Earlier this year I made The Gift – a baby cardigan for a friend expecting a baby. I”m not being overly dramatic by calling it “The Gift” – that’s actually the name of the pattern.
I made this in May for a “mystery baby” – a baby whose gender is a secret or surprise until birth. I don’t think babies care what colour they are dressed in, but adults do so I was careful to stick to gender-neutral shades. The baby has since arrived and little Con is reported to be very happily wearing his cardigan.
The Gift is a freebie from Ravelry. I used Patons Dreamtime 8ply yarn which the label says is machine washable. It’s incredibly soft and doesn’t have a superwash feel, so I’m really not sure how it will launder.
I changed the bottom band and sleeve cuffs to plain rib, but otherwise stuck to the pattern.
Button choice was a small dilemma because I had several options that all looked good.
I shared these photos to a Facebook knitting group and asked for opinions on the button options. Lots of people preferred the red, and yellow was a close second. Weirdly, there were quite a few group members who were adamant that buttons should never be so prominent and they suggested shell or pearl buttons.
I didn’t put button holes on the button band, so I made my decision on looks and balance rather than whether the buttons fit the button holes. I ended up going for the red ones because they looked the most balanced overall.
For baby cardigans, I usually avoid button holes for the buttons, and I add a press stud behind each button instead.
I usually use large, plastic press studs because they are easier to fasten and they wash better than tiny metal ones. The small metal ones are ok – just a bit fiddly compared to the large ones.
The big advantage is that the button bands don’t get stretched out by a squirmy baby like they can with button holes. Also, press studs can be easier to do up.
My favourite baby cardigan patterns are still Wee Liesl by Ysolda Teague and the Garter Stitch Baby Jacket from Morris and Sons. I’ll return to one of these for the next baby cardigan I knit (and I already have a baby in mind), but The Gift will definitely be made again.
