Cotton Cuteness

**theworm**[$] · #1 06-15-2008, 01:41 AM

With all the craziness lately, I haven't had time to crochet at all!

Yesterday, I left work early so hubby and I could drive up for our nephews graduation party. We missed the ceremony last week because of the floods, so we really wanted to make it for the party. Of course as we hit the highway, the skies once again opened up, and we had to drive through some nasty storms.

Eventually it calmed down, and I was able to concentrate on some crochet. Long car rides are perfect! I was able to finish this little cotton set in under 4 hours.

I used this pattern from the Kollegiate Hooker. I made a mistake somewhere on the front - my sweater overlaps a bit, but I straightened the edge as I went, moved the buttons down to mid-chest and it really came out cute. I love the way the designer worked the yoke of this sweater and created the arm holes. It was very simple and created neater underarm seams than some other patterns I've used. I also improvised on the sleeves just a bit to avoid having to sew any seams. I followed the designers pattern, but worked in the round to eliminate the need for sewing. I'll definitely be using this pattern again!

I didn't follow her pattern for the cap, but used her basic stitches to make a coordinating sun hat.

I'll be donating this set to Marine Corps Kids.

More...

**mjfrombuffalo**[$] · #2 06-15-2008, 08:04 AM

I was looking at a similar pattern at Lion - did this one require sewing pieces together? (can you tell I really don't want to sew? LOL)

**theworm**[$] · #3 06-15-2008, 11:44 AM

No. This one only required a tiny bit of sewing in the sleeves, and I didn't want to sew either, so I just worked the sleeves in rounds and avoided any sewing at all.

I really liked the way this pattern worked the top yoke. If you want to try it, it's a good pattern. When I make it again, I may not do the seed stitch on the bottom, but do alt SC, DC to make it faster. This would be a good one for you to try. I can show you how to avoid the sewing.

Not that you crochet or anything like that....

**mjfrombuffalo**[$] · #4 06-15-2008, 01:52 PM

Oh no, not at all. It's this annoying baby gift thing that I have to send out, thought maybe I could dabble or something...

**theworm**[$] · #5 06-15-2008, 01:57 PM

dabbling is good. I mean, it's not like you actually like it or anything....it's just the need for a gift......

**mjfrombuffalo**[$] · #6 06-15-2008, 02:12 PM

Yeah, that's right. I'm not addicted, oh no. So if I decide to try it (in the interest of dabbling, of course), how would I round the sleeves instead of sewing?

**theworm**[$] · #7 06-15-2008, 02:28 PM

What I did was....

If you read the pattern, she continues the pattern from the sweater body doing SC. DC. In the sleeves, she does that and turns at the end of the row. I just joined at the end of the row and continued the pattern in the next row, so you would join, do a chain or 3 chains for the first DC or SC, and then turn and do the round. That way there is no open gap to close. I think its actually better for baby to not have a seam that could irritate sensitive baby skin.

I'm going to start another like this, but I'm going to do DC, chain, (instead of DC, SC). That gives a nice brick-like pattern and will be faster to do. I also think it will be a little lighter and good for summer.

I made mine in cotton - you can use Peaches and Cream or Sugar N Cream.

You need to start showing pics of your work...um, I mean your dabbles.

**theworm**[$] · #8 06-15-2008, 02:31 PM

MJ, here is another great easy sweater pattern. (scroll down on the page for the pattern). You do have to sew a small seam, but the sweater looks impressive and is actually very simple to do. This one of the first sweater patterns that I used, and I made several of them. I really love this pattern.

**mjfrombuffalo**[$] · #9 06-15-2008, 08:30 PM

Quote:

theworm said

What I did was....

If you read the pattern, she continues the pattern from the sweater body doing SC. DC. In the sleeves, she does that and turns at the end of the row. I just joined at the end of the row and continued the pattern in the next row, so you would join, do a chain or 3 chains for the first DC or SC, and then turn and do the round. That way there is no open gap to close. I think its actually better for baby to not have a seam that could irritate sensitive baby skin.

I'm going to start another like this, but I'm going to do DC, chain, (instead of DC, SC). That gives a nice brick-like pattern and will be faster to do. I also think it will be a little lighter and good for summer.

Hmm. That makes sense. And it would more closely match the sun hat, wouldn't it? Especially if there's a row of DC/Ch followed by a row of DC only, then keep alternating...

**theworm**[$] · #10 06-15-2008, 08:41 PM

If you want to keep it really simple you can do the whole thing in DC. Then just trim it with 1-2 rows of sc around the edge.

**mjfrombuffalo**[$] · #11 06-15-2008, 08:42 PM

Quote:

theworm said

If you want to keep it really simple you can do the whole thing in DC. Then just trim it with 1-2 rows of sc around the edge.

Simple isn't necessary, but I do want to try to make it look like it goes with the sun hat since that's already done

**theworm**[$] · #12 06-15-2008, 08:45 PM

If you want it to match the hat, complete the bottom part of the sweater in all DC. Then go all around the edge with a row of sc. Then do sc, chain 3, skip the next stitch, sc around the bottom of the sweater to match the edging on the cap.

**conradd** · #13 06-17-2008, 02:11 AM

What a cute set. The mom who receives it for her new baby is going to love it.

**mjfrombuffalo**[$] · #14 06-23-2008, 08:34 PM

So I did the sweater you showed me, did a couple rows with open stitches and edged with ruffles to match the hat from your sunhat pattern, and here's what I've come up with. My fear is the hat will fit the baby now, but the sweater won't, and when the sweater fits, the hat won't!

**theworm**[$] · #15 06-23-2008, 08:37 PM

OMG!!! I'm so impressed! That looks SOOOOO great!!! My first sweater was a disaster! You're already a pro! I love the way you modified the pattern The set looks amazing!!!!!

I think I'm going to need to make one like this! I love it!!!

It looks like the hat and sweater should be sized about right! If you're concerned. You can make another hat a bit larger by using a bigger hook, but I think your fine and your friend is going to love these!!!!!

You rock!!

**mjfrombuffalo**[$] · #16 06-23-2008, 08:41 PM

I only did the open stitches on the front of the sweater, BTW - from the front edge to where the "seam" would be on the underarm, then straight DC until I got to the underarm seam on the other side, then DC/ch/DC etc. I counted what I did on the one side, then counted backwards on the other side so I'd know where to do my first ch stitch. (I figgered that out all by myself!) Hubby suggested the ruffle on the sleeves.

**theworm**[$] · #17 06-23-2008, 09:08 PM

Lovely!!

**mjfrombuffalo**[$] · #18 07-01-2008, 02:44 PM

The mother of the blue set I made (you see the hat, above) called me. "The sweater fits, but the hat, well, on his big head it looks like a yarmulke."

**theworm**[$] · #19 07-01-2008, 07:35 PM

time to make another hat!

Magick1 · #20 07-02-2008, 12:07 PM

Wow, you are both so talented. I cannot draw a stick person with a ruler!

I invariably find a dent or something wicked in the ruler and my stick person gets crooked.

Now, I used to be pretty talented with foreign languages, but I am not using and thus loosing that talent!

**theworm**[$] · #21 07-02-2008, 08:53 PM

I wish I had a knack for languages. I don't!