Wool Baby by Melissa LaBarre
TABLE OF CONTENTS intro. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5 mae. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7 arlo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9 aziza . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-11 elmer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-13 bio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-15
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ometime in early 2012, my knitting took a dramatic turn. Pregnant with my first child, I started to channel all of my nervous energy about childbirth, motherhood, and my future as a work-at-home mother into a sweet little pile of knits for my daughter, who was not yet here. My “nesting” involved steam blocking, and finding a comfortable position to use a laptop for pattern writing, when my lap had actually disappeared under my giant belly. As someone who had spent the previous 4 years churning out adult-sized sweaters and accessories, these tiny baby knits were almost addictive. A newborn cardigan in a few days? Yes, please! A wee hat in a few hours? Love! Knitting for babies is so satisfying. It’s such immediate gratification. Knitting little things is a great opportunity to try new techniques on a smaller scale, like an easy lace pattern on a sweet bonnet, or a first try at a top-down sweater. It’s a fun way to try out a new yarn, too. For me, not only were these knits a way to clothe my new baby, they also became new patterns, as I took designing from a side-job to my main gig. Since April of 2012, I have given birth to 2 daughters, now ages 3 and 18 months. My knitting and writing time has become more scarce, and more often interrupted with requests for snacks and songs, and all sorts of cuteness (in fact, I was called away from my laptop 4 times while writing this intro), but I’ve happily adapted. I have a half-dozen new little things on the needles. I’ve got a lovely drawer jam-packed with hand-me-down knits that my oldest has outgrown and my youngest will someday wear. Someday they will be passed on to someone else’s babies. Isn’t knitting the greatest? Here’s a little collection to knit for your, or someone else’s, little one. There are two cardigans, one a little girly, one more classic. The quick-to-knit aran-weight blanket has a allover leaf pattern and is perfect for any baby. Lastly, the little lace bonnet will cover baby’s ears and the i-cord ties just might help it stay put! Happy knitting!
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Melissa
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Mae yarn: chickadee color: belize
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Arlo yarn: lark color: parsley
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Aziza yarn: lark color: carrie’s yellow
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Elmer yarn: osprey color: apricot
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M elissa LaBarre is a freelance knitwear designer and co-author of the books New
England Knits and Weekend Hats, as well as a 3rd book, due out in 2016. Her designs have appeared in several magazines and yarn company design collections, including the Wool series for Quince & Co. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband and daughters. You can find out what she’s up to at www.knittingschooldropout.com.
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