Let's be serious for a moment. I will knit for parents, nieces and nephews...oh and the sibling gift...for sure. The others are if I have time, which I probably will make time...we will see.
So I attempt the EZ baby sweater...well...she doesn't really give a size and my gauge is different than the "pattern" gauge...I know it will be too small. I push some numbers around, in much frustration, and decide to look for a baby sweater sizing schematic...to see how big it should really be.
I go through that Debbie Bliss Baby Knits book, you know the one. Yeah, no schematics here.
I remember a couple things from this book that I would love to knit...oh the baby knits.
That dress, that is totally insane...oh that dress.
I have to knit it for my new niece.
So instead of a quick little baby sweater, I now have a major knit on my hands...
Here is the first attempt...as written, in intarsia. ( I steamed the edge to see if it would actually lie flat...baby cashmerino seriously rolls in stst)
I hate intarsia. Also, why are the back and fronts knit in pieces...I guess for the simplicity of writting a pattern...but I want to knit the skirt of the dress in the round and use fair isle. Also my gauge is off...so a little math later...we come up with this...
Much better.
The first attempt I knit the chart as written, but to get that smooth look on the bottom of the sheep, you must knit the first row in st st. ( you see that purl bump on the sheep's rear...that is what the whole row would look like if knit as the chart is written) Then the rest of the sheep in moss...I likey the moss stitch sheep.
I know that the floats may be a problem for those little toes...so I will HAVE To knit the matching booties...
23 comments:
that is too cute. I often feel that most patterns can be just knit in the round if few modifications are made. You are my hero for all the christmas knitting you're doing...
Adorable. I love that pattern too. It seems every time I go to the LYS to get the yarn for it (and yes, I've made that trip specifically several times) I can't ever decide what color to make the main dress. I love what you're doing with the color and the sheep as well.
Bliss has at least four versions of that dress in her various books, and you are right - her instructions are horrendous. I adore the dress, but decided a week ago against making it for my two daughters this year. It's a long story...suffice it to say I don't have the energy to do all the rewrites it would require. I'd rather design something myself!
Bliss has at least four versions of that dress in her various books, and you are right - her instructions are horrendous. I adore the dress, but decided a week ago against making it for my two daughters this year. It's a long story...suffice it to say I don't have the energy to do all the rewrites it would require. I'd rather design something myself!
I like the schematics here:
http://www.yarnstandards.com/babysize.html
I like the sheep!
That is TOO FREAKIN' CUTE!! Love the color you've chosen for the dress.
Aw, adorable! I love the sheep. All of your colorwork is simply gorgeous!
i agree with you that debbie bliss patterns are written in a weird manner. why knit a raglan sweater in pieces?!? i don't get it!
also, i had a lot of trouble with the EZ baby sweater as well. i hate that it doesn't specify how much yarn you need, the size, or how to resize! i thought that if i just had a larger gauge, it would make the baby sweater bigger so that she could grow into it, but no such luck. it was annoying me too much to continue, so i scrapped it and went with a debbie bliss pattern as well!
oh, and one more thing...
i LOVE your seed (?) stitch sheep! SO CUTE!
That dress is *so* adorable. I wish I had a little girl to knit for, but all of my friends are having boys or are opting not to know the sex of the baby,,,
Preeeeetttty! Nice colour choice; can't wait to see it all done up!
Beautiful! What a lucky girl - I bet that dress will become an heirloom.
Love the moss stitch sheep - it's a great improvement over the plain stitch.
I love that dress too. I may knit it someday as well. I'd never finish it in time for my littlest one to wear it. Maybe for a grandchild someday!
See, now, why am I the only commenter who thinks that with a Christmas knitting list like the one you have, that picking a shoddy pattern needing lots of modification is a little insane?
Of course, of all the knitters in the world, I know you can do it, and make a lovely gift.
I'm still shaking my head, though, Could you have made it any harder on yourself??
; )
People overseas must have quite a few patterns where you knit in the round. Most of the books that I buy the patterns are knit in pieces, and then seamed up later on. I love the sheep dress, and the color you chose is gorgeous. I have that book too, although no nieces or little girls to knit it for. Maybe in about 20 years time I will, grandchildren I hope.
really cute dress, couldn´t you knit a hem to be stitched up on the inside afterwards, thus solving the problem with the strands and the rolling of the edge at the same time? just a thought.
my best from Iceland
Frida
I love this litle dress... Adorable! Can't wait to see it done... :-)
Oh, I have always wanted to knit that dress! Alas, I have two boys:-)
the sheep look MUCH better all bumpy and wooly like that. I mean, they are wooly, right? why would Debbie try to take that away from them?
I agree that most things can be knit in the round and usually modify things to be knit that way when the instructions say to knit flat. sometimes it works....sometimes, not so much.
Very, very cute! I have to find a copy of this book now. I made the cow sweater from DB's Kids Country Knits for my nephew - which came out adorable. I agree with you, her patterns can be vague and confusing. I do love the finished product though.
Love the colors you're using!
Totally adorable!
Too bad that an adult version of this would be totally wierd....not so totally cute like yours. :)
I love the moss stitch for the sheep. It looks much more "sheep like".
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