Wednesday 28 May 2008

Like, totally wrapped

In amongst the chaos that has been Chez GTK - moving house, unpacking, crazy work stuff, impossible tiredness and what I fondly call "placenta brain", there has been knitting.

Small things, mainly, because chances are I wont have more than about half an hour before I either fall asleep, get stressed about work and head back to the computer or get mired in another PJ-shaped drama, but knitting none the less.

I have had revelatory experience in particular. After maybe a year of reading about it, I finally sucked it up and knit something top-down and seamless.

And I am here to tell you, sisters and brothers, I have seen the light!

Why in HEAVEN'S NAME do we not knit everything like this? Well, OK, not quite everything, some things need seams, but I'm really taken with this method. Really easy to conceptualise and modify, with the added bonus of making me feel really, really clever! See, I knit something in one piece and do no have to send it Mum to sew up!

So I solemnly swear from this point on, as the Knitting Goddess is my witness, I will never knit something with seams again unless it completely necessary.


Pattern: Seamless Baby Kimono (Rav link) from The Complete Fabrication (blog link).

Yarn: Bendigo Classic 8ply in Blueberry - 90 g

Sticks: Knitpicks Options 4mm

Mods: The pattern is sized for a 6 - 9 month old (size 00 in Australia), and I wanted a newborn size (000). So I:

  • stopped increasing at 44 sts instead of 50 across the back, and then knit the fronts until they were also 44 sts.
  • had 30 sts held on waste yarn for each sleeve, and picked up 4 more under the arm, then decreased to 22 sts and knit straight until the sleeve was 12 cm long before doing the cuff
  • used the 3 sts held for the front tie to knit i-cord instead of flat

Time: cast on 2 May, cast off 9 May. Pretty quick by my standards - you know I'm not a one-project kinda gal!

The possibilities with this pattern are endless. First, if I can re-size it that easily, I'm sure my cat could too if I cast on the stitches for her. Second, use a different increase down the front for a different (less-lacy) look; button closure instead of tie, not to mention the options for some applied i-cord or duplicate-stitch bits and bobs on the front to customise it.

I am resisting the urge to cast on another until I get some urgent gift knitting out of the way (more on that once it's gifted), but I think this pattern will become a permanent fixture in my knitting bag.

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One more thing before you go: there's a new blogger on the Canberra scene. Pop over and check out Bec's crazy world and say hi! She's just finished the loveliest clappy.

11 comments:

Alwen said...

"my cat could too if I cast on the stitches for her" had me giggling into my coffee mug.

amy said...

I love seamless things. It's so pretty--love the color. Do you know the baby's flavor or are you waiting to be surprised?

Georgie said...

This one is about to be gifted to a new baby girl, whose parents are into the girly-girl thing, if you know what I mean. Ive got a hot pink long-sleeve t-shirt to go under it.

But I think it could be made for with gender, dont you?

Georgie said...

That was supposed to be NOT into the girly-girl thing.

Yay George!

Bells said...

Spoken like a true convert!

Rose Red said...

That is a great pattern George. Can't wait to see pics of the cat knitting the next one!!

Denise said...

Oooh it's lovely! I love top-down knitting, it is just magic. I think I'm going to have to give that baby kimono a try too :)

Congrats on not having to send a garment off to your mum for seaming ;)

Jack said...

It looks lovely. I am glad you liked the pattern. :)

amy said...

I'm not into the girly girl thing, either. It's going to look so cute. I don't know on if it would work for either gender--I'm never sure on kimono-type sweaters. I've seen pics of them on boys, but I'm still not quite sure.

Donna Lee said...

I have never knitted anything top down, to me it's kinda like toe up socks. I've tried them and like the look of the short row toe/heel but the jury is still out. I've wanted to try a top down sweater. You're inspiring me to stretch my boundaries. You enabler, you!

Five Ferns Fibreholic said...

How cute is that. I've got lots of 8ply (DK) in lots of 2-50g balls. this sweater would be perfect for it.

Oh wait....looks like I'm casting on for another project. Just what I need another WIP.