When I asked my friend what sweater she wanted for her new granddaughter, without a moment's hesitation she said, "A pink owl sweater, please."  She has seen one or two at a baby shower and knew she needed one in her family.  I completely understand and was only too happy--I love this pattern and have knit perhaps a dozen.  Have you knit one yet?  You won't be sorry, you'll love every stitch.  I personally think a baby's wardrobe is not complete without one!

Even though making owls from cables has been around for decades, Penny Straker's mother, Janice, is believed to be the first person to publish it some 40 plus years ago.  I knit my first one 30 years ago for my own son.  I think saying "hoo, hoo" was the first animal sound he could make.  I used to point at the owl and ask, "What does the owl say?"  After a while, whenever I pulled out the bright blue sweater he would beat me to the punch and say, "hoo, hoo".  Little monkey!  

The YARN, I loved it so much!  My first time ever using Swans Island Yarn from Maine, USA and I'm a total convert.  The sport weight 100% machine washable wool has all the characteristics we've come to expect in a high quality yarn:  baby soft, silky, elastic and bouncy.  I prefer wool for baby and children's knits as a lightweight wool like this can be worn year 'round.  Wool will keep an active child or a quiet child warm, as wool breathes and has the ability to self-regulate body temperature.  It's true!  Perhaps I'm just speaking for myself, but I am comfortable wearing lightweight wool just about any time of year.   All links are at the end of the post.

I haven't given up on my scrappy stripey baby sweaters.  In the one below there are a half dozen different shades of whites and pinks, some bits were so little they could barely give me a stripe, but they always turn out cute.  The yarns used are a mix of dk weight machine wash and dry wool and cotton.  As long as they are the same weight and the same care, and I like the colors, then anything goes.  See below for helpful links.

Penny Straker Owl Pattern for babies and for children

my Ravelry page for Petal Pink Owl

Swans Island Sport Weight Merino Wool in Petal Pink

read how to make free scrappy, stripey sweaters for baby here and here

read how to make FREE kits for your baby sweaters here

my Ravely page for the pink striped baby sweater