Knitting: Red Wrap Baby Cardigan and Booties with Bow

When I was on bed rest for a time early in my pregnancy with Audrey, my mother brought me this book of knitting patterns (Knitting the Easy Way by Terry Kimbrough) because she LOVED this little bootie pattern. It is pretty darling. I tried it first in a pink worsted weight yarn and ended up with something large enough to be a toddler's slipper--it's taken me a bit to learn how to read gauge and substitute yarns. This time around I used a Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino yarn, which is so incredibly yummy, and this red color is so gorgeous. It was fun to look for a ribbon to match. I chose this white with red polka dots--a little tricky matching the reds. I found it at a scrapbooking supply store (whole new world in there!).



So, as I often do for myself, the "shoes" started this outfit! I found this little baby cardi pattern in a knitting book (Erika Knight's Simple Knits for Cherished Babies) I received as a baby gift from one of my good friends, Amy. I haven't tried something with small needles like this before and I thought I would never finish! I remember working on it one evening and estimating that I probably finished 6 rows an evening, which meant it would take me months! And it did.

So it's finished just in time because Audrey has nearly outgrown it. As it turns out the sweater is a bit small and the booties a bit large--they fall off--but they worked to get a few cute photos in her nursery.