Favourite knitting patterns for babies

I have quite a few friends having babies at the moment, and I thought that it was time I dusted off the knitting needles, hunted out my favourite knitting patterns for babies and got to work.  Sometimes, just knowing what kind of thing you want to knit is half the battle, and it's always good to have a few ideas lined up.

My favourite knitting patterns for babies

When it comes to knitting for newborn babies, I don't think that you can go far wrong with a cardigan.  A simple little top that you can slip on, is always handy, cardigans, with buttons down the front, are far easier to get onto a tiny baby than a jumper that you slip over the head.  They are also ideal in both winter and summer, and always look cute.

I have a basic cardigan pattern, and the Anja knitting pattern to release in the coming months, but in the mean time, the Lena cardigan is a cute option, or the Snowdrop wrap cardigan is another handy pattern.

Baby hat knitting pattern

Some of my favourite knitting patterns for babies are those for hats, a little woolly hat is always a handy addition to a newborn's wardrobe, and they are usually simple and quick gifts to knit up.  One of the most simple is my simple baby hat. It's so simple that it's not really a pattern as such, but it is a good place to start, and works well as a blank canvas for adding your own embellishments.

For something with a little more to it, then I don't think that you can go very far wrong with my oscar knobbly cable hat  (picture above) or barley twist cable hat, both of which come with patterns for matching mittens.  Perfect gifts for baby showers or for a newborn.

Something a little different?

Want to knit something a little different as a gift?  If the baby in question is going to be in cloth then a soaker pattern might be something to consider.  We have a free one on this blog that is fairly easy to knit.

So there you have it, a quick round up of my favourite knitting patterns for babies.

Knitting needle sale

Just a quick one today, as I'm focusing more on the knitting pattern side of things with 3 bags full now, I'm going to be selling off my remaining bamboo knitting needles.  They are mostly circular needles, in various lengths and sizes, although I have a few other things as well.
If you're interested, check out the pinned post at the top of our facebook page, I can post worldwide.

New patterns........ soonish

Well, it seems that months go by without me posting anything here, and for a long time now I've been promising new patterns.  Part of the problem is that I'm just not getting very much knitting done.  I can't hold her entirely responsible, but as I usually knit and crochet in the evening, and my littlest girl isn't sleeping particular well at the minute, I'm not getting a great deal done.  She is very cute though.

Of course that's really just an excuse, and to be honest I'd lost my knitting mojo for a while there.  Not sure why, but some times these things just go awol for a bit.  Any way, I've got a couple of new things on the needles; a cardi for me (which, being for me, may never happen) and a premie vest for Early Buds.  I want to check that it's what they're looking for, but if all works out ok, I'll be releasing it as a free pattern.  It's a very simple knit in the round job, but when they asked for singlets with buttons at the shoulder (due to all the wires and the like that are attached to the babies) I couldn't find quite the right pattern, and certainly not one that was knit in the round.  (Which not only means that there is no sewing up to be done - yay, but it also means no bulky seams to irritate little babies.)  I hope to be able to tell you more soon.....

Big sale!

I've changed direction in recent years, those of you who noticed the name change might have picked up on that one.  These days I'm mostly doing hand dyed yarn, buttons and hopefully I'll have some new patterns to release soon....
This change does mean one thing though, I need to have a bit of a destash of my commercially dyed yarn, so if you fancy grabbing some, you might want to pop along to my facebook page http://www.facebook.com/3bagsfullnz now, and check it out.....

Competition time!

Just thought I'd mention that I've got a bit of a give away running at the moment, with over $200 (NZ) worth of prizes.  If you're interested you might like to checkout our facebook page  and the hive and keep an eye out for my naughty kitten, who's been spreading my yarn around across facebook.....

Wool you be mine? Free heart knitting pattern

Yet another last minute valentine, one of these days I'll get myself sorted sooner and not have to make these last minute.  Gauge isn't important, and you can use any spare yarn that you have lying around.

Materials
Small amount of red yarn (I used Aran/10ply)
Suitable needles for gauge (4.5mm in my case)
Glue
Card

Abbreviations

K knit

P Purl

M1 make one

K2tog knit two stitches together.

Pattern
Bottom of heart

Cast on Two stitches
Row 1: K
Row 2: P1, m1, p1
Row 3: k1, p1, k1
Row 4: P1, m1, k1, m1, p1.
Row 5: K1, p to last stitch, k1.

Row 6: P1, m1, k to last stitch, m1, p1.
Repeat rows 5 and 6 until the bottom of the heart is roughly the size that you want, (in my case 17 stitches) end with a row 6.

Next row: K1, p to 1 stitch before centre of heart p1, cast off middle stitch (make sure you are left with an equal amount of stitches on each side, k1, p to last stitch, k.
Knit to centre of heart, (for me 10 stitches) turn leaving rest of the stitches un-worked.

Top of heart shaping
Row 1: P1, k to last stitch before cast off stitch, p1, turn.
Row 2: K2tog, p to last 2 stitches, k2tog.

Row 3: P2tog, k to last 2 stitches, p2tog.

Continue until one stitch remains, fasten off.

Next re-attach yarn to un-worked stitches, work rows 1 -3 above on these stitches.
Making up
Weave in ends, and then glue to front of a card.
Write the card and give it to a loved one.

© COPYRIGHT Kelly Jo Sweeney 2013

This pattern is offered free of charge for your own personal use. Please do not make items using this pattern for sale. Should you wish to sell items made from this pattern, then please contact me for details of my Cottage Industry Licenses.

For yarns, more free patterns and knitting and crochet accessories, please see my site: http://www.wonderwool.congocart.co.nz

Textured Dishcloth - free knitting pattern

Textured dishcloth

This pattern includes three different sizes of dishcloth, small (approx 17cm x 20cm), medium (approx 22cm x 24cm) and large (approx 28cm x 28 cm), or you can custom make one to your own size. A 50g ball of DK cotton yarn should be enough to make at least two cloths.

The pattern is worked on 4mm knitting needles, to give the following gauge:

30 rows to 10cm/4inch

21 sts to 10cm/4 inch

Cast on 36 (48, 60) stitches

Row 1: K

Row 2: P

Row 3: K1, p2, *k2, p2, repeat pattern from * to last stitch k1

Row 4: P1, k2, *p2, k2, repeat pattern from * to last stitch p1

Row 5: K

Row 6: P

Row 7: P

Row 8: K

Row 9: P1, k2, *p2, k2, repeat pattern from * to last stitch p1

Row 10: K1, p2, *k2, p2, repeat pattern from * to last stitch k1

Row 11: P

Row 12: K

These 12 rows make up the pattern. Repeat all rows for 5 (6, 7) time in total.

Cast off.

© COPYRIGHT Kelly Jo Sweeney 2010

This pattern is offered free of charge for your own personal use. Please do not make items using this pattern for sale. Should you wish to sell items made from this pattern, then please contact me for details of my Cottage Industry Licenses.

For yarns, more free patterns and knitting and crochet accessories, please see my site: http://www.wonderwool.congocart.co.nz 

Last minute valentine - free knitting pattern

Last minute valentine

Materials
Small amount of red yarn (I used dk)
Suitable needles for gauge (4.5mm in my case)
Glue
Card
Bamboo coctail sticks

Pattern
Cast on Two stitches
Row one
Knit
Row two
Inc two stitches by knitting in the back and front of both stitches
Row three
Knit
Row four
Knit into back and front of first stitch knit to end knit into back and front of last stitch.
Row five
Knit
Repeat rows four and five until the bottom of the heart is roughly the size that you want, (in my case 20 stitches) end with a knit row, no inc.
Next row
Knit to centre of heart, (for me 10 stitches) turn leaving rest of the stitiches unworked.
Next row
Knit 2 together knit to last two stitches, knit two together.
Repeat this row until only two stitches remain, leave these on needle, and cut wool.
Next re-attach yarn to unworked stitches.
Next row
knit
Next row
Knit 2 together, knit to last two stitiches, knit two together
Repeat until only two stitches remain.  Cut thread leaving long tail.

Making up
Sew in shorter ends but leave long end loose.
Thread a coctail stick into the four stitches you have left, glue the heart and coctail sticks to the card.
Wind the long thread into a flat circle shape and glue onto card so that it looks like the ball of wool that is being knit with.

Write the card and give it to a loved one.

© COPYRIGHT Kelly Jo Sweeney 2010

This pattern is offered free of charge for your own personal use. Please do not make items using this pattern for sale. Should you wish to sell items made from this pattern, then please contact me for details of my Cottage Industry Licenses.

For yarns, more free patterns and knitting and crochet accessories, please see my site: http://www.wonderwool.congocart.co.nz