Elizabeth Zimmerman's Baby Surprise Jacket

Manos Del Uruguay ~ 3 Skeins ~ Mint #18

Size 7 Needles

Completed November 15, 2005

I have never been a big fan of baby clothes that are shrunk-down versions of what adults wear.  You know, the leather bomber jacket in size 3-6 months, or the Nikes for newborns.  I loved soft things that let the baby be a baby with all their wonderful roundness.

The whole time I was knitting this jacket, I kept thinking "what kind of person comes up with something like this??"  But just trust EZ, when the knitting is done, it just flops into position - add a couple quick shoulder seams and some buttons and you have a soft, thick, warm jacket in the perfect baby shape.

Along the lines of my last post, wouldn't it be fun to see the many, many versions of this popular jacket which has been knitted for so many years?  I wonder what EZ would have thought of my yarn choice.  I think, I hope she would have been pleased.

Comments

[Norma]

I'm positive she would have been pleased. What a gorgeous thing!

[Jessica]

I love your yarn choice and how the buttons go with it. It looks beautiful. How large did it turn out done in a larger yarn?

[Kathleen]

It looks lovely. I want to knit one. I wonder if EZ might not have prefered you bought your yarn from Schoolhouse. ;)

[Stacie]

Abosuletly adorable! I'm gonna have a baby just so I can get you to knit for it! Hahaha!

[Mary]

It's darling - and what perfect timing. I've been coveting all of the little Rosebud cardigans over at Knitting Iris and thinking that I need to find a perfect baby sweater pattern that I can knit up on a moment's notice.

This one might be a good option - for the fascination of knitting it up and the practicality of the design! EZ has such great advice.

Which book was this pattern in?

[Annie]

Love it! It looks adorable.

[Rebekah]

It looks great, the baby will be very lucky!

[ann]

love it!!

[Kerstin]

Oh sure! Another knit from the woman who was just complaining about grumpiness from lack of knitting time. That's the last time I believe anything you write! ;)

This is such a coincidence. I was bored yesterday with my knitting so I pulled Vogue Knitting's American Collection off my shelf. Guess what's near the back of the book? A gorgeous lacey baby sweater by EZ. (Also, her first published aran is included in this book, if I read the summary correctly.) Anyway, we just received notice that former co-workers of Pete's just had a baby girl. And I have yarn potential in my stash. Argh. I'm trying so hard to be a focussed knitter, really I am.

Lovely sweater, MB. I think garter works particularly well on baby items. Lucky recipient!

[Suzanne Reyes]

I absolutely love it! I made one six months or so ago for my niece and was just wondering if it ever fit her. She is quite a big baby, and I wasn't expecting that from her parents who are petite. I hope the baby who receives yours gets to wear it for awhile.

[Kathy]

Love it! Classic, yet interesting. Is this pattern in one of her books? I'd love to take a look at it. It would be neat to see this in other yarns and colors -- it would look totally different in variegated.

[Michelle]

One of my favorite patterns. It's lovely!

[Amanda]

It's lovely, what baby wouldn't love that? So comfy and sweet and wonderful.

[Uli]

That's just so beautiful. I might have to go away and make one now. Very nice job.... as always.

[Edith Kealey]

Coming a little late to this comment party - but I also enjoy the Baby Surprise and have made it in a couple different yarns. A few years ago Knitters' magazine did a special article on this pattern and printed a photo of a collection of Baby Surprise sweaters sent in by readers - it was fun to see how people jazzed up the basic pattern with stripes and openwork. I think that's one of the things I like about EZ's work - you can follow it blindly or make it your own, depending on how much mental energy you have!