When I love something I tend to name it multiple times. One of my children, for example, has been called everything from Sausage Rumpus to Buggy to Meat Feet, and has now accepted that she's going to be Cream Cheese for the duration. Our deal is as long as I don't slip up and call her this in public, she gives me the continued right to use it privately.
I named this baby sweater many times while I was working on it. After knitting two scarves which were mind-numbing soul-killing exercises in self-control, I wanted to make something where I did everything exactly the way I wanted. This meant Rowan Kidsilk Haze and Aura, it meant lots of colors, it meant ruffles, and it meant using the antique Czech buttons that LB's mom gave me for Christmas.
It looks like there's quite a lot of fussy buttonry on this 6 month-sized sweater, but I wanted to use all the buttons that came on the card. Each button is different, and they look more beautiful together than they do apart.
Whenever I do something in exactly the manner I want, I jump through flaming hoops of self-justification to validate that decision. I realize this sounds beyond silly, as if I expect one of the bus drivers in the Keshet parking lot to look at me sternly and say, "You're not fooling anyone -- that project could easily be made with Manos of Uruguay you already own instead of Noro you had to buy." But it's one of the knitting games I play with myself: like not allowing myself to open a box of yarn I've ordered until I've blocked the project I'm currently finishing. Or making myself do ten rows on a "have to" before allowing myself a large block of time for the "want to" project. I'm guessing I'm not the only knitter who does this sort of thing.
The beauty of knitting for a baby you've never met is that you have no idea of her preferences. What I do know is that her mother is a very conscious mother. By that I don't mean she reads tons of books on various parenting philosophies and attends workshops and symposia on the mothering experience. I mean that she pays attention to that inner voice that tells her what feels right and what feels instinctual, and does not allow the pressure of current trends to influence her. I think we can all agree she'd want me to knit her baby a sweater in which every single choice, from the colors to the yarn to the buttons, was based on what felt pleasurable to me.
This is the Annabelle Lee sweater (loosely based on Elizabeth Zimmermann's February Baby Sweater). Because this sweater, ...she lived with no other thought than to love and be loved by me. More pics and details can be found here:
Beautiful sweater! More!
Posted by: Barbara | January 30, 2012 at 03:05 PM
OMG the ruffle at the bottom of the garter stitch yoke! I am putting ruffles on every single FBS I knit from now on. Fantastic!
And why is it that scarves are so very mind-numbing? I'm with you - I can't stand to knit them. Endless rows of stockinette in the round are fine, but a scarf just sucks the knitting mojo right out of me.
Posted by: leslie | January 30, 2012 at 04:31 PM
Oh and tell Cream Cheese that it could be worse - one of my kids is known as "Pants" :)
Posted by: leslie | January 30, 2012 at 04:34 PM
I. Love. It!
Posted by: Tamara | January 31, 2012 at 12:23 AM
That is the prettiest thing I have ever seen. You must always knit only what you want to if this is the result. That baby is going to be adorable in this!
Posted by: Amelia | January 31, 2012 at 03:17 AM
It was many and many a year ago...
Love this - the ruffles are a delight and I LOVE the lovely buttons!
Posted by: CrazyMomTats! | January 31, 2012 at 09:03 AM
Lucky Etta!
Posted by: Joan | January 31, 2012 at 09:07 AM
Faved. And you didn't even need to ask :-) Gorgeous sweater!
Posted by: kmkat | January 31, 2012 at 09:21 AM
Oh, man. You gave those buttons to a BABY? Who will not notice and will, in fact, probably puke on them? Well, they do look perfect on that sweater, on the other hand. But...ask her mom to cut them off when the sweater is outgrown, and attach them to something else you knit. So beautiful, the whole project. I'm picturing them on the prettiest adult 3/4 sleeve little angora blend jacket...
Posted by: Glenna | January 31, 2012 at 09:39 AM
Darling rufflosity! Everyone who sets eyes on her will gush.
Posted by: Hildie | January 31, 2012 at 04:54 PM
That is my most favorite baby sweater....ever! I hope that baby girl will have younger sisters so it can be worn over and over. If I'd ever seen that for sale, I'd have bought it in a heartbeat!! You're kniting is amazing!!!! (Is that too many exclamation points? I think not in this case.)
Posted by: Dixie | February 01, 2012 at 10:35 AM
So original & pretty. I'm sure the baby & her mom will love it.
Posted by: quiltyknitwit | February 01, 2012 at 10:21 PM
This. Is. Stunning! I am SO glad you went with exactly what you wanted for this (much like the Bucktown Baby dress you made for Miss Tye, which I'm anxiously waiting to put on Etta). The red buttons are such a perfect compliment to the blues and greens. This is absolutely the most adorable baby cardigan- ever.
Posted by: Em | February 03, 2012 at 08:45 PM