EZ Best Baby Sweater

Finally, a different baby sweater!  It's Elizabeth Zimmerman's Best Baby Sweater pattern from Knitter's Almanac, published also in an issue of Vogue Knitting from the early 90's.  The yarn is the same as Elliphantom used here, Knit Picks Merino Style, in Vanilla.  A superwash yarn might have been a better choice, though.  Oops.  Too late.  It's for my 2 month old neice.  My brother and his wife like to dress their babies in white.  This other one was for my nephew, their first born.  The knitting of this one has been done for a couple of weeks and was awaiting only buttons.  Now, it's just awaiting a Mini Moopy to go along with it before it can be sent off. 

Knitting along on this got me thinking, though, that if you're waiting to knit, crochet, or sew, something for someone who's due and they don't know whether they're having a boy or girl, you could always make it in white and then, as soon as the baby is born, dye the finished piece another color based on whether the baby is a boy or girl.  That way you could have the piece finished before the baby is born, except the color.  It's just a thought.  I don't know if I'd actually ever do it myself.

I can't seem to get a picture that captures the true creamy off-white color that this is, nor how sweet this sweater really is.  A fun knit that I couldn't seem to get right at first.  Oh, right, it helps to read ahead in the pattern so that you start putting buttonholes in right from the start.  It reminds me of Alicia's crocheted baby sweater patterns here and here and some other favorite vintage ones (as always, click for a better view):

Vanilla.  That's what the boys have always called off-white since they could speak.  Like ice cream.  So much nicer, don't you think?

Comments

[Peg]

Hi Iris: Thanks for posting that beautiful little sweater. I had been knitting Rosebud in a beautiful Jade cotton, but it was too 'stiff', if you know what I mean. I have frogged it and have a beautiful jade superwash merino that sounds perfect - better yet, I also have that book!
I will take your hint and give the pattern a good read before starting.
Thanks - I called a sweater I knit in 'off white' French Vanilla. I think everyone knows the colour of vanilla ice cream! Wish it would get warmer here, as eating ice cream (any flavour) outside these days is not what we want to do! It is cool and windy on our coast, not sure what it is like in Seattle!

[Nadia Lewis]

Or another option: knit the cardi top-down in a neutral colour, leaving the hems on holders until it's born, then add gender appropriate hems.

[Jen]

Adorable sweater - I loved knitting that pattern, too, and will probably make many more - but what is the vintage pamphlet those pics are from - I really like a few of those little sweaters!

[Sarah]

I've just done the same thing, I've got a white sweater ready awaiting the birth this month. There are four of us in the neighborhood due in the next three months and none of us know the gender. So far I've knit one purple, one yellow, and one white. I've got blue yarn ready to go for the next one.

[Adrian]

I have never dyed a finished knitted garment before. A baby sweater is an excellent place to start.

I love the vanilla Best Baby Sweater! And those knee socks with the built-in knee are adorable.

[Michelle]

Love the sweater. It's probably a nice change from the other ones.

The mini moopy looks adorable.

[Jen]

I just knit a little stack of these myself. It is a fun sweater to knit--and I decided I liked it well enough without buttons at the neck.

[Simmy]

I love the old baby's layettes Mum's used to make. I still remember all the knitted clothes my little brother had back in 1970.

[Bevq]

I own the booklet those vintage patterns came from-- not sure if it was my moms or if I got it at a yardsale! =) Pretty stuff though.

Bev

http://www.bevscountrycottage.com