Another baby gift. When they said ‘Tis the Season!, I don’t think they meant babies, but that’s the way it worked out this Christmas!
A friend, who was expecting this winter, recently gave me some partial skeins of Red Heart Soft Baby Steps yarn that was given to her along with a baby gift. As she doesn’t have any time for yarn crafts, with 3 little ones under 4, she thought I might be able to use it. With about 80 grams of each color, I thought I could make something cute for her baby out of this washer-and-dryer-friendly yarn. I’m not a fan of Red Heart historically, but the Soft Baby Steps was new to me and very true to its name – soft.
I have used the Top Down Garter Stitch Baby Jacket pattern several times, but I wanted to switch it up with some color & texture. I liked the idea of mixing stripes with color blocking and also wanted to play with garter on stockinette – which ended up reverse stockinette & worked equally well. The blue perfectly matched a spool of grosgrain ribbon I had purchased for another project, but hadn’t used. And this baby’s theme animal was owls, so Baby Ruby’s Jacket just fell together!
Mods – alternated colors throughout the yoke increases; continued garter in MC throughout body; picked up sleeves in CC, knit for 6″ + 3 rows in k2, p2 rib & bound off in pattern. Sleeves are reverse stockinette, worked inside out in the round. Added grosgrain ribbon along the button band & added backing button at the top.
I followed the directions from The Knitmore Girls grosgrain ribbon button band tutorial and couture button tutorial for this little sweater & was very pleased with the effect!
Who doesn’t love a line of little owls peeping out from a wee baby sweater?
Donita Westman 