Gingersnap for Bigger Kids
August 08, 2020 
Hello! I'm floating on air today because I've just published the Gingersnap Cardigan for Bigger Kids. Finally. It's been years in the making and I worked so hard that I cannot help but heave a big sigh--equal parts relief and pride. Gingersnap for Bigger Kids is sized for 1 yr, 2 yr, 3/4 yr, 5/6 yr, and 7/8 yr, with a bonus 6 mos size. The sweater above is the size 3/4 (modeled pictures soon) and the sweater below is the size 2 with my grandson modeling it last year. It is knit in worsted weight yarn with a gauge of 20 sts and 25 rows for 4"/10cm in stockinette stitch. The pattern has been tech edited and tested. I knit my sweater with three colors of Rowan Pure Wool Worsted, but this is meant to be a real scrappy sweater and as long as you make gauge and use a soft, machine-washable yarn, you can be thrifty and raid your stash using 3, 4, 5 or more colors. The color possibilities are endless and I can’t wait to see what you come up with.
A little backstory: Pattern writing does not come easy to me. The original Gingersnap in one size (1 yr) was a struggle enough. After its publication 5 years ago, I've had hundreds of requests to add larger sizes. I really wanted to do that, but instead I stalled for a few years. And then I stalled for a few more years. In June I had a surgery that kept me off my feet for 6 weeks so I planned to use the down time to finally rewrite the pattern. To say that it was not an easy process for me would be a distortion of great magnitude. Just ask my patient test knitters. After six weeks of writing and revising with the help of a math minded friend, then testing and rewriting again, then sending to a tech editor, (yep, I did that part backwards, rookie mistake) I have come up with a pattern I'm very proud of.
If I'm making this little pattern sound like a big deal, then yes, it was a big deal for me and an uncomfortable stretch of my abilities. A very kind test knitter who knew about my anxiety, sent these words to me, "When we embark on any project as a newbie, there are always unforeseen obstacles. To be philosophical, it’s actually rather wonderful in its own way, albeit frustrating. The learning process is pure gold and something to be cherished. It teaches us patience, broadens our scope of understanding, humbles and yet still gratifies." This lifted my spirits tremendously and I knew I had to push on.
I'm happy and proud to send this pattern, my baby, out into the world. I hope you knit it and I hope you love the process. I hope your little one feels warm and cozy and gets loads of kisses and cuddles while wearing it. I hope (s)he outgrows it and passes it down again and again until it's raggedy and frayed and needs to go into the rag bin. The perfect ending to a well loved hand knit!
I'd love to hear from you.
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8 Comments
Congratulations on publishing your pattern! Something to be very proud of. I also love and resonate with the words of wisdom your test knitter sent you. So true of learning something new. Thank you for sharing with us!
ReplyDeleteThank you. I’m so glad those words touched you too!
DeleteI purchased your pattern the other day, Kristin, and hope that many, many others do so! Your bigger kids sizing allows for sweaters to be worn by the same child for a longer period of time so you get more bang for your knitting time. And so many fun versions of the first one on Ravelry to be inspired by!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much. I appreciate hearing from you!
DeleteI knit this sweater in the same colors. I was wondering if you have advice on how to sew the different color pieces together. I had great difficulty sewing it because what ever color I used to sew with always showed on the right side.
ReplyDeleteI hope you come back here for your reply because I cannot reply back to your email with an unknown address.
DeleteI use an invisible mattress stitch for vertical seams. Here is a good tutorial for that: https://knitty.com/ISSUEspring04/mattress.html
For horizontal mattress seams I think this is a good explanation: https://www.interweave.com/article/knitting/mattress-stitch-tutorial-horizontal-seams/
Once you have mastered these two seams and see how seamless and beautiful they look, you'll never mind seaming again!
I hope this helps and I wish you luck.
Hi what size knitting needles do,you use is this 8ply thanks
ReplyDeleteHello
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting a free pattern. I am knitting WeeGingersnap Doll cardigan for 18 inch doll
This is my First attempt at knitting a cardigan
The back & front sides I did well
But the sleeves are confusing to me. Would you have a video on this part of the pattern and the neckband?
Anna
You make my day when you make a comment!