Love Knitting for Baby April 2018

L VE

CRAFT series

YOUR COMPLETE BABY & GIFT COLLECTION

Love

23 Spring

April 2018 £5.99

for Baby GREAT KNr bIToySs fo & girls

patterns

Bolero beauty!

Simple style for the season

■ Nicki Trench tank top ■ Rosie toe booties ■ Tiny trainers ■ Stunning spring cardie

Gorgeous knits for little ones!

Cute sheep dress

Perfect pair Sweet toy & blanket set

Hoppy Eastr Bunny jumper

Nautical knit

A pop of color

Try an easy chart Knit a rainbow set

NEW PATTERNS TO TRY! EXPERT ADVICE & STEP-BY-STEPS

37

24 6

Contents April 2018

Projects 6 Spring green

Get set for the new season with our short-sleeved bolero for baby girls

14 Little sweetie

This spring chick is so much fun to knit and makes a cute Easter gift

18 Baby bunny

So-soft bunny ears add a playful 3D fnish to this lemon sweater

24 Ahoy there!

Our sailboat jumper features nautical stripes – a staple for any wardobe!

4 LOV E K N IT T I N G

28 Tiny trainers

Knit cute little lace-ups for your tot

29 Rosie toes

45 Elephants & blankets

A pair of elephant toys with matching blankets – a great gift for baby!

Pretty rose and white booties ft for a princess and easy to knit

51 Hold hands

30 Baa baa cute sheep!

52 Retro stripes

A gorgeous tunic-style dress with sheep design – perfect for spring!

37 Rainbow collection 38 Mobile 42 Cushion 44 Blanket

Knit these quick mittens in an evening A classic tank top by Nicki Trench

56 Bunny snuggles

A fun blanket project for Easter

60 Sweet stripes

Use self-striping yarn for a cute cardie

65

52

30

18 45

60 14

73

51 82

65 Hoppy Easter

A gorgeous rabbit sweater for fashionable little ones

73 Happy bunnies

Two fun Easter projects – a bunny ears headband and knitted eggs

56

80 Easter basket

Knit a chunky blanket in spring colours to keep baby warm

82 Little boy blue

Keep your babies snug this spring with Sarah Hatton's comfy jacket

Also this issue...

11 Letters 12 Best buys 35 Trends 68 New techniques 77 Back issues 78 Ask our experts 87 Stockists 88 How to knit 90 Last word: Nicki Trench 91 Next issue LOV E K N IT T I N G 5

Spring bolero

Spring gren As the weather warms up, give babies and toddlers a stylish extra layer with this stunning bolero by Jo Allport

L

ittle girls will steal the show in this sweet knit – the gorgeous green shade is so lovely for spring!

It might be a small garment, but it’s brought to life with lots

and upper back, garter stitch for the edgings, and a lovely stitch pattern for the fronts and lower back. Finished with a big button, this pretty v-neck bolero can be worn over a

of gorgeous textures – work stocking stitch for the sleeves

party dress or as a light layer over long sleeved t-shirts.

About this yarn

Sublime Extra Fine Merino Worsted 100% merino wool 100m per 50g Machine wash at 30 £4.99, from www.woolwarehouse.co.uk 6 LOV E K N IT T I N G

Top Tip Chos a glittry gren butto to make thi knit even more sparkly for parties

ct Perferties a for p pecial and ssions! oca

Add this bolero to baby’s wardrobe – it’s sure to become a frm favourite

Spring bolero Sizing guide 0-3 mths

3

6 mths

12 mths

18 mths

24 mths

mths

To ft chest

cm

41

44

47

50

52

54

in

16

Actual measurements

17¼

18½

19¾

20½

21¼

cm

45

48

52

55

57

59

17¾

19

20½

21¾

22½

23¼

Length to shoulder

cm

21

22

22

23

24

25

in

8¼

8¾

8¾

9

9½

9¾

Sleeve length

cm

3

3

3

3

3

3

1¼

1¼

1¼

1¼

1¼

1¼

Sizes & measurements

Bolero You will need ■ Sublime Extra Fine Merino Worsted, 50g in Botanica (492) x 2 (2: 2: 3: 3: 4) balls ■ 4mm (UK 8, US 6) knitting needles ■ 4.5mm (UK 7, US 7) knitting needles ■ Stitch holders ■ One large button

Tension ■ 18 sts and 24 rows to 10cm (4in) over st-st, using 4.5mm needles

Abbreviations ■ For standard abbreviations see page 89

Notes ■ An allowance of 1 st around all edges has been included for sewing up. When working the front, use separate balls of yarn for each colour block

Top Tip Whn yo se ‘sm’ in th pattrn, slip yor marker from oe nedle to th othr ad cotinue knitting th row 8 LOV E K N IT T I N G

in

in

Bolero Back and fronts (Knitted in one piece) Using 4mm (UK 8, US 6) needles, cast on 90 (102: 110: 118: 126: 134) sts.

Set up row (WS) K26 (30: 32: 34: 36: 38), pm, k38 (42: 46: 50: 54: 58), pm, k26 (30: 32: 34: 36: 38).

Work in g-st as follows: Row 1 (RS) K to 2 sts before frst marker, ssk, sm, k to next marker, sm, k2tog, k to end. (dec of 2 sts) Row 2 Knit.

Rep these 2 rows twice more, ending with a WS row. 84 (96: 104: 112: 120: 128) sts Change to 4.5mm (UK 7, US 7) needles and work in st-st as follows: Row 1 (RS) K to 2 sts before frst marker, ssk, sm, k to next marker, sm, k2tog, k to end. (dec of 2 sts) Row 2 Purl.

Rep these 2 rows 3 (3: 1: 3: 1: 3) times more, ending with a WS row. 76 (88: 100: 104: 116: 120) sts Change to Little Blocks Pattern as folls: Row 1 (RS) K1, (k2, p2) 4 (5: 6: 6: 7: 7) times, ssk, sm, (k2, p2) 9 (10: 11: 12: 13: 14) times, k2, sm, k2tog, (p2, k2) 4 (5: 6: 6: 7: 7) times, k1. 74 (86: 98: 102: 114: 118) sts Row 2 and all even rows Knit the knit stitches and purl the purl stitches.

Row 3 K1, (p2, k2) 3 (4: 5: 5: 6: 6) times, p2, k1, ssk, sm, (p2, k2) 9 (10: 11: 12: 13: 14) times, p2, sm, k2tog, k1, p2, (k2, p2) 3 (4: 5: 5: 6: 6) times, k1. 72 (84: 96: 100: 112: 116) sts Row 5 K1, (k2, p2) 3 (4: 5: 5: 6: 6) times, k2, ssk, sm, (k2, p2) 9 (10: 11: 12: 13: 14)

times, k2, sm, k2tog, k2, (p2, k2) 3 (4: 5: 5: 6: 6) times, k1. 70 (82: 94: 98: 110: 114) sts Note there are no more decreases for the frst size.

All sizes except 1st size Row 7 K1, (p2, k2) - (4: 5: 5: 6: 6) times, p1, ssk, sm, (p2, k2) - (10: 11: 12: 13: 14) times, p2, sm, k2tog, p1, (k2, p2) - (4: 5: 5: 6: 6) times, k1. - (80: 92: 96: 108: 112) sts Row 9 K1, (k2, p2) - (4: 5: 5: 6: 6) times, ssk, sm, (k2, p2) - (10: 11: 12: 13: 14) times, k2, sm, k2tog, (p2, k2) - (4: 5: 5: 6: 6) times, k1. - (78: 90: 94: 106: 110) sts Note there are no more decreases for the 2nd and 4th sizes.

3rd, 5th and 6th sizes only Row 11 K1, (p2, k2) - (-: 4: -: 5: 5) times, p2, k1, ssk, sm, (p2, k2) - (-: 11: -: 13: 14) times, p2, sm, k2tog, k1, p2, (k2, p2) - (-: 4: -: 5: 5) times, k1. - (- : 88: -: 104: 108) sts Row 13 K1, (k2, p2) - (-: 4: -: 5: 5) times, k2, ssk, sm, (k2, p2) - (-: 11: -: 13: 14) times, k2, sm, k2tog, k2, (p2, k2) - (-: 4: -: 5: 5) times, k1. - (-: 86: -: 102: 106) sts Note there are no more decreases for the 3rd and 6th sizes.

5th size only Row 15 K1, (p2, k2) 5 times, p1, ssk, sm, (p2, k2) - (-: -: -: 13: -) times, p2, sm, k2tog, p1, (k2, p2) 5 times, k1. 100 sts Row 17 K1, (k2, p2) 5 times, ssk, sm, (k2, p2) - (-: -: -: 13: -) times, k2, sm, k2tog, (p2, k2) 5 times, k1. 98 sts

Spring bolero

It’s in the detail The Little Blocks pattern adds wonderful texture to this onecolour knit. You’ll need to work knit, purl, ssk and k2tog to create the pattern, which features on both the fronts and back of the bolero.

Totals across the sizes 70 (78: 86: 94: 98: 106) sts Work one row, knitting the knit stitches and purling the purl stitches, ending with a WS row.

Work fronts separately. Remove markers as you come to them.

Shape raglan (right front) Next row (RS) K14 (16: 18: 20: 20: 22), turn and put the rem sts onto a holder.

Next row (WS) Cast off 8 (9: 10: 11: 11: 12) sts, purl to end.

Next row Knit.

Cast off rem sts.

With RS facing, join yarn at underarm edge and cast off 4 sts, knit across rem sts.

Next row (WS) P14 (16: 18: 20: 20: 22), turn and put the rem sts onto a holder.

Next row (RS) Cast off 8 (9: 10: 11: 11: 12) sts, knit to end.

Next row Purl.

Cast off rem sts.

With WS facing, join yarn at left front underarm edge and cast off 4 sts, purl across rem sts. 34 (38: 42: 46: 50: 54) sts Working in st-st from now on, dec 1 st at both ends of the next row.

Work 3 (1: 1:1: 1: 1) rows straight, ending with a WS row.

Dec 1 st at both ends of the next and every RS row until 20 (24: 28: 36: 38: 44) sts remain, ending with a WS row.

There are no more decs for the frst size. Put these sts onto a holder.

All sizes except 1st size Dec 1 st at both ends of the next and EVERY row until - (20: 20: 20: 22: 24) sts remain, ending with a WS row. Put these sts onto a holder.

Sleeves (make 2) Using 4mm (UK 8, US 6) needles, cast on 30 (32: 34: 38: 40: 42) sts.

Merino wool is soft against skin and so comfy for baby

LOV E K N IT T I N G 9

Sailboat jumper

Ahoy thre!

Head for the open seas with this fashionably nautical jumper for boys, designed and knitted by Ann Franklin

S

ummer’s on its way, – hooray! If you’re looking forward to a seaside holiday or day-trip to the beach, then make sure your little one is suitably attired,

sailboat, there’s lots to admire – nautical stripes worked in a combination of stocking stitch and garter stitch create a slightly ridged effect, and we love the splash of red for the

with Ann Franklin’s gorgeous sweater. Apart from the stylish

contrast edgings. Matching red buttons are the fnishing touch.

Top Tip About this yarn

West Yorkshire Spinners Bo Peep Luxury Baby DK 52% wool, 48% nylon 112m per 50g Machine wash at 40˚C £3.95, www.wyspinners.com 24 L O V E K N I T T I N G

Knit a plain whit square ad add th sailboat motif in duplicat stitch, if yo prefer

Get beach ready with seaside stripes

Your beach babes will look very smart indeed in this chic sweater

Give a de a handm e as a mobil y gift! lovel

Reach th sky Drift off to sleep with this gorgeous rainbow and cloud mobile that's simple to knit

Rainbow collection

R

ainbows are a source of fascination at any age, and this beautiful mobile by Angela Turner brings that wonderful cascade of colour into a baby's nursery, complete with a contrasting circle of fuffy, white clouds.

Mobile You will need ■ Sirdar Snuggly DK, 50g in: Purple (197) x 1 ball Happy Hippo (469) x 1 ball Cutie Clover (480) x 1 ball Lemon (252) x 1 ball Pretty Coral (456) x 1 ball Rhubarb (457) x 1 ball White (251) x 2 balls ■ 3mm (UK 11) knitting needles ■ 3mm (UK 11) double-pointed needles (for i-cords) ■ Tapestry needle ■ Toy flling ■ Large embroidery hoop (13.5in)

Measurements ■ Approx. 35 (13.5in) wide x 74cm (29in) high from hoop to base of lowest cloud

Tension ■ 27 sts and 34 rows to 10cm (4in) over stocking stitch using 3mm (UK 11) knitting needles

Abbreviations ■ For standard abbreviations see page 89

About this yarn Sirdar Snuggly DK

55% nylon, 45% acrylic 165m per 50g Machine wash at 40°C £2.89, www.sirdar.co.uk

Once you've made this simple decoration, why not knit Angela's coordinating blanket and cushion? You'll fnd the patterns over the next few pages. We've used classic colours, but feel free to switch shades to match the décor!

Rainbow & cloud mobile Hoop cover

Using 3mm (UK 11) needles and White, cast on 14 sts.

Work in st-st until cover fts around hoop when slightly stretched.

Fold cover over hoop and sew seam.

Sew cast-off edge to cast-on edge.

Rainbow side (make two) Using 3mm (UK 11) needles and Purple, cast on 14 sts.

Row 1 (K1, inc in next st) to end. 21 sts Starting with a purl row, st-st 3 rows.

Change to Happy Hippo.

Row 5 (K2, inc in next st) to end. 28 sts Starting with a purl row, st-st 3 rows.

Cont to change colour (Cutie Clover, Lemon, Pretty Coral and Rhubarb) and inc in this way until all 6 colours have been worked. 56 sts Cast off.

There are four sizes of cloud for a varied effect

Edging Using 3mm (UK 11) needles and Rhubarb, cast on 8 sts.

Work in g-st until edging is large enough to ft round curved part of rainbow.

Cont working 4 rows in g-st in each of the colours: Rhubarb, Pretty Coral, Lemon, Cutie Clover and Happy Hippo.

Change to Purple and g-st 28 rows.

Cont working 4 rows in g-st in each of the colours: Happy Hippo, Cutie Clover, Lemon, Pretty Coral and Rhubarb.

Cast off.

Sew seams to edging, leaving a 3cm gap. Turn right side out, stuff with flling and sew rem seam.

Babies will love the bright colours of the hanging rainbow

Cloud 1 Using 3mm (UK 11) needles and White, cast on 8 sts and g-st 2 rows.

Next row Inc in frst st, knit to last st, inc. 10 sts Next row Knit.

Rep last 2 rows twice more. 14 sts G-st 4 rows.

LOV E K N IT T I N G 39

Rainbow collection

A big blanket fo colourful r snuggles

Sof skies Knit a stunning rainbow blanket for a fab fnale!

Blaket You will need ■ Sirdar Snuggly DK, 50g in: Purple (197) x 1 ball Happy Hippo (469) x 1 ball Cutie Clover (480) x 1 ball Lemon (252) x 1 ball Pretty Coral (456) x 1 ball Rhubarb (457) x 1 ball ■ 3.75mm (UK 9, US 5) knitting needles ■ 4mm (UK 8, US 6) knitting needles ■ Tapestry needle

Measurements ■ Approx.78x96cm (30¾x37¾in)

Tension ■ 22 sts and 28 rows to 10cm (4in) over stocking stitch, using 3.75mm (UK 9, US 5) knitting needles

Abbreviations ■ For standard abbreviations see page 89 44 LOV E K N IT T I N G

T

his is a wonderfully simple knit if you need a gorgeous baby blanket in a hurry! To make this as an extra-special gift, you could personalise it

by swiss darning the name or initials of the recipient on the bottom right-hand corner. You could even include the baby's date of birth underneath – the baby's family will truly love it!

Blanket

further 32 rows st-st.

Change to Happy Hippo and work 46 rows st-st, keeping border 12 sts g-st.

Change to Cutie Clover and work 46 rows.

Change to Lemon and work 46 rows.

Change to Pretty Coral and work 46 rows.

Change to Rhubarb and work 34 rows.

Change to 3.75mm (UK 9, US 5) needles and g-st 18 rows.

Cast off.

Tie in loose ends securely.

Press lightly to fnish.

Note If your own needles seem a bit short for the 170 stitches of this blanket, try using a circular needle, working backwards and forwards as if using two straight needles.

Begin at base, using 3.75mm (UK 9, US 5) needles and Purple, cast on 170 sts.

Work 18 rows g-st.

Change to 4mm (UK 8, US 6) needles.

Row 1 Knit.

Next row K12, purl to last 12 sts, k12.

Keeping border 12 sts g-st, work a

Olie & Poly elephat These baby elephants are super cute and cuddly. Their colourful tails, feet and stripy ears will brighten up any nursery!

Make matching blankets on p50!

IS N E W SU E! SNUGGLY BLANKETS

EASTER PATTERNS

GORGEOUS GARMENTS

Love for Baby

CUTE CARDIES

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Looking for some spring inspiration? The April issue of Love Knitting for Baby is packed with ideas for babies and toddlers – from snuggly blankets to cute cardies, plus a bonus pattern book! Don’t miss out – order your copy today...

At just £5.99 this issue includes: ■ 52-page collection of royal baby knits ■ Super baby knits for spring ■ Gifts & nursery makes ■ Patterns for all skill levels

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