Surprise!

While drafting my list of must-knit items for the Fricklet, I stumbled upon this Baby Surprise and may have shorted out a few neurons in my excitement.  Here's something I can do with all of this lovely multicolored sock yarn I accumulated before I realized that it doesn't jive with most sock patterns!  So I started my own sock yarn BSJ and posted a photo on Flickr, only to have a very astute observer (with some lovely stash) point me over here.  So you can look at my photo, but really, I'm just a big copycat, apparently.

Surprise One

Knit in STR Mediumweight in the colorway "Fairgrounds," which came as part of the first year of the Blue Moon Fiber Arts sock club.  One hank is plenty- I got an additional pair of booties out of it.  I used size four 24" circular Addi Turbos, and it looks as if it will fit the average 0-2 month old. 

Tweaks and mods:  I have made this jacket before, and two things bothered me about it.  One was my complete inability to visualize how it "worked."  This was largely my own fault, as I knit it on straight needles.  Please, if you value your sanity, use circs when you make this little item, as they will allow you to fold it as you go and understand where you are (see Adrian's for a good demonstration of this phenomenon, and the KnitWiki she pointed out yesterday helps, too).  The second thing that bothered me had to do with the sleeves.  While I realize it's practical to have the sleeves blouse out from the cuff, I didn't quite like the way it looked, especially on a short sleeve.  I cast on an extra 18 stitches, moved my decrease markers in nine stitches each toward the center, and then ignored the instructions to increase 9 stitches across each cuff section later in the pattern.  This gave me a straight sleeve, which pleases my eye, though I could end up kicking myself later when all this fabric keeps bopping a baby in the face.  On this jacket I used paired m1R and M1L increases instead of EZ's backward loops.  In addition, I emailed the color experts over at Blue Moon Fiber Arts asking for advice on the right contrast trim, and they dyed me up a hank of Boysenberry, with which I executed an i-cord cast-off and applied i-cord trim around the neck.  Buttons from mom's stash completed it and there she is!  And me with enough Boysenberry Mediumweight left over for a pair of socks- pattern suggestions, anyone?  (Also of note- somehow I managed to only make four buttonholes instead of the called-for five.  I think it works on this small size, but between you and me, it was an oversight.)

Surprise Two

In my research, I found and also absolutely love Brooke's long-sleeved version, so that was my next goal.  I made this one slightly larger, using two hanks of Adrian's fat sock in the color "Gentle." Well, two and a bit, but that was due to a needle size mistake- use 5's instead of 6's that you mistake for 5's until you're halfway through, as I did, and you'll get away with two hanks.  This one will fit a slightly older baby- 2-4 months on average, I'd say.

Tweaks and mods: There are a few ways to make this jacket with long sleeves.  If you follow the link above to Brooke's, you'll find she used a provisional cast-on.  The KnitWiki linked above suggests picking up stitches once you're finished and knitting the cuffs down from the cast-on edge.  I cast on for two cuffs on the same circular needle, adding nine stitches to each as above in order to avoid puff-cuff, and knit up a little over an inch before casting on the stitches across the center and knitting the pattern as written.  On this jacket I used EZ's suggested backward loop increases, which are a bit looser than the ones I used on the Fairgrounds jacket, but less fuss.  These sleeves may be a tad bit long- I can see how Brooke and the KnitWiki have one over on me, as they can see exactly how long their sleeves will be- but I can always cuff 'em up.  More fabric to bop baby in the face!  Because babies whacking themselves repeatedly is fine new-mama amusement, right?  I left the cast-off as is, as I'm saving my last hank of fat sock for a top-down bonnet.

Feel free to email me if you'd like to try one of these mods and my explanation above isn't clear enough!

I know I may have let some of you down with the color choices for these jackets.  Here I am, railing against the HNGF's of the world, and what do we see here?  Pink and blue.  Yep, you got me.  But I have to say that I'm not sure I agree with Lady Z that babies don't look good in pink and blue.  They do- as long as it's a strong pink or blue.  They look great in brown and red and grey.  They look doughy-zombie HORRID in the standard "neutral" light green and yellow, unless they're blessed with cocoa skin.  So I've laid out a few new possibilities for Mr. Frick to choose from, because this baby needs another BSJ. These colors may be more to your liking:

So now for the big surprise, right?  What will the well-dressed Fricklet be sporting come September?  Well, color me thrilled.

Thanks for all of the support and sweetness and light you've poured through the cables and phone lines to this little laptop.  It's meant so much to all of us.

Comments

[Adrian]

Yay for boys!!

They look fantastic, Julie. Not knowing babies, all of your mods are things I never considered with mine. I'd re-think the sleeves if I had any yarn left!

That yarn on the left is gorgeous! Do that one.

[Ava]

Yes, a boy! I think that women truly are "boy moms" or "girl moms" . . . and you seem squarely in the first camp (not that you wouldn't be a fabulous girl mom).

Thanks for running through the mods as some of EZ - okay, most of them - patterns are hard to visualize and get correct the first time through.

Enjoy what's left of the weekend and I can't wait to see that green knit up. Mint green is never a color that belongs on an infant, but the green you have posted would look lovely!

[reluctantmango]

Yay for boys!!! My two nephews (4 and 1) have completely stolen my heart, and I love to knit for them - mom's super appreciative since there are not as many cute baby boy garments as there are for girls available commercially. I must admit that your previews last week prompted me to cast on for a BSJ of my own :)

[Katherine]

Congratulations! You'll be able to say, "my boys" - how wonderful.

I didn't find out with my first child and so therefore has lots of yellow and green, which was promptly abandoned once we knew he was a boy. Doughy-zombie horrid is right. : ) But those sweaters are the most beautiful BSJs I've ever seen.

[Robin]

I love these sweaters!! Especially the colors of the first one. Great idea for some of the sock yarns that I can never see myself wearing as socks.

[maryse]

i'm a little disappointed that you arent' having a girl ... why i don't know ... but i'm happy that you're happy. and that your big boy will have a little brother. it's funny, whenever i think of having a little monster of my own, i always think that it would be a boy.

[Adriana]

Congrats on the boy news! Now you will get to say "my boys"!

The jackets look fantastic. I will definitely have to get my hands on the pattern.

[Liz K.]

I just linked to this infinitely informative post...I just knit my first BSJ, and feel ready to knit a zillion more, now that I get it.

[lola]

Love the news & the BSJ! Congrats on adding one more boy to the Frick fam.

[jess]

aw, "your boys!" :) congrats to you all! :)

love the BSJs! Between you and Adrian, I may have to somehow squeeze one in for my niece-on-the-way!

[I am currently knitting a MDK kimono for a coworker who is having a girl -- and stressing a little that they won't like the RED it is.]

[Heather]

Hooray for another boy!!

[Allegra]

Congrats! I almost cried when I read you were having a boy. These damn hormones. I think it's because I am going crazy with my own wonder! Your SBJs look great! I will definitely have to crank out a few of those once I know!!!

[Carrie]

Hooray, a boy!! Your boys! I'm so happy for y'all, Julie.

And I'm loving those surprise jackets. Your attention to the details made them extra special!

[Kristy]

I think you just gave me a reason to never knit that STR Monsoon into socks. Thanks!

Congrats on a second boy :)

[Jen]

Hooray! Just what you were hoping for! And now you have a sweet gift for another baby, too. The sweaters, btw, are adorable. I wish so much I had made some BSJs for my kids, but now the youngest is two so prolly not.

[kmkat]

Ya know what I find highly amusing? That you used "HNGF" and I actually knew what you meant! (although I had to ponder for a moment)

Congrats on the "my boys" thing! I have a couple myself. Although there were moments when I kinda sorta wished there was another female in the house -- to shop with, to knit girly things for -- I now realize that all good things are worth waiting for: long-term girlfriends, and [eventually] wives and granddaughters :-)

[pamela wynne]

thanks SO much for all the great BSJ info! I'm about to make my first one. :)

[Daphne]

Thanks for the mods, miss. You've got me thisclose to casting on (I would've already done if I had the pattern handy) and wouldn't like the blousy sleeves.

September ahoy! I'm happy for you and your guys.

[Cara]

Congratulations! I agree - strong colors are better for babies. Unless it's a baby with skin that looks good in pastels.

[jillian]

Those are both beautiful and adorable! What a great use of variegated yarn.

[Mandy]

There is so much I want to say after reading this! Where to start? Thanks for the tips on the BSJ. I'm working on my first and was hesitant about the cuff-puff. I'll leave it in for now, and experiment later (and refer to your tips here) once I get more experience with the pattern.

Also, I agree with your thoughts on color. It's gotta be the right pink or blue for babywear, and it seems that you've found the ones.

Lastly, congrats on the news of another boy. How exciting!

[Jen]

Yay for another boy in the Frick house! And double yay for his cool new togs.

[Sue]

Ooh what adorable baby jackets you have made. I love the colors too, and the ones Mr. Frick gets to choose from are all nice too. I think I like the 3rd from the left best.

[brooke]

Congrats on the news! Love both of these. Can't wait to see what yarn Mr. Frick chooses for your next BSJ. (...the green skein would be so cool)

[Sarah]

Congratulations on the new little boy fricklet!