Modern Baby Knits – Book Review and Pattern Excerpt

Title: 3 Skeins or Less Modern Baby Knits: 23 Knitted Baby Garments, Blankets, Toys and More!
Author: Tanis Gray
Published by: Interweave/F+W
ISBN: 978-1-63250-152-3
Format: Paperback, 128 pages
Published: May 13, 2016

 

Modern Baby Knits by Tanis Gray, published by Interweave/F+W, contains 23 of the most adorable knit blankets, accessories, baby garments and toys! The best part is, they take three skeins of yarn or less to make!

Here are some of the sweet projects that you will find in Modern Baby Knits:

Wallie and Carter – A Pair of Curious Bears by Rebecca Danger (p 60)
This sweet little pair of bears are perfect for your little one! They love to go on adventures or stay home and cuddle.

Stripy Romper by Kate Oates (p 42)
This adorable sleeveless romper is the perfect play outfit that will allow baby to move around comfortably all day long.

Reston Blanket by Kelly Herdrich (p 92)
This stylish and modern blanket is perfect for any beginner knitter.

Polka-Dot Pocket Pullover by Suvi Simola (p 22)
This cute little pullover has an adorable polka-dot kangaroo pocket and is finished off with a contrasting ribbing around the next, hem, and sleeves.

Each of the patterns in Modern Baby Knits are written in great detail with sizing information, Yarn/Needles/Notions, and gauge information. The patterns even contain a stitch guide and charts and diagrams to help you successfully complete the pattern. There is also a very helpful stitch glossary with visual guides to help you decipher some of the stitches and other techniques used in the book. Also, don’t forget to go to the end of the book and read more about the amazing designers that have contributed their time and talent to Modern Baby Knits!

If you want to try any of these fabulous projects for yourself, you can get Modern Baby Knits from the Interweave Store for just $22.99.

Bonus Content!

A special thank you to Interweave for providing us with a free pattern excerpt from Modern Baby Knits! I hope you enjoy it!

Excerpted from 3 Skeins or Less: Modern Baby Knits Copyright © 2016 by Tanis Gray and published by F+W Media, Inc. Used by permission of the publisher. All rights reserved. Photos courtesy of Joe Hancock.

New Leaf Bonnet

DESIGNED BY MELISSA LABARRE

This sweet little bonnet is a great fall or winter accessory. It covers the ears, and the I-cord ties help keep it on restless little boys and girls. The leaf motif pops against a garter-stitch background. Worked in a worsted-weight yarn, it flies off the needles.

FINISHED SIZE

Newborn (3 months, 9 months, 12 months).
About 12 ¼  (13, 14 ½, 15 ¾)” (31 [33, 37, 40] cm) wide at neck and 5 (5 ½, 6 ¼, 7)” (12.5 [14, 16, 18] cm) tall.
Bonnet shown is 14 ½” (37 cm) wide at neck and 6 ¼” (16 cm) tall.

YARN

Worsted weight (#4 Medium).
Shown here: Spud & Chloe
Sweater (55% superwash wool, 45% organic cotton; 160 yd [146 m]/100 g): #7502 Grass, 1 skein.

NEEDLES

Size U.S. 7 (4.5 mm): straight and set of 4 or 5 double-pointed (dpn). Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.

NOTIONS

Markers (m); tapestry needle.

GAUGE

18 sts and 36 rows = 4″ (10 cm) in garter st.

NOTES

This bonnet is worked back and forth in rows, then closed using a three-needle bind-off. Stitches are then picked up at each corner to work I-cord ties.

Body

Using straight needles, CO 55 (59, 65, 71) sts. Do not join.

Row 1: (RS) K18 (20, 23, 26), place marker (pm), work Row 1 of New Leaf chart over next 19 sts, pm, k18 (20, 23, 26).
Row 2: (WS) K18 (20, 23, 26), slip marker (sl m), work Row 2 of New Leaf chart over next 19 sts, sl m, k18 (20, 23, 26).
Rows 3–37: Cont in patt as established, working the first and last 18 (20, 23, 26) sts in garter st and working New Leaf chart between markers.
Row 38: (WS) Knit all sts, removing markers as you encounter them. Work in garter st for 0 (6, 12, 20) row(s), ending after a WS row.

Crown

Row 1: (RS—dec) K25 (27, 30, 33), k3tog, pm, ssk, k25 (27, 30, 33); 3 sts dec’d—52 (56, 62, 68) sts.
Rows 2 and 4: Knit.
Row 3: K24 (26, 29, 32), k2tog, sl m, ssk, k24 (26, 29, 32) sts; 2 sts dec’d— 50 (54, 60, 66) sts rem.
Row 5: K23 (25, 28, 31), k2tog, sl m, ssk, k23 (25, 28, 31) sts; 2 sts dec’d— 48 (52, 58, 64) sts rem.
Row 6: Knit.

Top

Turn bonnet inside out and place 24 (26, 29, 32) sts up to first marker on first dpn. Remove marker and place rem 24 (26, 29, 32) sts on second dpn. With a third dpn and using the three-needle method (see Glossary), BO all sts.

Ties

Place bonnet flat with RS facing, seam at top and leaf motif on the left. With dpn, pick up and knit 4 sts from lower right corner. Work standard I-cord (see Glossary) over 4 sts until piece measures 10″ (25.5 cm). Cut yarn and thread tail on tapestry needle; draw needle through rem sts and pull firmly. Weave in loose ends. Rep for I-cord tie on left side.

Finishing

Weave in loose ends. Block bonnet using water or steam and lay flat to dry.