Backzip Hooded Baby Sweater GIVE-AWAY

Backzip Hooded Baby Sweater
Size:  Newborn
Yarn:  Any worsted weight, washable yarn (softness counts)
Needle Size:  US 6 & US 8

During my years of knitting (over 40, as my Mother taught me to knit when I was 7 years old), I have become known for this little baby sweater.

It seems that I have knit at least a hundred of these little sweaters  It is a very useful little garment for a newborn, because it zips up the back.  It goes on baby easily, as their little arms are place in the sleeves from the front, then the hood is pulled over their head, with their little face looking out the front of the hood.  The baby is then rolled over, and the sweater is zipped from the hood tassle to the waist.

I'm not sure where the pattern came from, as my Mother taught me how to knit the sweater years ago.  The sweater starts with the hood, and moves down the body, all in one piece.  Once the raglan increases are all knit, the sleeves are placed on stitch holders, until the remainder of the body is complete.

Since I have made these sweaters for every newborn in my circle of friends and family, I generally cast two on the needles at a time.  You can see how the hood is knit first, then the neck ribbing, then the raglan sleeves begin.  The markers on the needles, remind me where the raglan increases are supposed to be made.

When the bodies are cast off, I place all four sleeves on the needles, and knit them all at the same time too.  This assures that all of the sleeves will be exactly the same length, although I often get a big knot in the four strands of yarn.  My daughter, Alex, has always said "poor baby", when I attach the tassle to the hood of these sweaters.  She thinks it makes them look a little goofy.  That is why I was sure to attach a tassle just like it, to her "Robinhood Sweater" (seen in previous post).  The zipper is then sewn in on the sewing machine, with care taken to assure both sides of neck ribbing and the sweater bottom match-up.

These are the four sweaters I just recently knit.  The two pink and one white are already awaiting the arrival of three little baby girls . . . BUT, THE SECOND WHITE ONE MAY BE YOUR'S.  I will be making a random drawing from my "FOLLOWERS" of this Blog, on April 30, 2011.  If you would like a chance to own this little sweater, sign up as a "Follower" (at right) today!

This is my little grand-daughter (Emery), right after she was born (9 years ago).  The sweater is best made out of a soft, washable yarn.  Formula always stains, and this sweater gets a lot of use in the first few months of life, when a lot of spitting-up occurs.  If you are not the lucky winner of the baby sweater "give away", we do sell them in white, pink and blue at our hair salon (Hair Waves, Midvale, UT) for $35.00 + tax.  Please contact me via comment on this Blog, and I'll send one to you.

My sweet friend, Tiffany, is expecting a baby girl in the next few weeks.  She wanted to learn to crochet, so she could make this darling little blessing dress.  I spent a few evenings with her, teaching her how to read the pattern, and how to make the various stitches.  She was a natural-born crocheter, and picked it up quickly.

It was a rather complicated design for a beginner, but after only one false start, she moved forward to completion.  She is amazing.  The pattern was found at: http://www.lullabiesandlace.com./  It is the "Angel Traditions Collection" downloadable for $6.50.

Hopefully, I can post a picture of the baby, wearing the dress, when she arrives.  . . .Happy Knitting!