The Good News Keeps On Coming

When the first baby laughed for the first time,
the laugh broke into a thousand pieces and they all went skipping about,
and that was the beginning of fairies.
James Matthew Barrie

The now-affianced beau has well and truely discovered the joy of handknit socks for himself. Seriously, I'm trying to get photos. But after a long night on call, the socks could use a little bath before being fit for public viewing.

In the meantime, let's talk about other happy news. There's a new baby on the way in my circle of friends, and, without naming names, let's just say that inspires a lot of baby knitting books, baby knitting yarns, and even some actual baby knitting for a mom who insists on cotton only (allergies). Finally, a great use for my extensive CottonEase stash! After extensive searches through every baby knitting book in three bookstores, I picked up Debbie Bliss' Simply Baby, which is full of cute patterns that are simple enough even I am not bothered by the author's complete and utter refusal to ever use something as plebian as schematics. But I digress.

So, the baby sweater. I started with this cute little gem called something creative like "Hooded Jacket" for several very good reasons:

1. It was cute.
2. It was portable - only one color, lots of stockinette.
3. I had just the right amount of yarn in a great bright color, perfect for the anticipated baby in question. (And, actually, I'm sure I'll have enough for matching booties given the great yardage of CottonEase.)
4. I could start right away.
5. Who swatches for baby garments anyway?

#4 may have been the most important reason, now that I think about it . . . But it makes great reading/studying knitting. It's constructed in pieces and then joined for a raglan yoke with a hood added. I could have made it even easier and converted it to the round, but that would have actually required some thought. It's easier to knit as written and they are only little seams. Nothing major.

Above you see the back up to the armholes, and since taking that photo (on the beach chair again - this is great SoCal knitting!) I've finished both fronts also up to the armholes. A couple of sleeves, a yoke, a hood - something tells me picking the button could be the hardest part!

In the interest of full disclosure, I also have Louisa Harding's Natural Knits for Babies and Moms on the way . . . Last month my Book-of-the-Month Project involved getting rid of two knitting books I thought I'd never use, and I actually got rid of three. So I figured I had some bonus points with the bookshelf . . . And I do have all that wonderful CottonEase in bright unisex baby colors!