Woolies for wee wrigglers
Meet my little cousin Asa. He’s three and a half, hell on wheels, utterly charming, and therefore a tempting victim when I cut my teeth on knits for shorties. Back in the spring, my lifelong amiga Abbie asked for a cute kiddie sweater recommendation for her nephew Leif. A design idea came to me in a flash and I scribbled a raglan pullover with a traveling stitch motif up the raglan lines and panels of stockinet and reverse stockinet on the body and sleeves. I rummaged up some ancient Cleckheaton Country 8-Ply Naturals from my mother-in-law’s stash and cast on a couple of months ago. I finished just in time to try it on the little dude at the big summer party last weekend — family and hometown friends galore, plus a six-foot boa constrictor. The boa swam in the pond, which the kids thought was awesome, although some of the adults weren’t fully on board with the idea. (I spent a lot of time making sure small children like this one didn’t drown in the pond. It’s a nervous business, the whole lots-of-kids-in-water thing. We played man-to-man defense for a while but eventually had to switch to zone when a medium-size guy who actually can swim stayed in too long, got tired, and had to be rescued…all’s well that end’s well, anyway.) It was a hot day: great for water play, but my little cuz wanted no part of a wool sweater. When the sun finally sank below the trees he was up for modeling, providing I pushed him over the lumpy parts of the meadow:
He wore it the rest of the night and even managed not to get marshmallow all over the front when his brother made him a s’more. He really likes it.
Verdict? The pattern needs work. The arms are too skinny, so I’m doing the math to plump them up before Abbie casts on a version for Leif. And I’m going to have to knit a bigger one if Asa is going to wear it when the weather actually gets cold again. But I think I’m going to like it when it’s done. If the pattern proves sound, I’ll offer it here.
Posted: July 6th, 2007 at 3:12 pm
Great sweater and adorable cousin! I really like the reverse stockinette panels to set off the traveling stitches. And since you need to tweak the pattern, Asa would also look fantastic in blue tweed. A kid who will wear wool in July deserves handknits!
Posted: July 6th, 2007 at 5:12 pm
Wow. What a great sweater. Love the idea of the traveling stitches on the raglan. What a cool idea.
Posted: July 6th, 2007 at 5:57 pm
What a great sweater! Can’t wait for the pattern–it looks like a really fun knit 🙂
Posted: July 6th, 2007 at 6:11 pm
It looks fantastic!
Posted: July 6th, 2007 at 6:28 pm
Aw, traveling raglan is such a great design. Three cheers for Asa! What a trooper.
Posted: July 6th, 2007 at 6:50 pm
Gorgeous sweater. Gorgeous kid.
Posted: July 6th, 2007 at 7:11 pm
How very cute! I love the raglan detailing.
Posted: July 6th, 2007 at 8:59 pm
It’s a very cute design!
I ran up to Hilltop yesterday and was amazed to find your picture on all the Shibui patterns. Very nice. 🙂
Posted: July 6th, 2007 at 9:09 pm
What a fantastic pattern. It’s wonderful that he loves it so much, he looks so adorable in it.
Posted: July 7th, 2007 at 5:48 am
Oh, great sweater! Can’t wait for the pattern! My first niece was born a couple of weeks ago, and I see kids’ knits in a whole new light now. 🙂
But seriously? A boa constrictor?
Posted: July 7th, 2007 at 6:02 am
very cute! but my god, you’re brave. you won’t catch me within a mile of a known snake.
Posted: July 7th, 2007 at 4:19 pm
Your sweater is very stylish…absolutely beautiful! And, what a precious child!
🙂
Posted: July 7th, 2007 at 6:41 pm
What a sweet sweater for a sweet little boy! I’m not so keen on the snakes either. 🙂
Posted: July 7th, 2007 at 7:13 pm
What an adorable pattern!
Posted: July 8th, 2007 at 7:14 am
What a beautiful sweater, and what a beautiful little cousin you have! He’s a doll!
Posted: July 9th, 2007 at 8:32 pm
Sooooo cute! Oh my gosh. 🙂
Posted: July 16th, 2007 at 9:17 am
Love this sweater–can’t wait for the pattern!
Posted: July 18th, 2007 at 11:08 am
Gorgeous, gorgeous sweater. What a cheery looking model, too.
Posted: July 19th, 2007 at 4:19 am
OMG I LOVE this little sweater! I would definatley enjoy seeing the pattern here and I have a niece who would adore that in pink.
Now I assume the boa was someone’s pet rather than a wild and rambling snake? Do boas swim?
I can’t imagine how stressful it must be to supervise a lake full of kids. I have trouble when I watch one little niece in and kid-proofed house!