When our latest mom-to-be found out, to her delight, that she was having a girl, she asked for something in pink and brown, which apparently is what all the cool girls are wearing this year. And so off to the yarn store I went, where I found the perfect shades in Dream in Color Classy.
Cool Fire
November Muse
Then I procrastinated for a couple months, because that’s just the way I am. Please see a previous post relating to deadlines and my antipathy for them. I did finally cast on for that perennial favorite, Elizabeth Zimmerman’s Baby Surprise Jacket. I worked out a rough idea of a stripe pattern, which I only ignored at a couple crucial points.
This pattern is a wonder, truly it is. When I knit my first one I spent quite a bit of time convinced that it was just some joke perpetuated on unwary knitters by more experienced ones.
Honestly, does this look like a half-finished baby jacket to you?
Didn’t think so. I’m not sure exactly what it does look like, but it doesn’t resemble a baby jacket…
But, as EZ advised in the pattern, I pressed on. Mitered decreases, cuff fullness increases, mitered increases, more increases, several ridges worked plain across the center… I just kept knitting.
After the bind-off, I was presented with this
Shag Carpet?
That’s a lot of ends to weave in. A lot a lot. I hereby resolve that my next Baby Surprise will be knit in a single color.
I finished the weaving on Wednesday afternoon, and then I threw myself on my mother’s mercy. The baby shower was the next afternoon, and I offered her all kinds of gratitude if she could maybe-possibly-perhaps-please-please-please get buttons on it in time. I’m pretty sure I mentioned homemade chocolate chip cookies and the baking of them. She rolled her eyes and said she’d see what she could do.
My mom…
matchy matchy
...she rocks.
The jacket was hand delivered Thursday morning, which meant I didn’t have to go to the shower empty-handed and offering promises and apologies. The shower was a really good time, with cheese, crackers, fruit and two kinds of cookies. You’ve never seen so much pink in your life, or heard so many expressions of good will and laughter.
I think she likes it.
Is it wrong to be so thrilled that it was the only gift that got passed around the room?
Project Details:
Baby Surprise Jacket by Elizabeth Zimmerman
Yarn: Dream in Color Classy in Cool Fire and November Muse
Needles: US 7 (4.5 cm)
Size: 19.5 in (49.5 cm) cuff to cuff
Dates: 1 - 18 February
9 comments:
Not wrong at all... baby knits are the cutest things in the world (even without a baby) and you deserves some love. The pink and brown combo is darling, especially in the DIC.
gee I'm envious of people in the US who can go to their LYS to pick up such great yarns!! So nice!
And of course you should be proud it was passed all around the room!! Yay for handknit appreciation!!
It's a fascinating pattern, isn't it. I have a copy, but am completely unsurrounded by baby producing acquaintances.
Well done.
oh great post! I loved seeing it grow from honestly, a strangely shaped piece into a work of art. And of course it was passed around! I had the same experience with a wonderful (if I do say so myself) blanket I made for my sister's baby shower. There was nothing else handmade there and people made very nice noises about it.
And your mom rocks. I don't know her but from all you've said, I'm a big fan.
I've seen baby yarn out there these days in brown & pink. Although I like it, I have to admit the reason is that it makes me think of ice cream. Mmmm, chocolate and strawberry!
The jacket looks gorgeous.
I swear, you and I were separated at birth! The next thing up on my to-knit list is a BSJ for someone in my office -- and I'll take a tip from you and use only one colour! (it'll be self-striping, though, 'cos no way am I wasting all that lovely mitering potential...). I love yours -- the colours are just perfect, and it came out fabulously well.
I'm working on a baby sweater for a coworker. We have a lot of young(er) folks here so there always seems to be a baby coming. The baby is due in two weeks so i kinda have to get going. It's about half done and looks good and I don't know why I keep putting off finishing it. I even got cute buttons.
Thanks for the in progress photos. I've never made one of those and I was fascinated to see how it looks in progress.
Great post, great looking BSJ! And that is a genuine smile of pleasure from that mum-to-be. I'd say you did good. :)
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