Spiral yoke in miniature
As all-consuming as knitting the yellow cardigan had to be last month, I was determined to take a break from it during Camp and work on the projects Meg had selected to teach us new techniques. The pattern she sent us ahead of time was her Spiral Yoke sweater (adapted from her book Handknitting with Meg Swansen and recently catapulted to It-Knit status as only Jared can accomplish), scaled down to baby size. I chose some Dream in Color Classy from the stash and worked the body on the plane flight to Minneapolis so I could get to the good part (the colorwork) during Camp.
These colors are November Muse (1.2? skeins) and Lunar Zazzle (.2? skeins). (November Spews and Lunar Dribble will probably be more appropriate for the sort of action it’s going to see. Yay Superwash.) I figure nothing’s more practical for a baby than variegated brown, and the turquoise/amethyst seemed right for a little guy named River.
We met little River yesterday; the sweater would come down to his knees as he’s only three weeks old. But at the rate he’s guzzling milk, he’ll be just the right size to wear it this winter.
The colors are true in this last photo. (Sometimes they wash out when I upload them here – I can’t explain it, but it happens.) I’m not totally happy with the sewn bind-off at the neck. I’d have gone tubular if I’d had my Montse Stanley on hand. But the baby won’t care as long as it’s stretchy enough to go over his head comfortably. My favorite part of this little project? Learning that the short rows to raise the back of the neck need to wrap all the way around to the sides of the chest. Valuable information for any knitter of little yoked sweaters, that. And hey, I think there’s enough yarn left to knit a 3-month size with the colors reversed for a little girl who’s due this autumn!
Posted: August 3rd, 2008 at 11:05 am
it’s really cute!
what an excellent modification
Posted: August 3rd, 2008 at 11:05 am
Love the sweater! It turned out so beautiful! I have been working on an adult sized one just like it for myself! If I ever finish it, I might make one for my 9 month old son after seeing yours!
Posted: August 3rd, 2008 at 12:12 pm
That’s adorable, what a great idea!
Posted: August 3rd, 2008 at 2:06 pm
I am intrigued by this little tidbit about the short rows and need more information! The sweater is lovely.
Posted: August 3rd, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Oh so sweet. I love the color combination. I only worry a little that the neck opening looks a little small; babies have such huge heads in proportion to the rest of their wee bodies! Luckily, you used a sewn bind off for stretchiness. I love it!
Posted: August 3rd, 2008 at 3:33 pm
Oh it is absolutely adorable and I love the colors together too.
Posted: August 3rd, 2008 at 4:33 pm
oh, it is beautiful. i love that sweater and the color combination is just right. is the pattern for the baby knit found in her publication or was it given as part of the camp? just curious…because i cannot stop knitting baby stuff.
Posted: August 3rd, 2008 at 4:51 pm
This is a beautiful sweater! I love the colors you chose, and the simplicity of the yoke design. Very nice.
Posted: August 4th, 2008 at 4:10 am
So. Freakin’. Cute! Beautiful colors for a sophisticated baby. It looks amazing!
Posted: August 4th, 2008 at 7:20 am
It’s really lovely. I’ve been wanting to do this style sweater myself for some time.
Posted: August 4th, 2008 at 7:25 am
wow, the contrast between the blue and brown is stunning. how lovely! lucky boy to wear a sweater this fine.
Posted: August 4th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
This is so adorable! I love that you used those two colors together to create such a beautiful sweater!
Posted: August 4th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
I love this! Love the pattern detail, and love the color combo! Super cute all around!
Posted: August 4th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
oh it’s beautiful! And what a great learning exercise, too!
Posted: August 5th, 2008 at 12:14 am
very beautiful and a very lovely colour combo. i love it. as much as i love jared’s actually.
Posted: August 5th, 2008 at 7:23 am
Ah! I look forward to seeing this done with the colors reversed!! Your color work even looks nice on the inside. 🙂
Posted: August 5th, 2008 at 7:23 am
What a terrific little sweater! I love the try-it-once, experiment-twice nature of baby knits.
Posted: August 5th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
What a lovely sweater!!!!!!!!!!!! And to do it again in opposing colors, that’s terrific! Love it.
Posted: August 6th, 2008 at 10:49 am
Soooo cute and great colors!
Posted: August 6th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Very, very nice. Little River is gonna be nice and warm this winter. Great job :^)
Posted: August 9th, 2008 at 5:55 am
It’s adorable! I love those colors together…I think an inverse version would look fantastic.
Posted: August 15th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
What a cute sweater for River!! Will the little girl you’re knitting for be seen with him? It would be fun to have a photo of the two of them in their sweaters.