I adore knitting for baby and collect baby patterns like one might collect seashells.  While writing this top ten list, I went way over my budget and gathered twenty free patterns instead of ten.  Pattern links, yarn weights, and sizes available are in the captions below each picture. All yarn weights are featured in the patterns below: fingering, sport, DK, worsted, aran and bulky weights.  If you have some stash, you can quickly scan down to find the right pattern.  Use these patterns as a springboard for your imagination; make a dear baby sweater in a solid color or add stripes, intarsia, fair isle, or stitch texture; let whimsy be your guide!  Which one will you make first?

Gingersnap by Kristen Rettig of Knitionary knit in worsted weight in one size:  1 yr.  (change to DK weight for 6 mos.)

 And now for some baby things that don't fall in the sweater category:

Top Ten FREE baby blanket patterns are here. 

Totally Free/Totally Adorable has been a popular post this last year and has some good tips.

A word about yarn--please do mother a favor and knit your baby and children's garments in machine washable wool or cotton.  A mere whisper of hand wash only and your precious sweater will quickly land in the bottom of the dresser drawer. Not all machine washable yarns can go in the dryer so if it's a gift, give a little "care tag".  If you are knitting stripes from stash, like the first one below, make sure your yarns are all the same weight and require the same care.  When gifting, I almost always knit the 12 mos. size and here's why: at one year, babies are standing up and smiling, clapping and causing commotions, and generally craving attention wherever they go.  Everyone looks at them, and therefore, everyone will look at your sweater too!

Even though it's still November, the Christmas movies are now playing on your TV, and it's great, right?  I love Christmas movies!  Remember my Top 10 Movies for Knitters?  I'm adding to it a Must Watch Christmas Movies List complete with appropriate projects to knit while viewing.  Let's begin, in no particular order!

1.  White Christmas.  I know, you've probably seen it ____ times, (multiply your age times 2.5), but maybe you'll be watching it again this year just to see the great gowns Rosemary Clooney and Vera Allen are wearing and you'll be asking yourself, "When exactly is the last time I wore a gown?"  Love that spectacular last scene with the Santa costumes and the tree with the doors opening and it's snowing and they're singing White Christmas.  We really can't top that kind of beauty, but we can knit a gossamer lace shawl for the leading ladies to slip over their shoulders.  Temptress by Boo Knits.

Knit in Licktfaden Tussah Silk Lace with beads translates to unequaled elegance.

2.  The Polar Express is a visually beautiful movie and has an important lesson, to remember what it feels like when you believe.  A feel good movie.  However, the kids look so chilly going to the north pole dressed only in their pj's and just a few remembered to bring their robes.  Brrr, I shiver just thinking about it.  Let's knit up a little something warm for these kiddies.  I like the Waiting for Winter Mittens very much!

Waiting for Winter by Susan B. Anderson.  These look like they are knit in Noro.

3.  The Bishop's Wife.  Why don't they make movies like this anymore?  Cary Grant, Loretta Young, David Niven, oh my.  An angel in the form of Cary Grant descends to earth to help a young family.  While viewing this I think we should knit my Christmas Angels! Aw, I'm really proud of them and think they turned out pretty cute.

Christmas Angels, free pattern download, knit with Rowan Angora Haze.

4.  How The Grinch Stole Christmas, the one with Jim Carrey.  The casting for this movie was so great.  What an adorable little Cindi Lou Who and with Jim Carrey as the Grinch, well, there could be no other!  But perhaps my favorite character is the fashionable Martha May Whovier.  As in Bouvier.  For the edgy Martha May we absolutely have to pick something from the new Rowan Studio 33.  Almost any design will do but let's go for maximum flash and knit the cape with beads, Pop by Amanda Crawford.  You know you want this. (As of now, the book is still shipping to your lys and will be available within a week.  Here is my preview of it.)

Pop, knit with Rowan Kidsilk Haze.

6.  The Miracle on 34th Street, both versions are worthy of repeated watching.  I love little Natalie Wood in the 1947 version.  Little side note, she went to high school with my husband's cousin who said she was shy and sweet and very pretty.  The 1994 version with Mara Wilson is my favorite.  Remember I told you my mom was a children's talent agent?  Mara was her client and mother said she was the sweetest thing.  All the people in this movie, including the extras, are terrifically handsome, wear gorgeous clothes and live in beautiful homes.  Christmas time is when I want a large dose of fantasy and this movie hits the spot.  We'll be knitting a beautiful classic for Mara; Charlotte from the Little Star Collection knit in Rowan Angora Haze.  A very special sweater on a very pretty little girl.  I'm gathering up the yarn to knit this.  I have no one in mind to give it to when it's done, I just love it so much I feel compelled to make it!  The Rowan sample was hanging in my lys, oh my, it's so very beautiful!

7.  It's A Wonderful Life.  I can't say enough about this terrific movie.  My tradition is to bring a small TV (now my laptop) into the living room and watch this movie while I decorate the Christmas tree.  (Alone.  My husband puts on the lights then retreats to another room for a night of uninterrupted Xbox)  My favorite scene is probably your favorite scene, dancing on top of the pool!  Or maybe the hydrangea bushes?  Or the phone call in the hall?  Or the ending, sniff.  Don't forget the tissues.  I love that town.  We'll be knitting for Jimmy Stewart who deserves something timeless like this Herringbone Cardigan by Martin Storey.

This looks treacherous, but I'll bet it's not as hard as it looks. It's a new pattern from Rowan Designer Knits knit in Rowan Creative Focus Worsted.

8. You've noticed that most of my movies are very vintage.  The Holiday is newish as in 2006, but it plays exactly like it was a vintage movie.  Two unsettled single women decide to swap homes for the holidays.  One home is Southern California modern and the other is pure English country cottage charm.  If you haven't seen this movie, it's just delightful and worth a watch or two.  A very sweet movie with great sweaters.  There is a very tender and magical "tent scene" and we'll knit a star garland for the ceiling.  Star Garland by Kristen Ashbaugh-Helmreich.

Star Garland.  We'll have to knit ours in pink if it's to go in the tent!

9. Holiday Inn.  In this movie Bing Crosby has the hairbrained idea of opening an inn that's only open on HOLIDAYS!  Hmmm, doesn't sound terribly practical, but there are some great production scenes with a spectacular July 4th extravaganza.  In fact, every holiday gets a big extravaganza and I do adore that sort of thing.  For this movie let's knit something for ourselves!  As if we were going to the Inn for a sensational evening of dinner, dancing and entertainment.  We will need something very very special and when I think special, I almost always think Kim Hargreaves and Kidsilk Haze.  That combination just can't be beat.  Here is Mystic.  The simple shaping, soft gray color and light beading make it a truly beautiful holiday sweater.

We'll have to knit the matching scarf too!

10.  Little Women.  Any version will do.  Let's just say they are all excellent and worthy of watching over and over again.   Isn't Concord, Mass. just about the prettiest place in the winter?   As a child, after I read this book or watched the movie I remember wanting to be a better person.  If you loved reading this classic as a child, you will enjoy March by Geraldine Brooks.  This book brings to life the absent father of the March family and I enjoyed it very much.  But now back to knitting, the March girls would have been knitting hats for the community.  Here is a free pattern download from Purl Soho and is sized from newborn to adult male.

Knit in Purl's own Super Soft Merino bulky weight, these will go fast!

11.  I cannot have a Top 10 11 List without some Jane!  Let's watch Jane Austen's Emma with Kate Beckinsale.  There is always a reason and a season to read or watch Jane Austen.  In Emma, there is a snowy glimpse of what Christmas looked like in the English countryside 200 years ago.  I could see Emma slipping this over her head just as she alights from the carriage.  Iris by Kim Hargreaves.

Iris Mesh Shawl in Rowan Kidsilk Haze.

It is a truth universally acknowledged, 

that a knitter in possession of a good amount of yarn,

 must be in want of a movie.

Happy Valentine's Day and welcome to
Top Ten Best Movies for Knitters
with suggested knitting projects included!    

3. Jane Eyre. Of course every movie version is knit-worthy. But let's say that maybe, just maybe, the one with Joan Fontaine and the latest one with Mia Wosikowska are the best two! For either, the must knit is the beautiful To Eyre by Carole Sunday, so handy in a chilly orphanage.

4.  Midnight in Paris.  I am a huge fan of this movie.  I loved meeting up with Hemingway at the bistro and visiting Gertrude Stein in her parlor.  Such a wonderful fantasy film, I just have a big smile on my face when I'm watching this.  Rachel McAdams has some pretty cute clothes in this movie.  Let's make something for her, how about the Boho Eternity Scarf by Sweater Babe.  I could absolutely see her wearing this in Paris.

5.  Downton Abbey.  I know you're already watching it and I don't have to tell you about this brilliant Masterpiece Theater production that MUST NEVER END!  I was thinking of knitting a christening gown for the gleam in Lady Mary's eye, or maybe a shawl for the dowager but they already get enough attention.  Let's find somebody more worthy of our efforts....like Lady Edith.  Oh dear, can this poor peer of the realm please catch a break in the romance arena?  To give her a little kick-start let's knit her a Boyfriend Sweater, that should do the trick, by jove.  Check out the hottest and newest boyfriend cardi on Rav,  Hey Girl by Chicknits.

6.  Monarch of the Glen where the young, reluctant laird apparent comes back to his family and their ancient castle in the Scottish highlands to "help get things back in order".  Wonderful story and visually beautiful!  57 episodes, it's available on Netflix.  You will be treated to Pantone Emerald Green scenery, a lovely old crumbly castle, oodles of tartan, the sweet sound of bagpipes and lots of baggy, tattered and cabled pullovers.  Let's knit the young laird a new one!  Cable Sweater by Martin Story using Rowan Scottish Tweed Aran of course.

7.  Le Divorce, and when I say Le Divorce I really mean anything, ANYTHING by Merchant/Ivory.  Like Howard's End, Remains of the Day and Golden Bowl, and there's more, and they're all great and in fact these 3 are better moves than Le Divorce.  I chose Le Divorce because it was such a departure from their glossy period pieces.  I appreciated the tension between the French and American cultures and felt it was well done.  But this is a list for knitters and knitters will love the clothes worn by the stars Kate Hudson and Naomi Watts.   We'll instead whip up something for the supremely prim and icy French mother-in-law, Leslie Caron.  I suspect she wouldn't wear anything unless it was made by Coco herself, but if she won't wear this, we will.  Jacket by Phidar Design Team.

8.  Rebecca.  Have you noticed that I like old movies?  So Rebecca, starring Joan Fontaine and Sir Lawrence Olivier is perfection.  I don't have enough fingers and toes to count the times I've watched it.  Still,  I wince each time Rebecca's American "companion of the bosom" puts out her cigarette in the cold cream!  It's all about the details, people, no matter how gory.  I was thinking of making Mrs. Danvers a straight-jacket, there are many ways we could get macabre here, but let's go sweet instead and knit something for the little wished-for Maxim Jr.     Little Oak by Alana Dakos.

9.  To Kill A Mockingbird.  You didn't think I'd forget this one did you?  Could there be a more perfect Atticus Finch than Gregory Peck?  I've read this book as many times as I watched the movie.  Let's whip up something for Scout. It will have to be lightweight, it's Alabama and it looks like it's very hot.  I love the child's version of Wispy by Hannah Fettig.

Thank you for coming by this Valentine week.  I had a lot of fun with my top 10's for knitters and I appreciate all your encouraging comments.  It means a lot to me!