I finished the knitting weeks before my cousin's baby was born, but somehow we couldn't seem to get to an open post office. Baby Beatrix (I love that name) was born more than a month ago, but the sweater languished in the cabinet. Finally, today, my husband was making a special run to mail out some tax papers and the sweater was liberated.
The pattern is by Elizabeth Zimmerman and it's called the "February Baby Sweater". The pattern can be found in "The Knitter's Alamnac". I love that book for so many reasons. The directions are a little sketchy, but I've knit this before and the lack of instructions didn't slow me down. The yarn is hand dyed, French merino. I dyed the yarn with scotch broom flowers and I think the color can best be described as "butter". I even managed to knit a matching cap. I had to do a tiny bit of ripping back and calculating, but it came out just as I'd hoped it would. I will venture to say that it's the best looking "February Baby Bonnet" pattern that anyone on Ravelry has come up with.
This is my hundredth post. To celebrate, I'll include my "pithy" instructions for the bonnet...... along with some very good news. It seems that I've got a good reason to knit another cardigan and bonnet. We're expecting our own little girl in July! I've always wanted a little girl. Our whole family is thrilled. Within two weeks of hearing the good news, I'd already finished three sweaters for her. She is going to be a beloved and extremely warm little girl.
February Baby Bonnet
CO 70 sts. knit 8 rows
beg. gull pattern and knit for 4.5 inches ending with a WS row
RS knit one row
cont. in garter st. knitting all WS rows and dec. on the RS rows.
1st dec. row (K5, K2tog) to end of row
2nd dec. row (K4, K2tog) to end of row
3rd dec. row (K3, K2tog) to end of row
4th dec. row (K2, K2tog) to end of row
5th dec. row (K1, K2tog) to end of row
6th dec. row (K2tog) to end of row, 10 sts remaining
7th dec. row, K2tog to end of row
thread a tapestry needle through the remaining 5 sts and cut the yarn leaving a 12 inch tail.
Using the tail, sew up the garter st. crown of the bonnet, I used the mattress st.
RS, Pick up 60 sts. evenly across the bottom of the bonnet, I skipped every 3rd st or so.
Knit 3 rows in garter st.
RS eyelet row, K2 (yo K2tog, K4) repeat to last 2 sts. ,K2
Knit 3 rows in garter st.
BO all stitches
Knit a 3 st. i-cord or find a ribbon to use as a tie.
I didn’t do the extended collar because the gull st body of the bonnet doesn’t seem warm enough to warrant a big warm collar.
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