A Few Notes on the Baby Surprise Sweater.....

Perhaps I should say that according to the DVD instructions, you can knit this pattern to fit anyone from a baby to an Adult. All you have to do is use different yarn weights (or hold 2 or more strands together) and the appropriate needle size to accommodate the weight of your yarn.

Meg Swansen explains that the baby sweater will stretch to accommodate baby's growth for a few months because it is knitted using the garter stitch (which is very "giving").

I used Caron's Simply Soft yarn and a size 6 circular needle. I consider the Simply Soft yarn to be a light-worsted weight. If I had used Red Heart or Vanna White worsted yarn, I would have used a size 7 needle. Before knitting this sweater I strongly advise knitting a small swatch using garter stitch to see if the stitches are too loose. This is something you DON'T want because once you begin knitting this pattern, you CANNOT change needle size. It will throw everything off shape-wise.

The sweater when buttoned measures approximately 17 inches in circumference under the sleeves. It can easily stretch to 21 inches. Shoulder to hem is 12 inches in length.

Sleeves measured from cuff to cuff is 18 inches; but Ms Swansen says that the sleeves are knitted to come just below the hollow in the elbow. She says that it keeps the sweater from being chewed on by baby, and getting wet. However, the sleeve length can be added to once the sweater is knitted.

The sweater pattern also 'increases stitches' to accommodate the bulk of wearing a diaper across the hip section.

For the newborn baby, instructions call for 3 ounces of Shetland wool (6 stitches to the inch), and will 'grow' with the baby. Yarns knitted at 5 stitches to the inch should yield a size to fit a 1-2 year old or older.

I used a 6oz skein of the Simply Soft. I had yarn left over, and the skein has 315 yards. I would say I had enough left over to knit a baby hat. I also used a coordinating color on the sweater (the green one) but only for 24 rows.

I haven't done so, but I would imagine you can make a preemie sweater using baby-weight or fingering yarn and the appropriate needle size. No matter what size sweater you intend to make Ms Swansen says that you cast on the same amount of stitches which are 160. From there you either knit each stitch without decreasing or increasing, or when it is time, you increase or decrease every other row to achieve the shape of the sweater.

As I have said; the thickness of yarn and needle size will determine how large the sweater will be when completed. You can use any type of yarn you desire, but you must keep in mind how you would like it to look once completed.

I was at the yarn store yesterday and picked up two skeins of Caron's Painted Yarn (it's variegated) to knit another Baby Surprise Sweater. Also picked up some Vanna White yarn (which is heavier, or maybe I should say that it is a heftier worsted) to knit a Baby Surprise Sweater.

Instructions are also given for a baby bonnet (which I haven't tried yet). So..... Hop on the bandwagon! The Ravelry Community http://www.ravelry.com/ has over 3000 project photos of this sweater, so there must be something exciting about it!

What's on my needles now?? I am still working on a vest for a young friend. Luckily she doesn't need it until this winter (smiles). I am still working on a hat and scarf for my friend who lives in Arizona. Last week I knitted a wool Seaman's hat for a friend to wear this winter while attending to dairy farm chores as a 50th birthday present. And after these are done, I have at least eight things I need to knit as necessities for friends, relatives, town neighbors, etc. Can I get those wool socks for Yvonne in there somewhere by this Winter.....????

My Stash has been increased too.....
Here are a few photos!


Here is the Seaman's Hat I am knitting for my friend in Arizona. I really do not like knitting with double-points because it takes me a while to get a rhythm going. So; since I just finished knitting the same hat for another friend, I thought I would cast on stitches for this hat while my brain and mind was "in the mood."


Here is what the above hat will look like. This hat will be worn by my friend Randy Bates while tending to his dairy farm this winter. I used Lamb's Pride Worsted yarn. One skein does the trick (190 yards per skein) with a bit left over. Here is the pattern. It opens as a .pdf file:
http://images.acswebnetworks.com/2013/1271/SeafarersCapPattern.pdf
Here are photos of the cap modeled on a human:
http://pegotty.blogspot.com/2007/12/international-seafarers-ministry.html
I used the Watch Cap with a Cuff knitted pattern.


Here is the Caron "Paints" yarn I was talking about. I live in a rural area and close by Walmart is "it" for acrylic yarn. I do have about 4 Yarn Shops that sell natural fibers nearby, but each one is a minimum of 25 miles round trip. Augusta, Maine has Michaels and now an AC Moore store and this is where I went yesterday to get additional 'yarn stash.' Augusta is about 90 miles round trip. Yes; I do order online as well. Stash arrives "by any means necessary" in this house!


Here is some Vanna White Yarn manufactured by LionBrand. I love the feel of this yarn. Nice weight, plump. I haven't knitted with it yet. But this yarn will be used on a Baby Surprise Sweater as will the "Paints" yarn above.


And last; but not least. Here is some Paton Classic Merino Wool (223 yards per skein). Toddler and baby hats and/or scarf out of these. Geez! AC Moore was selling this for $4.99 and I thought I had a bargain! I just looked and Knitting Warehouse is selling these for $3.64! Time for an online order! Can't beat that with a stick if you order 10 or more along with their $5.99 flat rate shipping.

Second Baby Surprise Sweater

In between my other projects I slipped in a second Baby Surprise Sweater. I am still not "perfect" with the technique. The problem I find myself having is keeping precise track of where I am supposed to make decreases. I mark them with a safety pin (there are only two decrease points), and it works perfectly until the pattern calls for an increase in the number of stitches on the needle... thus throwing your "perfect track" off kilter.

You have to knit the pattern to understand what I am talking about. The sweater still works up fine; it is just not visually aligned to perfection. I am STILL going to continue knitting sweaters using this pattern because it is capable of rendering so many creative colorful combinations. The Ravelry website has quite a few beautiful Baby Surprise Sweater creations.

Here are some photos of my latest attempt, and my latest 'stash' additions. I had to visit my favorite yarn shop to get two skeins of yarn to finish a vest I am working on, and of course I just could not leave without buying something......!


Here is the latest. I used Carons Simply Soft Yarns


Here are both of my Baby Surprise Sweaters side by side.


Here is how they look on the back.


Here is a closer view of the newest attempt...


Here is my latest addition to my Yarn Stash.


I picked this up at Walmart to knit dishcloths for my kitchen. I have been knitting my own dishcloths for about 9 years and I refuse to use store purchased ones again! I also find the old ones work perfectly for dusting furniture.