Jelly Bean's Little Jumper

Jelly Bean must be one of the only babies about to born in this country whose mother, both grandmothers and two great-grandmothers all knit. They got clicking as soon as they heard about the new arrival, so JB will be one of the best knitted-for little people on this island, when he or she finally gets here. Having heard about all the anxious phone-calls from grandmothers ('I'm just checking, do you handwash things?') I was irrationally pleased, when I dropped this round yesterday, to learn that it was the first knitted item they'd received!



Pattern: Classic Cashmere Sweater from Erika Knight's Simple Knits for Cherished Babies
Yarn: Rowan 4 ply Soft, colour 39d 'Dove', 1 1/3 balls
Ribbon: cotton tape from V V Rouleaux
Needles: Webs' Valley Yarns circular bamboo, US 5, US 4 for garter stitch bands
Gauge: Unblocked 26 st x 32 r, blocked 21.5 st x 29 r = 10 cm in st st
Via the Workbasket? Jelly Bean is a lot younger than most things in the Basket

This little jumper was great to knit. It was fun to see it take shape, an exemplar of minimalist elegance and a funny little thing at the same time. I did a slip-stitch selvedge to make seaming easier, but because it's knit so loosely this made the column of stitches on either side of the seam a bit sloppy, so I won't do that again next time I knit this. I didn't do a slip-stitch edging for the sleeves for the same reason, which I'm pleased about, and I might pick up and knit a tiny garter stitch band around the ends of the sleeves like this one, next time, if I can be bothered. I really like the way the sleeves look turned back, and the flexibility that gives you once it's on the baby to change the sleeve length. The 4 ply Soft was nice, and I love this colour, but I'll try Baby Cashmerino next time, which I've heard highly recommended for baby knits.

Little Jelly Bean, I wish you well to wear this, and please hurry up because I want to meet you!