Seamless Baby Kimono

Another pattern for people to try! This is a completely seamless baby kimono. This particular version is an 8ply but I have plans to write it for heavier yarns. Hope you like it.

The Pattern

Size: approximately 6 - 9 months (size 00)

100g 8 ply (DK) yarn

(feel free to make this in a worsted weight yarn, it will just be a smidge larger. If you don't want it a smidge larger stop increasing a little earlier)

4 stitch markers

4mm 80cm circular

4mm DPNs

Waste yarn

Stitch holder

Darning needle

A button

Gauge: 22sts / 10cm

Glossary

pm – place marker

kfb – knit front and back

slm – slip marker

yo – yarn over

Body

CO 34 stitches using the circular needle.

Row 1: kfb, pm, kfb, k4, kfb, pm, kfb, k18, kfb, pm, kfb, k4, kfb, pm, kfb

You have now created the right front, right sleeve, back, left sleeve and left front between the markers.

Row 2: purl across

Row 3: k1, yo, kfb, slm, kfb, k6, kfb, slm, kfb, k20, kfb, slm, kfb, k6, kfb, slm, kfb, yo, k1

Row 4: purl across

Row 5: k1, yo, knit to stitch before next marker, kfb, slm , kfb, knit to stitch before next marker, kfb, slm, , kfb, knit to stitch before next marker, kfb, slm, , kfb, knit to stitch before next marker, kfb, slm, kfb, knit to last stitch, yo, k1.

Row 6: purl across.

Continue repeating rows 5 and 6 until there are 50 stitches between the2nd and 3rd markers (across the back)

Create the sleeves: k1, yo, k to first marker, place the sleeve stitches onto waste yarn, pm, knit back stitches, place the other sleeve stitches onto waste yarn, pm, knit to last stitch, yo, k1

Next row: purl across

The lower body:

Row 1: k1, yo, knit to last stitch, yo, k1

Row 2: purl across

Continue repeating rows 1 and 2 until there are 50 stitches on both front panels (the sections outside of the markers). 150 stitches total.

Next row: knit across

Make side tie:

Row 1: Knit to first marker, slm, kfb, slip first stitch on right needle back to the left, place the next stitch on the right needle on a stitch holder placing the holder to the right side of the work, slip the first stitch back onto the right needle, knit to end

Row 2: Knit to stitch before second marker, kfb, slip first stitch on right needle back to the left, place the next stitch on the right needle on a stitch holder placing the holder to the right side of the work, slip the first stitch back onto the right needle, slm, knit to end

Row 3: Knit to first marker, slm, kfb, slip first stitch on right needle back to the left, place the next stitch on the right needle on a stitch holder placing the holder to the right side of the work, slip the first stitch back onto the right needle,, knit to end

Row 4: Knit

BO loosely

Sleeves

Evenly space the sleeve stitches on 3 DPNs.

With the right side facing, locate the centre bottom of the sleeve opening. Pick up two stitches from the left of the opening and continue knitting the round, picking up two additional stitches onto needle 3 (40 stitches total)

Knit 2 more rounds

Decrease Round: k1, k2tog, knit to last 3 stitches, ssk, k1

Decrease every 4^th round a further 8 times (22 sts)

Knit next 4 rounds

Alternate purl one round, knit the next for next 4 rounds.

BO loosely

Ties

Side tie: Join yarn to the three stitches on the stitch holder.

*Knit 15 cm of garter stitch.

Next row: k2tog, k1

Last row: k2tog, thread yarn through remaining stitch.*

Front tie: pick up 3 stitches from the edge of the garter stitch section of the right front section. Repeat from * to *

Finishing

Weave in ends. Sew the button on the inside of the right hand flap to use the bottom eyelet of the left flap as a button hole.

Alternatives

If you don't like the eyelet trim use an increase other than yo such as kfb or m1. If you want the kimono to cross the other way simply make the side tie around the other marker and switch the front tie and button.

Check some of the other great modifications that people have made at Ravelry.

Approximate finished dimensions

After a Bulky version? Click here!

For patterns in additional sizings click here.

This pattern is provided free for your own personal use. You may knit it for yourself, as a gift, a swap or for charity. This pattern is not intended for commercial use. Any intended commercial use requires permission in writing.

I must have tried to blog these things a dozen time...

Somedays Blogger is not kind. I have no idea why but there are some days that I just cannot get a post to happen. Either the pictures won't load or there are buttons missing or the other day I just kept getting a stupid nonsense error message. So let's see how we go today...

I FINISHED MY SOCKS!!!! The colourway is just gorgeous and they do just fit so snuggly. I feel like a "big girl" knitter now that I have done proper sock-yarn socks. For some reason that I can't really explain, the 8 ply International Socks of Doom just didn't feel like real socks. These socks feel like real socks.


I have started knitting OSW for the girls for Christmas (that is of course if I can wait until Christmas to give them to them). I added a small sleeve to the pattern because I just thought that it made them a little more "little girlish" and a little less womanly. Here is the first one (Keisha's) ably modelled by the lovely Big Ted. I am using the yarn that I dyed a few weeks ago.


Lastly in today's show and tell exercise is the Halloween stuff that I knit for my dear friend Beth who has a spooky birthday on the 31st. The bag is Jack by Kate Gilbert done in Cascade 220. It was great fun and looked really fab when finished. having looked at a number of them on Ravelry made in other yarns might I humbly suggest that anyone thinking of completing it stick to the suggested yarn (the Cascade). It felted superbly and had no bleed at all, even where I had been lazy and stranded across the thinner parts like the teeth.

The dishcloths are Pumpkin and Punkin great fun little knits that used up some left off Knitpicks shine worsted and complement the Halloween tea towels and hand towels that I gave Beth last year. Sometime soon she is going to get sick of handmade Halloween birthday presents.

Here are the cloths and the front of the bag.....


And the scary back of the bag.....

I am now working on a new pattern that is working so well. Stay tuned for details....

A day to count your blessings.

I went to a funeral today. It was for a student of mine, a 16 year old boy who died last Wednesday of a particularly aggressive form of leukaemia. He was just such a beautiful boy and I and everyone who knew him are richer for the experience.

He was the youngest of three boys and as I looked at his poor parents I couldn't help but offer up my silent thanks that it wasn't me. Sometimes we forget how blessed we are and we forget to be thankful for that which we have. Rohan has been a three year old pain in the rear of late but this has reminded me that even to be able to argue with the headstrong little bugger is a privilege.

Give your loved ones an extra hug tonight and tell them that you love them. You never know what is around the corner.

Rest in peace Jack.

When I should have been finsihing off WIPs

Like these Yarn Harlot basic socks in Monster Knits Turkish Delight colourway.


I decided to start (and finish) this:

It is the One Skein Wonder by Stefanie Japel (Glampyre Knits). What a delightful little project. I have been hoarding this skein of Zen String bliss aran pretty much since I got back into knitting with absolutley no idea what to do with it. This was the perfect project. It shows the yarn to advantage and it was quick, easy and fun!

Now back to those socks.....

My Name is Jacki and I have a problem

Inspired by the Woolaholics chocolate swap, I decided to dye yet more wool! Dyeing is such fun and now that I have sort of worked out how to do it better I am so pleased with the results that I am getting. This is food dye again and I am so happy with the way that the brown came out, even though I think next time I will add a smidge of black to the mix. The bluey-green is nice too (or at least I think it is).

Anyways, I cetainly have more than enough yarn here right now so I have sent this one off with some delicious looking handmade chocies and organic, free-trade coffee to someone else. Hopefully they like it and find some use for it.

A hard earned thirst needs a....

VB dishcloth of course. Here I was thinking to myself "What is that the world REALLY needs?". The answer came to me in a bolt, a VB dishcloth. What better to mop up a little spilt beer?

Done in VB green (of course), here it is....


CO 40 stitches using 4mm needles and 8 ply cotton (of some description) or another combo that suits. Let's face it, it is only the finished size that is going to vary.

Knit 4 rows

1. K3, P34, K3
2. K ALL
3. K3, P34, K3
4. K ALL
5. K3, P8, K18, P8, K3
6. K9, P22, K9
7. K3, P4, K26, P4, K3
8. K7, P26, K7
9. K3, P4, K26, P4, K3
10. K7, P26, K7
11. K3, P4, K26, P4, K3
12. K7, P8, K10, P8, K7
13. K3, P4, K6, P14, K6, P4, K3
14. K7, P4, K18, P4, K7
15. K3, P4, K3, P20, K3, P4, K3
16. K7, P3, K20, P3, K7
17. K3, P4, K3, P7, K6, P7, K3, P4, K3
18. K7, P3, K5, P10, K5, P3, K7
19. K3, P4, K3, P4, K12, P4, K3, P4, K3
20. K7, P3, K4, P2, K2, P3, K3, P2, K4, P3, K7
21. K3, P4, K3, P4, K1, P1, K2, P1, K2, P1, K2, P1, K1, P4, K3, P4, K3
22. K7, P3, K4, P1, K1, P2, K1, P2, K1, P2, K1, P1, K4, P3, K7
23. K3, P4, K3, P4, K1, P1, K2, P1, K2, P1, K2, P1, K1, P4, K3, P4, K3
24. K7, P3, K4, P1, K1, P2, K1, P2, K3, P2, K4, P3, K7
25. K3, P4, K3, P4, K1, P1, K2, P1, K2, P1, K2, P1, K1, P4, K3, P4, K3
26. K7, P3, K4, P1, K1, P2, K1, P2, K1, P2, K1, P1, K4, P3, K7
27. K3, P4, K3, P4, K2, P3, K2, P1, K2, P1, K1, P4, K3, P4, K3
28. K7, P3, K4, P12, K4, P3, K7
29. K3, P4, K3, P5, K10, P5, K3, P4, K3
30. K7, P3, K7, P6, K7, P3, K7
31. K3, P4, K3, P20, K3, P4, K3
32. K7, P4, K18, P4, K7
33. K3, P4, K6, P14, K6, P4, K3
34. K7, P8, K10, P8, K7
35. K3, P4, K10, P6, K10, P4, K3
36. K7, P26, K7
37. K3, P4, K26, P4, K3
38. K7, P26, K7
39. K3, P4, K26, P4, K3
40. K7, P6, K14, P6, K7
41. K3, P4, K3, P20, K3, P4, K3
42. K7, P1, K24, P1, K7
43. K3, P4, K3, P20, K3, P4, K3
44. K9, P4, K14, P4, K9
45. K3, P8, K18, P8, K3
46. K ALL
47. K3, P34, K3
48. K ALL

Knit 4 rows

BO and weave in ends.

This pattern is provided free for your own personal use. You may knit it for yourself, as a gift, a swap or for charity. This pattern is not intended for commercial use. Any intended commercial use requires permission in writing.

A little fun with some food dye.

I spent a little time yesterday dyeing some wool. You might remember my last attempt at a dye job. As a first attempt it was okay but it was highly variable in places and not nearly how I ecpected it to turn out. These ones I am VERY happy with. I decided to dip dye them rather than pour the dye on and that is something I will do from here on in. I also like just the two colours. Last time I really tried to over complicate things. What will I do with these? Hell, I don't know! It was therapy.

The technical details if you are interested. Yarn is 100% wool "Clinker" from Kmart - dirt cheap, takes colour well and in my opinion perfiect for the beginner. I used Queen food dyes. The pink and green are diluted "Rose Pink" and plain old green. The purple is a mixture of cochineal and blue and the orange is the "Pillarbox Red" and yellow. The yarn was soaked for about 30 miuntes in a vinegar bath (equal parts vinegar and water), were dipped into a dilute solution of dye in a bowl, the excess dye squeezed from them, wrapped in gladwrap, microwaved for 6 minutes on high, dried and then reskeined.

This is the tutorial I used if you are interested.