For the past year that I’ve been knitting, I’ve taken advantage of all of the wonderful free patterns available online. This is one of the few patterns I’ve purchased, simply because I thought it was so cute and looked like something I might be able to do. The pattern for this pretty piece was purchased from an English designer, Maybe Baby, in September, 2016, through PayPal at the exchange rate in effect at the time for $2.72. It was an easy instant download and the pattern is very well written. http://www.maybebabydesigns.co.uk/charityvestpattern.htm
I used Bernat Softee yarn with #7 needles and thought the jacket would fit a baby around 3 months old.
I enjoy knitting baby items the most but feel that the charity where my work goes has more need in the toddler and pre-school sizes. My first project for 2017 was a remake of the jacket using Red Heart #4 worsted in the color, Corn Meal. I went to the garter stitch after 7 rows of pattern on each side just to change the appearance a little bit. I think this top would fit a chubby one-year-old.
Since I don’t crochet well, I omitted the crocheted edging in each case.
I used circular needles – Magic Loop (circular needles with long cables) – and am giving a brief outline of how I did the piece using these needles to do the portion where the left front begins and across the neck. I’m not sure this is the way the designer did it, but it worked for me.
After completing the right front, leave the stitches on the cable of the Magic Loop, cut the yarn (leave a 6-inch tail), and just slide the piece down the cable, letting it “hang out” while you complete the left front.
After the left front is completed, do not break yarn and follow directions in pattern to start the back, casting on 12 stitches across to form the center of the neck and knitting across the stitches from the right front that are hanging from the cable.
These are the only two places in the pattern that I found a little confusing.
I think it’s a very cute jacket that could be used with various designs and stitch patterns.
LILLIAN'S CUPBOARD 