knitting for a future king
July 25, 2013
It's fun to dream about knitting for the tiny new prince. I hope he is swaddled in oodles of hand knits. As a knitter, I will be on the look out for pictures of little George wearing hand knits, nothing is sweeter than a baby in a cozy knit. If I were Aunt Pippa or Great Granny, I would get busy with....
First cardigan for baby must be the Owl Sweater by Janice Straker. This pattern is my all time favorite for baby and I've knit quite a few. Nothing edgy about this at all, it's all old fashioned and I just love it that way. I am very traditional and love it in pale pink or pale blue. My two versions are this one for a little prince, and this one for a little princess. They were both knit in Rowan 4-Ply Cotton which has been discontinued and replaced by Rowan Siena 4 Ply Cotton.
Baby needs a pullover. To honor the Royal Baby, Rowan offers Charles, a free download by Martin Storey using duplicate stitch for the motif.
Baby needs a vest. I must go classic and go cable with this free pattern from Purl Bee, the Cabled Vest using Rowan Purelife DK organic cotton. Perfect, right?
Baby needs booties. You cannot find cuter booties than the very popular Saartje's Booties by Saartje Bruijn, a free download on Ravelry.
Baby needs a bear of course. A classic bear wearing a classic vest, like this Schoolboy Bear I knit from Debbie Bliss Teddy Bears Book.
Lastly, baby needs a christening gown. On this day, baby must look like a meringue. Must. Really. This one from Bernat looks like it would be fun to knit. It is DK weight so you could use Rowan Baby Merino Silk DK which would give it the lux but would be machine washable. I think practicality is still appropriate with a christening gown, no matter how meringueish. This would be cherished for generations.
I had fun dreaming of knitting for little Prince George of Cambridge, and while I doubt his mum will be doing his royal laundry, the children I knit for, their mommies will be doing the laundry. Let's be practical and knit for baby using machine washable cottons and wools. Here are my favorite yarns for baby and child, and yes, I know my choices are heavily weighted with Rowan, it's because I am a Rowan fan, always have been, that's why I am a Rowan Ambassador! There are many more machine washable yarns suited for baby, but these are the ones I have used and loved and would use again. I hope you can purchase them at your local yarn store, always my first choice, but if not, here are the links to one of my favorite online shops, Jimmy Beans.
First cardigan for baby must be the Owl Sweater by Janice Straker. This pattern is my all time favorite for baby and I've knit quite a few. Nothing edgy about this at all, it's all old fashioned and I just love it that way. I am very traditional and love it in pale pink or pale blue. My two versions are this one for a little prince, and this one for a little princess. They were both knit in Rowan 4-Ply Cotton which has been discontinued and replaced by Rowan Siena 4 Ply Cotton.
I love a baby in a good grandpa sweater. Babies wearing grandpa sweaters make me laugh. This one, Kurt by Sarah Hatton, is one of the best.
Every baby needs an Elizabeth Zimmerman Baby Surprise Jacket. So many gorgeous versions, my favorite is Brooklyn Tweed's handspun version.
Baby will need a coat. One of the cutest on Ravelry is this double breasted hoodie, Latte Baby Coat by Lisa Chemery. I would love this in a tweed.
Baby needs a pullover. To honor the Royal Baby, Rowan offers Charles, a free download by Martin Storey using duplicate stitch for the motif.
Baby needs a vest. I must go classic and go cable with this free pattern from Purl Bee, the Cabled Vest using Rowan Purelife DK organic cotton. Perfect, right?
 | ||
| Babies have notoriously over-sized noggins so pullovers need to account for that by adding buttons at the shoulder seam. |
Baby needs booties. You cannot find cuter booties than the very popular Saartje's Booties by Saartje Bruijn, a free download on Ravelry.
Baby needs a blanket. How about a simple Feather and Fan, aka Old Shale. If you need a pattern for this you can find some free ones on Ravelry, also, there is this beauty from Brooklyn Tweed that has a tiny cable between the feather and fan motif. A very satisfying knit and a good traveler too.
Baby needs a bear of course. A classic bear wearing a classic vest, like this Schoolboy Bear I knit from Debbie Bliss Teddy Bears Book.
Lastly, baby needs a christening gown. On this day, baby must look like a meringue. Must. Really. This one from Bernat looks like it would be fun to knit. It is DK weight so you could use Rowan Baby Merino Silk DK which would give it the lux but would be machine washable. I think practicality is still appropriate with a christening gown, no matter how meringueish. This would be cherished for generations.
I had fun dreaming of knitting for little Prince George of Cambridge, and while I doubt his mum will be doing his royal laundry, the children I knit for, their mommies will be doing the laundry. Let's be practical and knit for baby using machine washable cottons and wools. Here are my favorite yarns for baby and child, and yes, I know my choices are heavily weighted with Rowan, it's because I am a Rowan fan, always have been, that's why I am a Rowan Ambassador! There are many more machine washable yarns suited for baby, but these are the ones I have used and loved and would use again. I hope you can purchase them at your local yarn store, always my first choice, but if not, here are the links to one of my favorite online shops, Jimmy Beans.
Thank you for stopping by! I'd LOVE to know your favorite baby knits. Please tell!
Edited to add: When I machine wash my knits, I use a lingerie bag and wash on gentle cycle with cool water and my regular detergent. I dry flat in the shade, patting the knit to shape. When it is just barely dry, or even fully dry, I pop it in the dryer on low for a few minutes to fluff.
Tomorrow I'll announce the winner of the skein of Angora Haze. Have you entered?
7 Comments
They're all sweet, but I love that first darling little blue sweater!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I think over the years I have knit a half dozen of these!
DeleteLove the sweaters!! Our own first grandson will be born soon and I have recently gone back to knitting. How do you wash machine washable wool?
ReplyDeleteWhen I machine wash my knits, I use a lingerie bag and wash on gentle cycle with cool water and my regular detergent. I dry flat in the shade, patting the knit to shape. When it is just barely dry, or even fully dry, I pop it in the dryer on low for a few minutes to fluff. Have fun knitting for your new grandson!
DeleteThanks for an enjoyable read. I favorited the christening gown, assuming that some day I'll have a grandchild needing one.
ReplyDeleteOh, I hope so!
DeleteLove the baby knits! Thank you for links. Ramona
ReplyDeleteYou make my day when you make a comment!