Minnow en Minni
I’ve been waiting for the perfect setting and conditions (a non-work day during which there is no rain for a nice window between mealtimes so Ada’s clothes and hair won’t be covered in food, but not so far from a mealtime that she is hungry or tired, and shortly after a wash day so she won’t be wearing the haphazardly clashing dregs of her wardrobe) to photograph Minni, because it’s just about the cutest thing I’ve knit. Needless to say, between illnesses, November gloom, and the whims of She Who Toddles, those perfect conditions haven’t presented themselves. We made do.
Looking back at my notes, I see that I cast on for this jacket a scant twelve days before Ada was born. I did most of the knitting in the early months of her life, and if you’ve experienced the early months of someone else’s life first hand and full time, you’ll know that means I made a lot of mistakes. I can see some of them right on the front. This isn’t a simple pattern, despite being entirely garter or stockinet stitch, and it isn’t constructed like any sweater you’ve ever made. The instructions run to ten pages, and you’d better be willing to try your hand at short rows and provisional cast-ons and small needles if you want to attempt it. But if you’re a patient, thinking knitter, it’s rewarding. I mean, the cuteness!
It’s got clever shaping, too… look how the back of the coat is extra roomy to swing freely over that big cloth-diapered bum.
The back details alone were enough to suck me in. I love the way the design shows off yarns with long color changes (I chose Noro Kureyon Sock for Minni I and have already started Minni II with Crystal Palace’s Mini Mochi), although there are some darling solid versions out there, too. A word on the sizing: Ada is fifteen months old and is a medium-size baby — currently right at the 50th percentile for height. She’s wearing the 6-9-month size jacket, and as you can see she’s got plenty of room to grow into it some more. The designer, Lene Alve, does live in the Arctic Circle, and I suppose by the time I got a six-month-old into enough layers to stay cozy in that climate, she might just about fill up this jacket! But for the rest of us, I’d say multiply the suggested ages in the pattern by 2. It’s a good thing this jacket runs so large, though, even if you wind up having to tuck it away for a year. A pre-mobile baby couldn’t really do it justice, and a crawler would always be running aground on the fronts. (Ada still catches the fronts with her knees sometimes when she’s going up stairs.) You need a toddler to set that sweet hemline swaying, trust me.
Posted: November 9th, 2011 at 9:40 pm
Oh my, the cuteness – she is such a doll. I love the cardigan as well – it is beautifully knitted.
Posted: November 9th, 2011 at 10:07 pm
Truly cute. I bet for a baby sized like mine one would need to divide the sizes by 2. 😉 Babies do come in different sizes. Mine is just over 6 months old, but is already growing out of most 9-12 sized clothes.
Posted: November 10th, 2011 at 12:30 am
Ohhh, this is so incredibly cute! I love Lene`s designs (especially this one), and your colours are perfect!
Posted: November 10th, 2011 at 12:31 am
Wow. It was well worth the effort! And Ada is adorable beyond words. The first and last photo are my favourites.
Posted: November 10th, 2011 at 12:47 am
Wow! Gorgeous. Love the colours.
Posted: November 10th, 2011 at 4:45 am
That is the most adorable sweater! I want one for me (sweater not baby). Well done
Posted: November 10th, 2011 at 6:19 am
Those pictures are wonderful! Well worth the wait for the perfect moment.
Posted: November 10th, 2011 at 9:47 am
Adorable! Lovely color choices, too!
Posted: November 10th, 2011 at 10:37 am
what an adorable little sweater, and your daughter is unbelievably cute!! it’s a perfect pairing of knit and wearer.
Posted: November 10th, 2011 at 10:38 am
Fabulous design and appeal! Kudos! That goes for the amazing Minni jacket as well!
XOX to beloved model and her Mama.
Posted: November 10th, 2011 at 10:48 am
Too adorable!!
Posted: November 10th, 2011 at 11:48 am
Oh!! I’ve been lusting after that pattern for a long while now, trying to decide whether to take on the challenge or not! You may have pushed me over the edge! I have tons of little mini moochi’s lying around…
Methinks it’s time to cast on for the final babe’s 1rst b-day jacket!
-C
Posted: November 10th, 2011 at 12:18 pm
Very, very cute! Love the color.
Posted: November 10th, 2011 at 4:20 pm
What an adorable sweater. Love the back detail. And, my, Ada is growing up fast!
Posted: November 10th, 2011 at 4:46 pm
That is just so sweet. You did a great job on what looks to be a complicated design. Thanks for the photos that show the back view, I read her blog but I never knew the back was so cleverly knit. I’m just going to have to buy this pattern for a future grandchild.
Posted: November 10th, 2011 at 5:54 pm
The jacket is very cuter. And the baby is even cuter!
Posted: November 10th, 2011 at 6:07 pm
Ada is a little angel!!!! What a cutie…and that jacket. oh my gosh. Makes want to pick up the needles and have a go at it…despite the 10 pages.
Posted: November 11th, 2011 at 10:07 am
what a beautiful work… simple and sophisticated at the same time.
(and to quote Kristyn, if the coat is cute, the baby is even cuter (most of all wearing this coat !!) ;o)
Posted: November 11th, 2011 at 5:11 pm
Precious toddler! Beautiful sweater! I love your comments about toddler and the first year of life. Very well written!
Posted: November 11th, 2011 at 8:09 pm
What a sweet little coat! The color/ribbing detailing is really gorgeous!
Posted: November 14th, 2011 at 3:08 am
I think I might have to add this to my list to make. My hair dresser is not very far along, and actually appreciates this kind of thing (she does crochet mostly). It is super adorable an I already have mini mochi in stock that I will not get around to using for its purchased project.
Posted: November 14th, 2011 at 12:12 pm
This is the cutest little girl, and I feel like you can almost hear her giggling in the picture. I love the sweater you made for her. I am always sad I don’t have grandchildren, when I see such wonderful things to make for these babies. Great job.
Posted: November 14th, 2011 at 4:16 pm
My favorite view is the back. Although it is all adorable.
Posted: November 14th, 2011 at 9:20 pm
Your sweater is amazing, and little Ada looks adorable in it!
Posted: November 16th, 2011 at 8:06 pm
They are both beautiful! Lovely photos too.
Posted: November 19th, 2011 at 3:50 am
Gorgeous! That sweater is a work of art. It looks very comfortable too. Your daughter is lovely.
Posted: November 19th, 2011 at 1:44 pm
absolutely GORGEOUS!
Posted: November 20th, 2011 at 4:04 pm
Wahh! So beautiful! The model, the coat, the photos.
Posted: November 22nd, 2011 at 12:39 pm
Oh, Well Done! I had to add that to my queue, it’s so darn adorable. As is the happy, healthy, busy, cute-as-a-button girl modeling it!
Brava!
Posted: December 26th, 2011 at 10:13 am
That’s just fabulous. Love it!
Posted: February 22nd, 2012 at 11:10 am
this is a fabulous design will you be selling the pattern xx
Posted: March 3rd, 2012 at 10:46 am
I just absolutely love this pattern!! I think it’s the nicest out there! Great job! Linda
Posted: September 14th, 2012 at 8:08 pm
[…] cap. It’s another cleverly constructed and absurdly cute baby garment from Lene Alve of Minni fame, but I’m just going to have to try another photo shoot on a day when I’ve got a […]
Posted: February 15th, 2013 at 7:07 pm
Do you sell this pattern?
Posted: March 21st, 2013 at 5:21 pm
Just love this little coat (your daughter is cute too) – where can I get the pattern.