Thursday, April 19, 2012

Finished Knit: {A Better} Baby Yours

Two weeks ago I had just a back of a sweater; now I have the whole thing.


I don't usually photograph finished knits hanging up. But anyway. This is my second Baby Yours sweater (the first is here), and I'm much more pleased with this version, which has been modified all sorts of ways.

* I knit the six-month size in width, but to the length of the twelve-month size, and it looks way more proportional to me.

* I attached the fronts to the back at the shoulders using a 3-needle bindoff, wrong sides facing, instead of seaming. You can't even tell, because that portion is in garter stitch and it blends right in, but now the poky seam isn't on the inside where it can irritate sweet little baby shoulders.

* I picked up the stitches for the sleeves and knit them in the round, top down, eliminating the sleeve seam, which looked like it would irritate sweet little baby arms. I also ignored the pattern's instructions for increases (which would now be decreases) every four rows, and did them every ten, which worked out to every inch. The sleeves look better to me now.


They increase evenly, instead of weirdly. The pattern doesn't include a row gauge. The pattern doesn't include a row gauge. I paid $6.50 for this pattern, and I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that complete gauge information should be included with patterns, especially boughten ones. My stitch gauge was spot on, but I had to go down a needle size. Perhaps if my row gauge matched the designer's, the sleeves in the first version I knit wouldn't look so weirdly sloped to me. But I don't know if that's the problem. If I knew the row gauge, I could do a little bit of math ahead of time and make sure everything matched up but the pattern doesn't include a row gauge.

Anyway, this left just the sides from the bottom to the underarm to sew up, and that's not an area where a seam is going to annoy a baby. I prefer my modded-out version of this pattern to the original, but I am also happy to be done with knitting baby sweaters for a while.

A view of the back, just because. It's really a lovely cable.


It seems like ages since I've knit anything for myself. I've been knitting for Other People's Babies since December. So I began something for myself, using stash yarn that turned out to be annoying...but that's a story for another day.

Linking up with our creative spaces...

10 comments:

Bells said...

That's much better! Great mods. They all make complete sense and the length is so much better.

It's a Yarn Harlot pattern right? I kinda would have expected more from her.

Carolyn said...

Beautiful sweater! You know I'm always impressed by your ability to alter patterns...and to finish projects! :-) Well done!

Debra said...

oh i could never alter a pattern this way...clever lady...it looks great...longer is always better i guess...gotta keep those kidneys warm

Michelle said...

Adorable! Really, I'm in awe. And yay for finally knitting for yourself!

lamina@do a bit said...

What a cute little knit... Love the colour! Got to love a bit of knitting :)

Jill said...

I agree with Carolyn, I'm so impressed by the way you alter knitting. I'm even more impressed by the "little bit of math ahead of time"....there is no little math in my opinion, and I never think about anything ahead of time. Way to go, and lucky baby.

amy said...

The mom-to-be apparently loved it--Chris delivered it today (it's for a coworker of his due in May). Lots of "Amy MADE this?" So, yay! I hope the baby wears it in good health and joy. I'm sure his little baby heart will KNOW that I got rid of those poky seams just for him. :)

Rose Red said...

It looks great. I reckon it could be even longer (I think it's because I'm long in the body!). Love the cable.

Sally said...

It is wonderful. So very very lovely indeed.

Roz said...

This is delightful - I love the cable detail and the colour. Happy creating.