“The charity needs newborn sets for the baby packs”.
is what I was told late last year.
“They’re open to ancient and modern,
so there’s no excuse for you not making some”
Don’t you love friends who talk in riddles - ‘ancient and modern’ to my crafting friend meant soft traditional baby colours as well as loud bright (or dark even) colours – simple basic ‘old fashioned styles as well as different ‘up to date’ ones.
Thinking, plotting and planning is why I had a leftovers sorting session early in January. And as so often happens with me things didn’t go quite to plan
Newborn size.
16” in older knitting patterns – 0-3 months in others – 41cm in newer ones.
Small in size taking no time at all to finish
Do any of you remember the time three years ago when I sewed a sleeve seam to a side seam – well memories of that returned when I began to put the first cardigan together.
The back side seams didn’t match those on the fronts
The back was much too long!
I’m not a top down knitter, prefer straight needles making garments in pieces rather than in the round. And because I’ve knit these little basic cardigans so often over the years I’ve simplified the instructions – instead of ins/cms I use rows. So that side seam for both fronts & back will equal 42 rows – 10 rib plus 32 with cast off for armholes on row 43/44.
The front length is easily calculated by counting the number of ridges on the front button band. The back is different, now and again there’s a quick row count and you can guess what happened – intent on reaching 42 rows I forgot to take into account the 10 rib ones already knit🙁
So it’s unravel it down to the correct number of rows ready to cast off for the armhole.
Finished, ready to sew together again- one side fits nicely – there’s a slight problem with other one.
Not happy Jan! I’ve only gone and forgotten to cast off on the purl row!
Unpick again- begin again. Cross your fingers. . third time lucky!
The Golfer banished, iPad closed, tv off. Time to concentrate properly.
Sucess, finished, just have the band to sew on the neckline.
Paired with a Babbity hat and bootees it’ll soon be ready to go
Now I’m on a roll – most of a blue/white striped set was finished on Monday
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Yesterday there was
(shush)
housework – but it didn’t happen until after a break for coffee
and a quick squizz at a new library book
Death of an author – E.C.R. Lorac (1935/reprint 2023)
Link to (freely available) online basic cardigan pattern.
Waterwheel 890
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Kat hosts Unraveled Wednesday . which features Reading Crafting Chatting – you’ll find it all there – pop over, see what’s going on – maybe stay and say hello.
Still Waters 
I am impressed and think they are precious, and the parents will love them. I can’t tell you how many times my book takes me away from housework.
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It’s a strange phenomenon that isn’t it Sandra – housework v book. No problem guessing which will win there!
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Oh it’s so adorable! And the side seam mishap… well, we’ve all done something similar!
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Thanks, I still get a kick out of producing something so small knowing the effect it will have on the receiver. It’s a win win situation all round
And I’ve lost count of all those ‘unintended mistakes’ I make – more than I’m willing to admit to😊
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I love the finished garments, Cathy. I’m sure they will be treasured despite you having a couple of attempts to get on a roll. x
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lol Sue – it’s not the first time I’ve made a false move and what’s the betting it won’t be the last.
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Those little cardigans are darling. Isn’t it the way? The most familiar patterns trip us up. I hope we get to see the finished sets.
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From the amount of oddments ‘available for use’ Jane I’m sure there will be more to share over the coming weeks.
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Arrggghhh – all that unpicking. I know the feeling. And did you find out what they meant by reference to ‘ancients’?
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Yes, the ancient reference was to older designs (like plain cardigans or matinee coats) in traditional soft colours (pink blue yellow) which a they are receiving less of because younger knitters don’t use them.
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I love knitting baby sweaters and am willing to struggle through some of those older patterns. Those are very cute knits for a very lucky baby.
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Thank you Eileen.
lol being an ‘older lady’ those are the patterns I know and can work with. Ask me (well I wouldn’t if I was you) about some modern ones with instructions that would try the patience of a saint. Peace and sanity rule in my house – adapting old to come up with new works for me every time
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Your coffee break looks so inviting!
I guess the bright side of that unraveling is that you didn’t have to re-do anything…just rip out and move on. So that’s a relief! I think your sets are darling. What a generous donation to the baby packs. And I love her riddle! A nice way for everyone to know their skill/style/approach is appreciated and welcome.
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I love seeing babies in traditional ‘grandma knits’, but it’s so unusual now that they really catch my eye.
I also adore seeing crochet blankets on buggies, very common at the moment, pleasingly.
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How funny to think that our favorite patterns and colors are now seen as “ancient.”
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