“Something to laugh about” is Stitchcraft’s caption for the photo of this month’s project: a baby’s cardigan (“button-up”) from October 1967. For once, the babies in the photo are actually happy!
The cardigan can be made “for a boy” or “for a girl” (buttonholes on one or the other side) and you can knit matching trunks “for a boy” — I guess girls need to get used to having a cold bum early, to prepare them for a lifetime of miniskirts with knee socks. In any case, the cardigan and/or set is offered in three sizes, to fit newborns up to ca. 1 year (18-22 inch chest).
The suggested wool is Patons Quickerknit Baby Wool (fuzzy, hairy, 100% wool) or Patons Brilliante (smooth, synthetic). I used DROPS Fabel (sock wool, 25% polyamide) in a shade of bright orange which I had originally bought to make the red-striped dress from September 1967, but which didn’t match with the other colours. It is quite fine and smooth, so for once I actually achieved the tension called for in the pattern: 8 sts and 10.5 rows to the inch.
I made the first size, for whatever baby a friend or colleague has next (always good to have a baby garment in reserve…). The pattern is interesting and one that I had never encountered before:
- Row 1: sl1, k2, *p1, k3*
- Row 2: sl1, p2, *k1, p3*
- Row 3: sl1, *k1, p3* to last 2 sts, k2
- Row 4: sl1, *p1, k3* to last 2 sts, p2
In other words, a broken 1/3 rib. You would think it would be easy to notice and memorise, but it was surprisingly frustrating and difficult to “read” the knitting. I kept the instructions next to me the whole time.
I made the fronts and back in one up to the armholes, the sleeves separate and flat (the pattern messed with my head enough and I did not want to try to convert it to knitting in the round), and then joined it all together for the raglan decreases. Increasing and decreasing in this pattern was not fun. Even though it is really not a complicated pattern! It just wouldn’t go into my head. It worked out fine in the end, though.
The finished fabric is very three-dimensional and waffle-y and probably quite warm. It also pulls together quite a lot horizontally. I was barely able to stretch it out to an 18 inch chest with blocking, so this will be for a small/newborn baby. On the other hand, the stretchiness means the cardigan will probably grow along with the baby and fit it for a while. I added little white vintage-looking buttons and that was that. I didn’t make the trunks.
All in all, turned out fine and will brighten up some baby’s wardrobe. And it even got done in October! Next month’s project will be a stranded pullover for myself.
The Stitchcraft Sixties 