Easter Clothes for Children

I have been working away on designing a few new knitting patterns, which will be ready soon for publishing on Ravelry.  Because I cannot talk about these patterns, at present, I have resorted to blogging about past knitting projects, which have long since been outgrown and passed on to  younger children in the family.

Several years ago, I decided to make Easter Clothes for the two grandchildren I had at the time.  It was 2008, and I was looking for a fun spring-time project. 

I found this cute little dress pattern in the 2008 Spring/Summer issue of Vogue Knitting.  Since Easter comes with lots of sugary and chocolate treats, I thought a washable yarn would work best.  I chose Lion Brand Wool Ease, in this soft, buttery shade.  It worked up quickly, and satin was purchased in the same color to make a wide sash, tied in the back.



Rolled roses and green leaves were knit out of the same yarn, and added to this cute little straw hat.  After all, what is Easter without an Easter Bonnet?

The same satin was used to make a hat band, and Emery was ready for church.  I'm not really sure how she managed to get the beads to swing to side, while this picture was taken.

I thought Easton needed something to match, but I felt the yellow was too feminine to be used all by itself.  Since I knew that he loved to wear khakis, I decided to throw in a khaki colored stripe to this little "V" necked vest.  I didn't have a pattern, but simply knit to his measurements.  The same Lion Brand Wool Ease yarn was used, and its a good thing, because he had a heaping basket of chocolate eggs at the family egg hunt.

I've sewn Emery's Christmas and Easter dresses in the past, but since I truly love to "knit" the best, it was a fun change to avoid the sewing machine.  Since 2008, their Mother has been on her own for Easter and Christmas clothes.  Perhaps I'll get ambitious and design some knitwear for them for Christmas this year.

Many thanks to Gillian, in Canada, who is test knitting my new pattern, with variations for the "Poor Baby Sweater".  There are many drafts yet to go, but it should be ready for publishing in the Fall.  I have been taking classes and reading many books on how to create body flattering designs, and I hope to be ready to create some of my own soon.  In addition, I have been studying up on how to dye fleece, using all natural dies.  I'm not sure yet, if I will be very good at this, but our first batch of alpaca yarn (from our own Cocoa Bean and Licorice Whip) will be arriving from the mill soon.  Be sure to check out "Wool People", a collection of knits, all designed in "Shelter", a great new wool yarn from Brooklyn Tweed http://brooklyntweed.net/.

Cocoa Bean is getting a little grumpy, and the time for the arrival of her little one approaches (Sept. 2).  She has been expecting for a whole year, so I don't blame her for giving a few little extra kicks in Steve's direction.  We can't wait to see that cute little alpaca, and Steve has been doing some studying of his own, to be ready for the delivery day.  Licorice Whip is expecting a little one too, but she still has 3/4 of year until she'll be ready.

Heather had her baby, via emergency C Section last week, and she and her little baby, Easton, are doing well.  Easton's blessing outfit is nearly complete (seen in prior post), and should be delivered to her in a few weeks. Camille's baby boy will be arriving soon too, she was due the same week as Heather, so I'll bet she is more than ready!  She was the winner of the "Poor Baby Sweater" give-away held back in May.  I want to wish her the best!  You can check out her blog at:  http://camillescasa.blogspot.com/.  Camille is a Home Economics Teacher/stay-at-home Mom, so she has some great cooking, sewing and couponing tips for everyone.

Happy knitting . . .