Review: Two Easy Ways to Knit for Babies

April 14, 2015 by Sarah White

I was cleaning in my office yesterday and I cam across a couple of cute Leisure Arts booklets about baby knits that I thought you all might enjoy.

The first, Garter Stitch for Baby by Candi Jensen and Heather Vantress, features 10 projects for little ones that mostly use Garter Stitch (there’s also a ripple stripe blanket that uses Feather and Fan). The baby hat and striped leg warmers are super sweet, and that hooded sweater on the cover is adorable, too. There’s also a little knit toy (called a sweetie, it kind of looks like a cat) a vest, a striped blanket, a pair of booties, mitts and fingerless mitts. All the projects are rated easy except the hooded sweater, and this would be a great place to start for a newer knitter who really wants to knit for a baby.

If you want to try knitting in a different way, check out Karen Ratto-Whooley’s Projects for Baby Made with the Knook. A Knook is more like a crochet hook, but you work back and forth in rows more like knitting, and the finished fabric looks like knitting. (It’s actually kind of like Tunisian crochet.) The great thing about this book is that it includes instructions for using knitting needles as well, so you can go either way with your projects. There are six in all: the sweater on the cover, two hats and three blankets. I like the baby beret and the Tracks & Trails Afghan best.

Have you ever used a Knook? I’ve never tried it but it’s on my list. I’d love to know what you think!

Next Pattern:

Comments

yolanda v says
April 15, 2015 at 7:40 pm
Ive been wanting to try the knook as well. Looks like fun!
Carol in Indiana, USA says
May 17, 2015 at 4:47 pm
I have not used a knook – wonder how to use “patterns” tho – when you need to cut out a pattern? how would you print the page?

Have you read?

Knit and Felt Some Tabi Style Slippers

The felted slipper craze that began last year doesn’t seem like it’s fading away. The Sailor Slippers, often striped knit and felted slippers made with super bulky yarn, because the project of the moment late last year (check out more knit slipper options in this post all about sailor slippers) and they’re still consistently popular with knitters.

Which makes sense because they are fun and fast to knit, and seeing them go from this giant thing to something that actually fits a foot feels a little magical.

I have always loved felting (in fact my first book was about felting knitting) and it’s always fun for me to see people rediscover this technique.

If you’ve knit enough plain slippers to fit all the feet you know, maybe it’s time to stitch up some tabi style slippers instead.

Maymade Knits has designed these cute tabi ballerina slippers, made with bulky yarn and felted. They’re worked flat at first and then in rounds, and are available in 10 EU sizes (the Internet tells me add 31 to your American shoe size to get your EU size). The designer says the slippers are meant to have a close fit and you should choose a size a little smaller than your foot for the ideal fit.

The pattern includes a video tutorial along with the written pattern.

You can grab this pattern on Ravelry. The same designer has her own version of the striped felted slipper as well, called Sarah’s Striped Slippers. These are worked in super bulky yarn and have a contrasting foot and a striped body. These are knit flat and seamed and there are 7 size options available. Check that pattern out here if you’re looking for a more traditional slipper shape. They also look roomier so you can wear them with socks if you like.

[Photo: Maymade Knits]