For those of you not in the knitting-know, a bsj is a Baby Surprise Jacket. It's a pattern invented by legendary knitter Elizabeth Zimmerman in 1968. It's actually one of the easiest things in the world to knit, being all stockinette stitch and knitted in one piece. The fun is in the piece itself. Zimmerman was very math minded, and when you follow the pattern it's like driving down a dark road with no headlights with her giving you directions. You just have to follow it. You knit and knit, and increase and decrease and end up with a freaky misshapen lump of yarn that is somehow going to be a sweater. Then you lay it down and tuck in some edges and suddenly there it is. A cute wee sweater with really natty diagonal seams on the front lapels. Seam up the shoulders, put on some buttons, and you're done. I've made many of them for babies I've known.
One of the things at my baby shower that made me teary were the presents made from my crafty friends. And remember, everything came in sets of two! Now that is a lot of work. The boys have crocheted afghans for their carseats, another set that they use when napping, and a set given to me at the hospital by a group of little old ladies who make blankets for preemie babies. And then there were these sweaters from Krista. She's the kind of knitter I want to be, who always uses the most beautiful yarns (even if they are simple and practical) and turns out items that look even better than the pattern pictures. She made one bsj and another contrasting sweater for the boys, and they are finally big enough to wear them. The yarn she used is so soft that the boys could wear these sweaters naked if they wanted to.
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Mom's been asking to see a picture of both boys face-on. Liam often cooperates, but Dash is notorious for turning his head to the side and gazing off into the distance. Here is a series to show you how incredibly difficult it is to get the boys to hold still and look at the same place at the same time.
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And here's just a video of Dash being super cute.
1 comment:
I love the photos! Especially the "steak series". They are so expressive- I don't recall seeing an infant as young as Dashiel with so many interesting squinty mugging looks.
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