berry this is supposed to be, exactly, but it's cute as hell anyway. I cast on the first hat on leaving home for a short holiday in Paris, and by the time I got there it was finished. So I made another one on the way back with the leftovers!

This is a lovely easy pattern - as long as you're okay with i-cord and DPNs, the only slightly tricky part is getting your colourwork to look tidy when you have to carry your floats for seven stitches.

Pattern: Baby Berry Hat by Micele Sabatier

Yarn: Debbie Bliss Rialto (MC) / Sirdar Snuggly DK (CC)

Amount: Less than one skein of each

Colourway: 23028 Grape (MC) / 0260 Country Lime (CC)

Needles: 3.50 mm

Size: One size

On ravelry: here

Baby Bobbi Bear

May 2011

A little while ago one of my husband's colleagues gave me a bag of various chunky yarns which she couldn't use, including some Courtelle Chunky by Wendy. It looked like a very suitable colour for a teddy to me, and so I decided to make this pattern again. My first attempt at it is here.

This is a very quick and easy little pattern, with mercifully little finishing - it's basically seamless apart from the ears needing to be sewn on because they are made separately.

No mods, except that I made the body on a short circular needle rather than DPNs. I also skipped duplicate stitching around the neck and opted instead for a rather dapper scarf (made in sideways garter stitch using Twilley’s Freedom Spirit).

I found the instructions for the section labelled “Butt” a bit confusing, but that was my fault for not reading through the pattern properly because if I had, I would have realised that “sk” meant “skip”.

Pattern: Baby Bobbi Bear by Bobbi Intveld

Yarn: Wendy Classics Courtelle Chunky

Amount: 3.5 skeins

Colourway: 3022

Needles: 5.00mm

Size: One size

On ravelry: here