It seems like everyone I know is about to have, or has just had a baby. Knitting baby things is very rewarding for me. You get a finished project in no time at all, and thankfully, most of the people I have knit for are super appreciative of the gift. If you’re looking for some inspiration for Spring baby knits, the Valley Yarns Spring Baby Sets eBook is a great collection.

It contains three matching sweaters and blankets that are perfect for baby. The yarns it features are Valley Yarns Longmeadow, Valley Yarns Valley Superwash DK, and Valley Yarns Valley Superwash (which happens to currently be part of our Anniversary Sale).

The Martius Baby Pullover and Martius Baby Blanket feature cables and moss stitch. I love the addition of contrasting, colorful buttons at the shoulder. It is a cute detail that can add a bit of pop and personality.

If you’re looking for an adorable short sleeve baby cardigan with a lacy touch, you’ll want to check out the Aprilis Baby Cardigan and Aprilis Baby Blanket. I love the lacy pattern, and you may recognize it as a tiny version of our popular Philomena Cardigan.

The Maia Baby Cardigan uses a fun math trick to turn two matching garter stitch hexagons into a cardigan. The trick is that they aren’t really hexagons, but 3-dimensional shapes made of six right angles. Simple stripes wrap all the way around the outer edges of each hexagon to give clues to the clever observer about how it’s made. The 3-needle bind off used to join the pieces together in the end is sturdy, but can be undone in order to be worked on again to keep the cardigan growing right along with the baby. The Maia Baby Blanket is worked from the center out, bright stripes around the outer edges.

All of these patterns are also available individually, but the eBook saves you almost half the price! Plus, having the patterns as downloads is so handy for carrying along and saving without taking up physical space.

Which pattern in the collection is your favorite?

I love fashion and anything to do with fashion. I love reading wrap-ups of Fashion Week in New York City, I love “Project Runway” and “The Face,” and I especially love that the Rhode Island School of Design is so close to us (less than 2 hours-ish) that students come here for inspiration and supplies for their projects in Apparel and Hand Knitting Design classes. Now we are able to showcase the work these talented soon-to-be-grads are doing in what we’re calling “A Day of Creativity with RISD” on Sunday, April 27. It’s like our own “Project Runway!” While I know that only those local to WEBS will be able to take the classes, we are making the patterns for these fun garments available once the classes have run, so everyone will have a chance to make them! And who wouldn’t? This baby sweater is the cutest thing ever, knit in Valley Yarns Longmeadow for a special infant. 

If you’re thinking that a cowl can’t be worn once the temperature climbs into the 60’s, you’re so wrong. This linen-stitch cowl in light, silky Valley Yarns Goshen will protect you from aggressive air-conditioning in a restaurant or movie theater in style. And the Commelina Shawl, knit in featherweight Charlemont Hand-Dyed Yarn, is a lovely light layer for a summer wedding. 

WEBS is making the Day of Creativity a fund-raiser for our local animal shelter, Dakin Animal Shelter. They do wonderful work to make sure all animals in their care are well taken-care-of and you all can do your part by clicking on their wish list to see what they can use as we head into the summer.I hope I’ll see you all at one or more of the classes. There are still openings, and we’ve set the fee at an all-time low of $10 each plus a donation to Dakin Animal Shelter so that everyone can join in the fun.

In the store, we often get to see customers come through with great finished projects made with stellar patterns. We realized recently that several of us have finished some really great patterns and wanted to share them with you. Some of them are new, some are old, and some are even designed by our staff. Take a look at what we’ve worked on.

Elektrocute by Emma Welford
Like most of my design ideas, Elektrocute started out as a hastily-scribbled sketch on a post-it note while I was working. From sketch to chart to FO, it turned out exactly as I was picturing it and that makes it my latest favorite! I think the evolving colorwork pattern is fun and youthful while Madelinetosh Pashmina makes it luxe. Go wild with color combinations…I dare you! – Emma W.
I test knit this for Emma, and I must say, it’s a super fun pattern! – Mary

Cabled Raglan Baby Sweater by Rebecca L. Daniels
Made in Louet Gems Sport, a wonderful springy yarn that had a lot of personality and showed cabling nicely. This was my first top-down raglan sweater (believe it or not) and they each knit up in less than a week. Not only did I love the pattern, I loved learning this technique and I can’t believe I didn’t come around to it sooner. I’m contemplating making another pair as a first-birthday present. – Amy G.

Cladonia by Kirsten Kapur
I love knitting the Cladonia by Kirsten Kapur.  It was a simple shawl with a very nice lacy details to finish it off.  I knit it up in the Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light as the main color and Madelinetosh Tosh Lace for the lace detail in a different color. – Bonnie L.

Rooshed by Amy Stephens
I have always loved lace weight yarn but my attempts at knitting lace have always ended in tears. Rooshed is my answer! It’s an asymmetrical shawl/scarf that is practically weightless. It’s long enough to style a number of different ways. I’ve knit three already, in a silk/merino blend and have plans to knit another one in black. They’ve been popping up on a number of people who work in the store too. I love seeing everyone’s fiber and color choice. – Amy S.
I’m pretty excited about this pattern. It’s definitely on my to-knit list! – Mary

Crossroads Hat by Elena Nodel
I knit this hat while start to finish while watching a football game. It was a super quick knit and it was also a really fun knit. I’m not a huge fan of purling, so it seems silly to have chosen this particular pattern, but the slipped stitches and cabling helped to break it up and move it along. Once you get going, the location of the slipped stitches and cables just flows. I knit it in two colors of Madelinetosh Tosh DK. – Mary K.

Elementary Cowl by Amy Stephens
One of my favorite patterns, right now, is the Elementary Cowl. I think I’m knitting the 12th one. I just can’t stop! The pattern is incredibly easy. What I’m drawn to is picking out different colors and working with yarns that have a chainette construction like Classic Elite Chalet/Chateau, Cascade Eco Cloud, and Rowan Lima/Lima Colour.  The fabric is so warm, soft and squishy. It’s a perfect knit for watching TV, a knitting group project, or watching swim meets. – Amy S.

What’s your favorite pattern that you’ve recently completed? Do you like seeing our finished projects and patterns recommendations?