Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Jen's Baby Surprise Ensemble

When my friend Jen saw the Baby Surprise Jacket I made for Ms Mary, she asked me to make one for her sister, whose first girl is due in July. I loved making Mary's so much that of course I jumped at the chance to make another.

I sent Jen a link to the Blue Moon website and asked her to pick a colour she liked. She decided on Little Bunny Foo Foo. I think that is perfect for a girl. I love girls in brown and pink.And look at the pretty buttons I found at Joann's for less than $2 for 4. They look frosted like seaglass and really make the pink in the yarn pop.
When I ordered the yarn, I got two skeins, as I wanted to surprise Jen with a couple of extra, matching 'creations'.
Here are the first - Mary Janes. I made up the pattern myself, although both sole and toe shaping were inspired by the Christine's Baby Booties pattern I made for Ethan a little while back. I'll put the pattern at the end of this post.
This little pretty is the Twist Flower from Nicky Epstein's Knitted Flowers. Again, with the button to match it to everything else.
And the flower was to decorate the hat, which again, I just made the pattern for (see below).
And this is the whole ensemble. I swear I could die from the cuteness. My photos do not do this project justice.
The whole ensemble is made in Socks That Rock Heavyweight on 4mm needles and the jacket is, of course, Elizabeth Zimmermann's Baby Surprise.
Hat Pattern, worked in the round:
Cast on 76 stitches.
6 rows of 2x2 rib
3 inches of stockinette
3 needle bind off (yay, no seaming)
Mary Jane Pattern:
Cast on 10 stitches.
Knit 36 rows (18 ridges).
Pick up 18 sts along each edge, while starting to work in the round.
Garter stitch 11 rows
Work on front 10 stitches back and forth - as you are doing that, K2tog (1 from the 10, plus the one next to it) at beginning of each row, or end of each row for left or right foot. This forms the front of the foot.
Leaving 3 stitches between front of foot and placement of strap, bind off leaving 4 stitches for strap.
Work strap back and forth in garter st until it stretches across to other side of shoe.
Make button hole K1, yo, k2tog, k1
Knit 3 more rows.
Bind off.

4 comments:

IrishGirlieKnits said...

Wow!! I love that color for the baby surprise jacket! And I love the ensemble too! How cute are the little mary jane's and the hat is adorable!

Someday, if I have a little girl, hint hint hint..... It is the cutest!!

Bezzie said...

Ah ha! Now I know why I have the nagging urge to knit baby stuff from sock yarn--it's all your fault! ;-)

Very cute!

DeltaDawn said...

That's going to be one snazzy baby girl! I agree - pink & brown are a fab combination - my favorite bikini when I was 9 or 10 had tose colors all swirled together.

tapmouse said...

Awwwww...too stinkin' cute is what I say!