So the top secret project is done and sent and received. Woo!
I knit my little niece, Ava, a Pinwheel Sweater. I LOVE this pattern. It was super easy but looks complicated when done. It did take me a fair amount of time to knit but I take back my comment on the post before about it being a time consuming knit. I think it would have knit up super fast had I had more than 5 minutes a day to actually knit (Baby D disapproves of my knitting).
I used Lion Brand Wool-ease (machine washable/dryable!) and I love that it can be worn for a few years. As you can see in the photos below, it has a baby fit which gives it a hood and a little kid fit which gives it a nice folded over collar. All you do to change the fit is flip it around. So cool. I think the lifespan of it would be from about 3 months (although I’ve seen photos of these sweaters on newborns - the babies are lost in it but it is cute) to 3-4 years, depending on the kid.
I did a little modifying to the pattern by not doing the ribbing on the sleeves and instead doing a garter stitch cuff with loopy edge to match the overall trim. I think it looks better, although rolling up the sleeve for the baby fit will not look as nice.
I also used a technique for the armholes found here rather than the one in the pattern (which was WAY confusing). The way I did it was super easy and kinda fun.
In progress:
Loopy Edge:
Pinwheel back:
Baby fit:
Little kid fit
OMG! That is adorable! Your niece is very lucky. Fabulous job on the knitting, Joanne. Sorry Baby D isn’t so keen on it. My babies, when they were babies, didn’t care for my fiber arts projects either. They didn’t want me taking my attention off of the center of the universe. They’re cool with it now, though, because sometimes they get something I make.
Lion Brand Wool-ease rocks!
whoa! that is seriously awesome!
Beautiful! Soon you will out-strip my knitting skills, if D ever lets you have a moments peace!
Joanne-We received the sweater and it’s absolutely beautiful! I tried it on Ava and although she’s just over a year next week, she can still fit in the first version where the hat can be worn. It’s wonderful! The quality and the love that is in it is so much better than anything you can find in a store. Absolutely stunning! Thank you so much for this great and truely unique gift!
Thanks for all the compliments! And I am so glad it looks cute on Ava!! You will have to send me a pic sometime.
[...] some of you may remember I also knitted a Pinwheel Sweater for my other little niece (on Hone’s side of the family) many moons ago. It was also purty. I LOVE Pinwheel Sweaters. I [...]