The Facts:
Pattern: Baby Surprise Jacket from The Opinionated Knitter by Elizabeth Zimmermann
Yarn: 2 skeins Hello Yarn Fat Sock- 170 yards, 2.5 oz. each
Gauge: 5 sts. per inch
Size: 17.5″ around, 17.5″ cuff to cuff, so, taking into consideration the thickness of the fabric, to fit about a 6 month old baby according to standard sizing
Needles: size 5 Addi Turbo, 40″ long
Buttons: vintage plastic I’ve had for years and which match so well
Started: November 11, 2007
Finished: November 18, 2007`

Thoughts on Yarn:
I knit this at the same gauge as the handspun one, but with finer yarn (sport vs. worsted). It’s definitely more of a sweater than a jacket, like the handspun one. The handspun BSJ is a softly spun 2 ply yarn knit tightly, and this one is a “hard” yarn knit loosely. The fabric has a very different hand. The handspun feels spongy and amazingly soft, while the Fat Sock in garter stitch acts like a spring! It’s very soft, too, but so different. I’m glad I copied the rest of you.

Pattern:
I didn’t change a thing about the pattern other than I bound off in knits from the right side instead of purls, since I like how the chain edge looks. For the shoulders, I used the running stitch on the wrong side and it’s plenty sturdy in such a small piece.

Fiber Club:
The shipment should be going out at the end of this week. I bit off a BIG chunk with how many slots I opened up this month, but it’s almost done. :)

Winter:
It’s trying to snow and there are Christmas trees at the fruit stand, already! Are you all as excited to finally be wearing all your handknits as we are? Mr. HelloYarn has been sporting the Mean Man Hat every day and Fugl has been my jacket of choice, along with the Noro striped scarf. Don’t tell me they clash!

Pattern: Saartje’s Bootees (PDF)
Yarn: Hello Yarn Sock in Espresso
Needles: size 0 US (couldn’t find my size 1!)
Gauge: 8 sts. per inch (pattern calls for 7)
Size: 3″ long, smushed flat

Figure 8 cast on detail.

Verdict:

It can be done and it’s not bad.

My gauge was off and it’s a big sob story. Hurrying to pack some knitting for knitting group, I couldn’t find my size 1 Addi Turbo, even in a project, so took a 0 out of a sock, knowing full well it would result in the wrong gauge. Tiny brown bootie = experiment.

The actual modification of the pattern was a success. There are some bonuses I didn’t even think of, like being able to knit across from strap to strap, which means only 2 ends to weave in, if you’re knitting in one color. There isn’t much to the mod. I used the figure 8 cast on, which results in a little dent in the center of the sole. Cast on 2 fewer stitches to account for the seam allowance, and purl every other row. I kept the center back as the beginning of the round, switching from knit round to purl round there. This is a good idea because a vertical line is created by that switch and you wouldn’t want that at the side or toe. To keep the number of rows equal on each strap, that means casting off one strap from tip to center back, knitting across the other strap, and casting off from tip to center back of that strap. You’ll end up having to b/o in knits on one strap and purls on the other to keep the top edge matching.

I also modified the strap by adding 5 sts. and working a 1 row, 1 stitch buttonhole. I think next time, I’d do a 2 stitch buttonhole, especially in fingering yarn. You might be able to get a button through a one row, 1 stitch buttonhole in sport weight. In fingering, the hole is teensy.

That’s it!

There is one thing I wonder about. Since the bootie is seamless, there isn’t the same structure to it as the original. It’s more like a sock than a shoe with its stretchiness. Not sure if this is a problem or not, as there aren’t any baby feet hanging around my house to test it on.

Bohus Knitting:

I’d make another pair of booties right away, but I’m two excited by the completion of another 8 oz. of yarn for the Bohus, which means I can get back to knitting that this weekend. Hooray!

Fiber Club:

I think you guys are going to FLIP OUT over the first installment of Fiber Club 2. I walked out to see a bunch of the dry fiber hanging on the clothesline yesterday with the sun beaming down on it and started jumping up and down and clapping. I don’t think I’ve ever dyed anything so gorgeous. This will ship later next week. Wait until you see!

Pattern: Saartje’s Bootees (PDF)
Yarn: Hello Yarn Fat Sock in Herbal- 20 grams
Needles: size 3 US
Gauge: 6.5 sts. per inch
Size: 4.25″ long, smushed flat to measure
Buttons: 4 antique tortoiseshell and brass (I’m guessing here.)

Verdict: DELIGHTFUL!

I changed the gauge of these to 6.5 sts. per inch and knit the small size in an attempt to make them fit at the same time as the matching baby pants made earlier. According to this shoe size guide, I seem to have hit the 6 month nail on the head. Hooray!

Other than the yarn/gauge, I didn’t change a thing. There are a lot of seams in this, though, and as I knit the second, I pondered if it would be worth changing the pattern to knit in the round. I am so totally not familiar enough with babies and at what age they start standing, but that seam down the center of the sole might be a good thing to dispense with. These could be cast on at the center sole (as in the pattern), but with the Figure 8 Cast On and knit in the round. The only drawbacks to this are speed (because these knit up very quickly flat) and purling a row every other row. The finishing might cancel out any speed gained with knitting flat. I think I’ll make a pair to match the Sweet Baby Hat and knit them in the round.

Good News: Another friend is pregnant. That makes two more BSJs I can make!