I know I’ve already mentioned that my aunt just presented me with a new knitwear model. (read:baby) I knitted up that lovely angora set for him, but I couldn’t keep from thinking about how it would only fit for a few months. Babies grow like weeds, and that sweater wouldn’t even fit for the whole winter! Perish the though. Baby Colson needed something else.
The thing is, I knew that I wanted a pullover, and I knew that pullovers and babies mix better once their necks become less wobbly. Despite the fact that my aunt is a champion mom, I thought it would be better to give her a sweater for next winter. I ordered some yarn from KnitPicks, and started cruising Ravelry for possibilities. Now that I knew the gender of the baby, a classic red and cream fair isle sweater seemed like just the ticket. After searching for a while, I decided that Anders was just the one.
I think the results prove my perspicacity.
I love this little sweater. It is beautiful, warm, and classic. The snowy woods motif is utterly charming, and it will be unbelievably cute on a one year old. I actually made the two year old size, in hopes that it would fit him all next winter. The yarn was Knit Picks Swish DK, 100g undyed, and 100g of Hollyberry, which means that this beauty is also machine washable. I messed with the pattern a bit because I may be a little bit of a perfectionist. I wanted the sleeves to end in cream for symmetry’s sake, so I extended the sleeve chart and finished off with cream instead of red. I like the way it looks better. (I can’t help modifying patterns, even if they’re perfectly nice already.) I finished off the wee sweater with some buttons I snagged at my new favorite yarn store, and I think that they look perfect. (I sewed and knotted them quite securely to avoid choking hazards.)
I am a little superstitious about knitting things for people. I know that there’s no scientific basis for it, but I believe that covering my family in tangible expressions of love protects them somehow. And who needs it more than tiny babies? They’re so fragile and little. But a handknit sweater is like a big warning sign to any trouble that might come their way, that this baby is loved and protected. Even though it may not actually do anything, it makes me feel better. There is a whole world out there that I can’t control, but at the very least..
I can knit, and I can keep my family warm.
