A very dear friend of mine is about to have a baby boy after a string of girls. Naturally when I heard the news, the needles started clacking (wooden needles don't really clack, do they? But still...). I have hopes of finishing a few things for this little one, but the reality is that might just be these two - one just came off the needles and the other is so very close. Soon, seeds need to go in the ground and before I know it this little one will be in his mama's arms.
Finished, is a Pebble Vest with some unlabeled fingering weight yarn held double, and a set of vintage buttons. And almost finished is a Baby Surprise Jacket, in Manos Serena, an alpaca/cotton blend that I'm knitting with for the first time and really enjoying.
It's got me thinking - the knitting for this baby - about what a dream layette for a newborn baby would be. Surely it'll be a while before my days really lend themselves to creating such a thing - a big pile of hand knit essentials for a little one. Dare I dream of doing so someday (many many years from now) for a grandchild should I be so lucky? Month spent knitting little things, culminating in a big pile of warm woolie goodness. Ah, yes. That hand knit newborn layette, should it ever happen, might just have to include one of each of these favorites -
Baby Surprise Jacket - Oh, this pattern. It's no wonder it's stood the test of time - it's a brilliant design with so many possibilities for variation (ever checked out the wiki page?).
Pebble Vest - for boy and or girl, this wee vest is so tiny knit in the DK weight. There's hardly anything as heart melty as such a tiny little thing wearing...a vest. Yes, an essential.
Kicking Bag - I have to confess that I wasn't certain about this kicking bag when I made the first one. The adorableness of it was no question, but would I actually use it? Yes. My last two babies spent a better part of their first weeks in these kicking bags. It kept them cozy and warm at naps without having to worry about blankets, and made diaper changes all the easier by just wearing a diaper onesie and kicking bag. An essential.
Pinwheel Blanket - Of all the baby blankets I've knit (okay, five), this one really is my favorite. With a beautiful yarn, this pattern has such a great drape, weight and size too. And while it got a little enormous on the needles towards the end, it really was a fun knit. Annabel's is still snuggled up with her often.
Stay-On Baby Booties - I've tried several bootie patterns, and these are hands down my favorite - because they really do stay on!
Oh, I could go on. There are February Longies, and a Cassia dress, and oh - what about hats and bonnets? Yes, I can see this list is not complete. Thankfully, it will be a good deal of time before my days lend themselves to creating such a hand knit layette. I'll wait for it. And until that day, when I learn of a new little one coming into our world of friends and family, I happily pick and choose what I can manage to make with the time I have from my list of favorites.