Many of us have babies to knit or crochet for–children, grandchildren, relatives, and friends. It’s such a joy to make something for a beloved baby that will be enjoyed and hopefully passed down for years to come. It’s also great fun to make a complete project in a fraction of the time it takes for an adult! There’s also the fact that babies look great in bright, vibrant colors, so you can go a little wild with colorways you might not be able to wear yourself.
This week I thought I would highlight some really lovely knit and crochet patterns for babies. I decided to limit the patterns to fingering weight since it’s almost summer. Before we get to the patterns, though, let’s talk about what kind of yarn works well for babies.
My recommendation is to stick with superwash merino. It’s very soft, made of natural fiber, and it can go in the washing machine without felting, which is a big plus for busy families. My Sock Perfection yarn base or Stained Glass Sock are both great options for fingering-weight projects, and Squoosh DK and Squoosh Worsted are great for heavier weight projects. Though it isn’t something I dye, another excellent option is cotton yarn. It’s not quite as renewable as wool just because it’s so hard on the soil, but it’s still a great natural option.
Here are some delightful patterns I found for babies–everything from cardigans to hats to soaker pants and socks. I’m sorting the patterns by craft.
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Knitting Patterns for Baby
- Baby Bear Balaclava by Pernille Larsen – darling bear hat
- Hosenmatz by Mayumi Kaliciak and Antje Litzmann – knit pants, which work great over a cloth diaper
- Newborn Vertebrae by Kelly van Niekerk – a cardigan that covers arms and back but leaves the front open
- Baby Socks by Kate Atherley – these look like they might actual stay on, which is not easy to achieve for babies
- Sunnyside by Tanis Lavallee – This is a darling cardigan pattern has the option of cables or lace
- Karen’s Bonnet by PetiteKnit – This smocked bonnet is precious!
- Playdate by Tin Can Knits – Straightforward cardigan that’s simple enough to look great in a variegated colorway
- Renza by Taiga Hilliard – Beautiful knit dress for newborn through age 5. Taiga Hilliard specializes in beautiful patterns for little ones, so while you’re looking at this one, check out the rest as well.
- Jr. Hobbiton Vest by Fabel Knitwear – This is a sweet seed-stitch vest that will make the baby look like a hobbit if he didn’t already!
- Baby Sweater on Two Needles by Elizabeth Zimmermann – How this is possible I do not know, but if it’s by Elizabeth Zimmermann, I’m in.
- Baby Hat with Top Knot by Julie Taylor – This is a great last-minute project for a gift. Ask me how I know.
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Crochet Patterns for Baby
- Classic Baby Cardigan by Lisa van Klaveren – Beautiful detailed cardigan full of lovely stitch patterns.
- Love Knot Symphony by Lisa Naskrent – This little dress is gorgeous!
- JellyBean Baby Blanket by Stitchy Lass – This lovely baby blanket is knit from the center out.
- Astrid Baby Blanket by Mallory Krall – This one calls for sport weight, but it was so beautiful I had to include it anyway.
- Sweet Baby Beanie and Booties by Deja Joy – Darling booties and a cute hat too.
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If you are wondering what inspired me to write about baby patterns, I’m excited to announce that our oldest daughter is expecting a new baby in September. I already made a blanket, but I can’t show it to you because this is the daughter who takes care of my social media, and she’s sure to see it! I’ll show it to you when I can though. I’m also planning to make a cardigan for the baby using either the Playdate pattern from Tin Can Knits or one of the other patterns above. For that I’m trying to decide between Sunflower…
…or Afremov’s Farewell to Anger…
Any opinions?
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An Interview in Hearth & Field
A few months ago, Dr. Dixie Dillon Lane of Hearth & Field reached out to me to do an interview about spinning and weaving and yarn and fiber. I was delighted to do it and so impressed by what I saw of their journal online. Well, this week, I received the print copy, and I was absolutely blown away by how beautiful Hearth & Field is. It covers everything from livestock and gardening to beautiful recipes to Tolkien and Chesterton and how to live a wholesome and virtuous life despite the current breakneck speed of life. While it is a quarterly journal, it is so well made that it looks more like a full-color book than a magazine! You can subscribe to the online version right here at no cost. Better still, you can enjoy the full-color print version right here.
Fresh from the Dye Pots
I don’t have as much to show you as usual this week, but we have had joyous Easter celebrations and birthday fun too. Two of our children were born on the same day five years apart! We call them our uneven twins. Our little grandson Eddie has been here. I may be biased, but he is the absolute sweetest 2-year-old I’ve ever seen, and he is talking up a storm. Here’s our son Dominic reading a story to his nephew, Eddie.
Anyway, this week I dyed Paris, Purple Prism, and a A Light in Dark Places.
Here’s Paris on lots of different yarn bases:
It’s such a great colorway for spring!
I also dyed Purple Prism and A Light in Dark Places this week for the first time in a long time. These are both assigned pooling colorways with the same colors in the middle for the assigned pooling colors. Purple Prism has Eggplant as the background color while A Light in Dark Places has black. These are dyed the same way Peacock Feathers is dyed. Instead of the more typical method with one contiguous portion of assigned pooling color, they have two shorter sections of assigned pooling colors in the hank.
Here’s Purple Prism:
Here is a sample I knit of The Long Way Round using Purple Prism:
The Long Way Round is a great introduction to assigned pooling since it uses a simple method of showing off the assigned pooling colors.
Here is A Light in Dark Places:
This colorway was inspired by the gift Galadriel gave to Frodo–the light that he used in the very darkest of places in The Lord of the Rings.
I have Purple Prism on Sock Perfection, A Light in Dark Places on Twinkle Sock, and Paris on both of those bases plus Stained Glass Sock. In addition to what I have in stock, they are all available in the dyed to order section of my shop too if you need more or would prefer a different yarn base.
I also finished dyeing up all the Beautiful Universe preorders and just finished packaging the last of them. I have lots of other colorways on my dye schedule, so you can expect a plethora of new colorways for next week. See you then! Happy spring!