I should begin by telling you right off the bat that I love, love, love this sweater. It's true love, really. (In other words, prepare yourself for a deluge of photographs accompanied by over-the-top gushing.)
This project began shortly after Harper's birthday, with all the leftover Manos bits from the felted balls I made for him (which means that yes, he matches his toys). I've long wanted to try the Baby Surprise Jacket (from The Knitting Workshop), and decided to do so with this worsted weight - increasing the size a bit.
I changed colors randomly, and knit and knit a whole lot of garter stitch. I didn't mind all that though, as it was pretty much amazing watching this piece take shape. At first, I just couldn't imagine how it would become a sweater. It was a blob, really. A big striped blob.
But I had faith, and the (many) Zimmermann Ravelry groups on my side as a backup. There are so many great resources out there for knitting her patterns. While I'm not sure Elizabeth herself would have done so, I must say that I found this spreadsheet especially helpful. And though I didn't end up using it, I saw that Schoolhouse Press has released a 'modern day' instruction sheet with row by row instructions for the Baby Surprise Jacket.
With a bit of help, eventually, I could see where she was going with it and by the end it started to make sense. To illustrate, here's the just-finished-knitting 'before' piece:
And after some folding and stitching up two simple seams, the "after' piece:
I know, right? She was brilliant, that Elizabeth Zimmermann.
The worsted weight yarn worked out quite well, as this is plenty big for now, and will surely fit him all the way to this fall and the next. And with some stitches picked up on the sleeves as he grows (as she suggests) it might even go for years longer (Adelaide tried it on and it fit her!). Brilliance.
I can completely see how and why the Baby Surprise Jacket is a pattern that's knit over and over and over again...and I am about to become that knitter, too. I cast on for another one last night - this time for a small baby size in fingering weight yarn. Oddly, I have no idea who it's even for yet, but I still can't wait to see how it comes out. (I know what you're thinking....and, no, I am not!)
Did I mention that I think he likes it, too? I think he does...