It has been a while since I knit really tiny things for my own little ones. I had almost forgotten the sheer joy of whipping up the littlest of sweaters or the most wee hats for a really fresh new babe! My cousin recently welcomed her second child a month early (everyone is doing great!) and I gleefully knit a few really small things for the new addition to the family.
It is somewhat impractical to knit a sweater that baby can wear right away. I mean, they do grow SO VERY fast so it will really only fit for a few weeks. And with newborns ranging in size so widely, it might not even fit that long! When I knit baby gifts, I usually knit our smallest size (we call it 0-6 months, but it leans more towards the 6 months side), but for some reason this time I was taken with the idea of making very smallest things for Emma to wear when she first got home.
As is my tradition, when Holly texted to say she was in labor, I cast on a hat. I figured it might be a fast one, so I decided on a Snap hat. I went to my stash of bits and bobs, pulled out a bright and cheery palette, and cast on. I cast on 4 fewer sts than the smallest size, and knit an inch less before starting the decreases. It seems VERY small to me, but it was still a smidge too long at first!
If this Strange Brew sweater looks small, it is! I had one beautiful skein of Earl Grey Fiber Co Oolong in ‘stay golden’ and a little ball of La Bien Aimee DK in ‘blush’ (leftovers from my Penny sweater) so I was ready to go! I cast on for the smallest size, but I knit the yoke a few rounds shorter and changed the last increase before splitting for the sleeves so I would have 4 fewer body stitches and 2 fewer stitches at each sleeve. I knit the body and sleeves an inch shorter than the smallest size too.
This faded Flax I knit following the instructions for the smallest size, but knit in DK weight yarn rather than worsted, on US6 / 4mm needles, so it’s just a little bit smaller. I used 3 colourways of specked DK weigh yarn and used the fading technique from the amazing Andrea Mowry.
Lastly, when I found out Emma was coming early, I cast on a Flax Light. The other sweaters were small, but would they really be small enough?! The yarn is the prettiest skein of Woolberry Fiber Co Berry Cashmere in ‘ocean mist’. To make it super small so she can wear it immediately, I cast on 4 fewer stitches at the neckline, had 1 fewer stitch in each section at the set-up round, and only worked 7 increase rounds. The yoke is only 3″ deep and the body and sleeves are 5″. It is impossibly small and light, but is woolly and warm and I know Holly and Emma will love it!
So, now Emma has a tiny little wardrobe to start her off in life. A bit of love from her Aunty Alexa to wrap around her!
December 7, 2021 @ 8:57 am
Lovely sweaters. But what about laundering? Seems like wool sweaters would be a lot of special laundering or drycleaning for new moms?
December 9, 2021 @ 12:54 pm
Some are superwash, which can go in the washer and are best laid flat to dry. I hand wash my kids wool sweaters but IMHO they don’t need to be washed unless they are visibly dirty.
April 14, 2020 @ 12:24 am
I made a sweet little cardy for my second-born to wear home from the hospital, and it actually only fit him for about 3 weeks, but even now that he is a toddler that cardy has ended up being the only hand knit he has worn that isn’t a hand-me-down! I think it’s such a special thing to do for any baby but especially the non-firstborns who get hardly anything of their own.
April 6, 2020 @ 4:50 am
I knit sweaters for the first coming home for everyone I know who is pregnant. They use them and keep them forever. On the plus side they work up fast and are very satisfying. Working on an entire layette for my middle son who is having their 1st child.
April 3, 2020 @ 5:11 am
Very beautiful creative work.! 💜
April 2, 2020 @ 4:53 pm
Love you wee knitty gifts of love, and the beautiful wee new babe!!
April 2, 2020 @ 1:37 pm
What a beautiful baby, and your garments aren’t bad either. :-)
April 2, 2020 @ 1:12 pm
Now I’m all gag gah about little humans, just love them. Some like the babies when they’re a bit more interactive but for me the newborn is where it’s at. Compact, portable and needy! I used to be a midwife! Beeeeeutiful knitting’s there, very lucky weeun.
Stay safe, always enjoy reading your blog. Lesley, Sydney.
April 2, 2020 @ 12:29 pm
So cute! :)
April 2, 2020 @ 10:09 am
You make the cutest darn stuff!!
April 2, 2020 @ 9:15 am
She is so tiny!
She is also so lucky to have a special Auntie to knit for her!
April 2, 2020 @ 8:46 am
Everything about this post is adorable and just the cheer I needed today. Thank you!
April 4, 2020 @ 9:24 pm
Yes, my thoughts exactly. Thanks for a lovely little post, Alexa.
April 2, 2020 @ 6:33 am
So precious. Thank you for sharing!