Taimi

Last but not least is a kid's sweater called Taimi.

What: Taimi / Own pattern

How: Circular needle 3.75 mm

From: John Arbon Textiles Yarnadelic, 216 g

Taimi is a simple kid's sweater with adorable leaf colorwrok on the yoke. The sweater has long sleeves and little leaves on the cuffs just before the ribbing.

You don't need to look twice to realize this is a kid's version of the Lehto pullover. You can use these two pattern to make cute matching mini-me sets - and you could make Lehto for dad too as the design is very unisex.

Taimi is graded from 6 months all the way to 12 years. The smaller sizes are every 6 months and the bigger ones every two year.

This is my very first kid's design and grading it was a similar learning process as the men's sweaters in the book. The biggest challenge was to find all the measurements I needed. I had to combine lots of different size tables to get everything and then based on test knitters' feedback, I adjusted those further. It was a bit of a challenge but now it's all done and all the sizes should fit very nicely. I also really like that you can make this for a boy or a girl, it would suit either.

The book sample is size 6YO photographed on a 6YO.

The whole book project suddenly became very real when one night, I opened my own copy and casted on for a wee Taimi for my baby due in autumn, using my own pattern from my own book. There might have been a tear or two in the corner of my eye.

You can find all the info on the design below. Most of the photos were taken by Laine for the book and the last ones showing a wee sweater in size 6MO, I took myself.

Size

6MO-12MO-18MO [2YO-4YO-6YO] 8YO-10YO-12YO

Finished measurements

Chest and waist circumference: 18-20-21.25 [25-26.75-28.25] 30-32.25-34.25’’ / 45-50-53.5 [62.5-66.5-71] 75-81-86 cm

Yarn

John Arbon Textiles Yarnadelic (100% Falkland’s corridale, 333 m / 100 g), or other sport weight yarn. Shown in colors The Beautiful Ones (MC) and Harmonium (CC).

1-1-1 [2-2-2] 3-3-3 skeins of MC and 1 skein of CC.

Yardage

MC: 260-315-360 [430-580-700] 795-865-945 yrds / 240-285-330 [390-530-640] 725-790-860 m,

CC: 40-50-55 [65-80-90] 145-160-175 yrds / 35-45-50 [60-70-80] 130-145-160 m.

Needles

US 5 (3.75 mm) – 16/24/32’’ / 40/60/80 cm long circular needle (the optimal length depends on the size you’re working) and dpns if you prefer to work the sleeves with them. Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the right gauge.

Gauge

24 sts x 29 rnds = 4x4’’ / 10x10 cm in stockinette stitch and color work, worked in the round (after blocking).

Other

4 stitch markers, tapestry needle.

Trumpet

The theme of this Christmas was knits for kids. And I don't even have any of my own. This sweater was a gift for my goddaughter.

What: Torvi / Christelle Nihoul

How: Circular needles 3.5, 4.0 and 5.0 mm

From: Hedgehog Fibres DK, 325 g

First, there was the Indie gift-a-long discount and I browsed throught hundreds of patterns. Once I came across this one, I had to cast on right away. Then, there was the yarn. I originally was thinking of something less expensive but once I remembered that I've never tried the DK weight Hedgehog, the thought wouldn't leave me alone. And the yarn is good for machine wash as well. So that was that.

This pattern is a nice combination of stockinette stitch and brioche. The sweater is worked top down, starting a the turtle neck. The cowl is all brioche with a chart at the front. The chart is just increases and decreases but look like cables.

Once the cowl is finished, the rest of the sweater is worked in stockinette stitch with only the chart worked in brioche. The shoulders were shaped with short rows.

The hem had a slit and the back was worked a bit longer than the front. The hem was worked in brioche and had an Italian bind off. It was a bit laborous but well worth the trouble.

I love the design and it made me want to cast on another brioche project right away - this time in adult size.

The cast on was also worked in Italian style. The pattern had written instructions for but I don't know if there was an error or if I just could work it right. I managed to cross my purls and knits but thought that nobody would notice so I didn't go back to fix it.

All in all, this was a really nice project and I finished it quickly. I loved the yarn, it was so soft. If only I could capture the pinkish red in the pics. Oh, and the title! I don't know the story behind the name of the pattern but in Finnish, torvi means a trumpet.

Unicorns

Children's knits are great. Not only because they take less time. But also, because you get to work with colors you wouldn't knit otherwise.

What: Little boxy / Joji Locatelli

How: Circular needles 2.5, 3.0 and 3.5 mm

From: Lystig Merino Sock, 146 g

I was at a knitting weekend and fell head over heels in love with Lystig Yarns' colors. Especially this mint green with neon candy speckles. I think the colorway is called My Little Pony Overdose. Oh, how wonderful it would be to knit this yarn but alas, I would never wear this color in a sweater. Luckily, I know a certain kiddo who would!

I've never knitted Joji's hit design, Boxy for grownups but now I tried out this children's version. It was a bit of a blaah that it's worker bottom-up. But as this was gift knitting, I wouldn't have been trying it on anyways. However, it did mean that there would be countless rows of boring stockinette stitch before anything interesting would happen.

Once I finally made all the way up to the underarms, it sure got exciting! The front and back were worked separately and had knitted and purled stripes on them, short rows and what not. I had already finished the body once when I came to the conclusion that the armholes were too small. The problem wasn't with the design but with me using my measuring tape poorly. Learn from my mistakes: don't measure the armhole depth from the edge stitch - it lies! Once I unraveled the shoulder seams and remeasured the armholes, they were 4 cm / 1.6'' too short. Wow. But I did learn my lesson.

The sleeves were such a quick knit, I almost didn't notice them. And then, all that was left was the neck band. I was a bit foolish choosing smaller needles for it because it turned out a bit too tight. I hope it still fits!

Too cute to bear

I managed to sew something so sweet I can't take it.

What: Alice pleated dress / Bella sunshine designs
How: On a sewing machine
From: Leftover cotton fabrics

I heard my goddaughter has recently been smitten with light colored flower dresses. So I didn't have to think too hard what I could make her for her nameday.

The internet is full of sewing patterns, each one cuter than the other. With knitting, it's obvious that you can find the best ones on Ravelry but when it comes to sewing, I don't really know where to look. Therefore, I decided to go for a designer I've been happy with before. I've made one dress by Bella Sunshine patterns and I really enjoyed the thorough instructions.

I went through all their dress patterns and went with this cutesy Peter Pan collar dress. And this turned out to be the best dress I've made in ages. The pattern was excellent as before, but the sewing worked out perfect as well.

The dress has a fitted top with tiny cap sleeves and a peter pan collar. The pattern has instructions for a pleated hem but as I was working with leftover fabrics, I went with a gathered hem. With the gathered hem all I needed to know was that I had a wider piece than the top of the dress. As a little something extra, I added a lace ribbon.

To top it all off, the dress has pockets! I say, all dresses should have pockets! (If you are interested in the sexist history of pockets, you can read here about the lack of pockets in womens clothing) I am so smitten with this dress that I must make something for my self with a peter pan collar, it's so cute.

One last thing I'm super proud about is the zipper in the back. I can't remember when I last (if ever) managed to get both sides of the top to align so straight next to the zipper. I hope the present fits and gets a lot of wear.