Vibe Ulrik Sondergaard studied fashion design at Kingston University, London, (20042007) and also at the Brooks Institute of Photography, Santa Barbara, California (20012002). Vibe currently works for Zinc Design Ltd, designing and producing hand-knitted swatches that are sold to fashion companies in New York, LA, Paris, Barcelona and London. Design credits include Nicole Farhi and Whistles. Vibes colourful, textured designs are both practical and beautiful.
I am not sure I know anyone who doesnt find baby clothes cute and there is so much out there in the shops that it can sometimes be hard to compete as a knitter. Having said that, to give something that you have made yourself always seems just that bit more special, not least if the yarn is lovely and soft and the one to wear it is someone you care an awful lot about.
I was delighted when given the opportunity to make this book but also a bit daunted. There are quite a few practical things to consider when designing for babies and also, I had never designed for boys before. The compilation of these final pieces are a mixture of designs that are intended to be used for both boys and girls although a few are definitely mostly for girls. As in my previous book, Labour of Love, some projects are quite easy and others require more experience. Buttonholes are few and far between and mostly worked as a simple line of crochet. I had the intention to choose yarn consciously with regards to wear, tear and washing instructions but a few slipped in that did not meet all these criteria simply because the yarn was too soft and luscious to resist! I feel very honoured when someone tells me they have tried out a pattern from my first book and I hope, whether you are knitting for your own little new world citizen or your grandchild, a friends baby or a nephew or a niece, that there is something here that you will find tempting enough to try out.
The good thing about baby clothes is that that the pieces are all quite small, so even a challenging pattern is faster to finish than an adults. I hope this book will help spur you on once you succeed with a proud result, you will never go back. My warmest wishes and I hope you will enjoy your knitting,
Sweaters
Easy Cable Sweater
If you work with lovely yarn, even the simplest cable will come out well. Worked in stocking stitch and a few cables, this is one for a beginner cable enthusiast to try! M EASUREMENTS
Y ARN 2(2:3:3:3) x 50g balls of Rowan Baby Merino Silk DK in Zinc 681 M ATERIALS Pair of 3.5mm knitting needles Cable needle 4 stitch holders Tapestry needle T ENSION 20 sts and 28 rows to 10cm over st st using 3.5mm needles
A BBREVIATIONS C12B slip next 6 sts onto cable needle and hold at back of work, knit next 6 sts from left-hand needle, then knit 6 sts from cable needle. C12F slip next 6 sts onto cable needle and hold at front of work, knit next 6 sts from left-hand needle, then knit 6 sts from cable needle. See also B ACK AND FRONT (BOTH ALIKE) Cast on 58(62:66:70:74) sts.
Starting with a knit (RS) row, work 6(10:14:6:10) rows st st. Next row: K5(7:9:11:13), C12F, k24, C12F, k5(7:9:11:13). Work 11 rows st st. Next row: K23(25:27:29:31), C12B, k23(25:27:29:31). Work 9 rows st st. Next row: K5(7:9:11:13), C12F, k24, C12F, k5(7:9:11:13).
Work 9 rows st st. SIZES 1218 AND 1824 ONLYNext row: K29(31), C12B, k29(31). Work 11 rows st st. Next row: K11(13), C12F, k24, C12F, k11(13). Work 11 rows st st. 56(60:64:68:72) stsNext row: Cast off 2 sts, p to end of row. 54(58:62:66:70) stsNext row: K3, ssk, k to last 5 sts, k2tog, k3. 52(56:60:64:68) stsNext row: Purl. 52(56:60:64:68) stsNext row: Purl.
Rep last 2 rows, 9 times more. 34(38:42:46:50) stsNext row: K3, ssk, k6(8:10:12:14), C12B, k to last 5 sts, k2tog, k3. 32(36:40:44:48) stsNext row: Purl. Work 6(6:10:14:14) rows st st, dec 1 st as set at each end of every alt row. 26(30:30:30:34) sts Leave sts on a stitch holder. S LEEVE (MAKE TWO) Cast on 28(30:30:34:34) sts.
Starting with a knit (RS) row, work in st st, inc 1 st at each end of every 8th row until there are 36(40:40:46:46) sts, ending with a purl (WS) row. Work 4 more rows st st for sizes 912 and 1824 only. Shape raglan sleeve top Cont in st st, casting off 2 sts at beg of next 2 rows. 32(36:36:42:42) stsNext row: K3, ssk, k to last 5 sts, k2tog, k3. 30(34:34:40:40) stsNext row: Purl. Cont in patt as set by last 2 rows until there are 4(8:4:6:6) sts, ending with a WS row.
Leave sts on a stitch holder. T O MAKE UP Weave in loose ends. Press the pieces following directions on the ball band. Neckband RS facing, slip sts from stitch holders onto needle in this order: back, sleeve, front, sleeve. 60(76:68:72:80) sts Starting with a k row, work 7 rows st st. Cast off.
Sew up the raglans and neckband. Sew up the underarm and side seams from end of sleeve to lower edge of body.
Bell Rib Sweater
A classic little jumper for the special little man in your life. The pattern is a rib with a twist. M EASUREMENTS