Knitting, pottering

Only a few days after I wrote my last post outlining what I'd like to achieve with my knitting this year I've wandered off-course; I'm pottering around. I've begun to knit a cardigan for a baby who's the first grandchild of a very old friend. This certainly wasn't on my list of things to knit this year, but baby knitting is always seductive and this particular pattern has lots to recommend it.

I'm knitting the MacDougal Cardigan - a pattern by Connie Chang Chinchio who's a well-known and admired knitwear designer who has published several patterns for babies and children since her daughter was born a couple of years ago. I like the fact that she brings the taste and technical knowledge developed through years of designing adult garments to her children's patterns. In this particular cardigan I like the combination of the rather retro oat-stitch patterned panels on the front of the cardigan with its practical boxy shape and the unfussy contrast trim of reverse garter stitch.

In my defence of pottering away from my year's plan I can add that I used yarn I already had (some grey Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino) and the pattern does include useful knitting skills such as a three-needle bind-off at the shoulders and the option (which I shall take) of knitting the sleeves by picking up stitches around the armhole and knitting them in the round.

I'm a bit doubtful about the colour. I think a grey cardigan is very useful for a baby, but I know not everybody shares my belief in grey as suitable for all ages and occasions. Let's hope the cuteness of the pattern compensates for the rather utilitarian colour.