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Review: Wee Garter Stitch

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wee garter stitch book reviewGarter Stitch has a bad reputation for being boring. I mean, I guess it can be boring, but it can also be meditative, and an easy, fun way to get projects done in a hurry. And just because a project involves Garter Stitch doesn’t mean it has to be exclusively Garter Stitch or not include cool techniques, shaping and colorwork.

Vickie Howell shows us how Garter Stitch can be great on a small scale with her latest book Wee Garter Stitch: Must-Have Knits for Modern Babies and Toddlers. And it just a little bit makes me wish I had a little one to knit for.

The book includes bibs, booties, blankies, sweaters and vests, hats and more, all using Garter Stitch in different ways. There are stripes, short rows, cables, colorwork and other stitch patterns used in the projects, which are cute and playful for little ones (garment sizes vary, with some projects only offering one size and some several, but most fit somewhere in the range of 3 month to 2T, with a couple of 4T projects as well).

Some of my favorites include the Round Peg Blanket, which uses short rows to create circles inside blocks that are sewn together; Best Dress-ed, a simple top-down dress with zig-zag stripes I’m seriously tempted to upsize for my little one; the Patched Pants, worked in a denimy yarn with a drawstring waist for a flexible fit; the Honey Baby Pullover, pictured on the cover; and the stunning Coyote Kid Sweater, inspired for Cowichan sweaters (and both the largest in size and most technically complex project in the book). Check Ravelry to see all the projects.

If you’ve got a wee one, or know a little person or someone who is about to have a baby, these projects offer simple style with a modern look and are mostly quick and easy to knit. All the knitting skills you need are explained at the back of the book, so it’s also a great gift to a mom-to-be who might want to start knitting for their new bundle.

About the book: 96 pages, paperback with interior flaps. 25 patterns (one is for beginners, 13 are easy, 9 intermediate and one advanced). Published May 2016 by Sixth & Spring Books. Suggested retail $17.95.

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Comments

  1. Boring? No way! This book is filled with the cutest kids patterns. As a life long knitter, I look for books with patterns that work up quickly. I just wish I had more grand babies!

Have you read?

Knits to Make for Your Labubu

Maybe it’s not your Labubu, but if you’ve ever looked at one of those creepy cute dolls and thought “what that thing needs is a sweater,” you’ve come to the right place. These Labubu knitting patterns are super cute and easy to make whatever your skill level. 

If you want to keep it super basic, there’s this Labubu sweater from flourish AND fiber. It uses sock yarn and is worked from the top down in the round with a bit of ribbing on the edges but otherwise in stockinette stitch. It says it’s meant to fit all current regular Labubu plush pendants. 

Another cute pendant project is the Bubu Cardi by Ginko B. This free Ravelry download uses fingering weight yarn and only uses about 35 yards of yarn, so it’s a perfect scrap knitting project. 

Give your Labubu some springtime flair with this sweet little dress pattern by About Yarn. It’s for a 6.5 inch/17 cm doll and is worked in the round using DK weight yarn. 

Or get them ready for cooler weather with this cute beanie from Stephanie Connolly. Available as a free Ravelry download, this pattern uses DK weight yarn and has a hole in the top for Labubu’s ears and pendant to pull through. 

If you want a more whimsical look, try the Labubu headdress by Shino Craft. This one uses sport weight yarn and makes your critter look like a flower. You can buy it on Ravelry.

Add a touch of colorwork with this adorable heart sweat for a Labubu. This pattern is from kelmadeSG and uses fingering or DK weight yarn (maybe depending on what size doll you have?) and is worked flat in pieces. 

Shirley Durmaz made this cute hoodie for a Labubu with two strands of fingering weight yarn (or you could use a DK weight). It’s available on Ravelry.

If your Labubu fan is also a Taylor Swift fan, you’ll want to knit the free Labubu V Neck Cardigan, inspired by Taylor’s Folklore sweater. It uses fingering weight yarn and you can find it on Ravelry.