Knitting and crocheting for babies has many things to recommend it to needleworkers. Projects are small and some, such as a cap or socks, may require only one skein of yarn, making it desirable to indulge in a high-end fiber such as cashmere or alpaca for the project. Handmade baby blankets and sweaters are gifts parents truly appreciate. Knitted and crocheted items for baby usually work up quickly, and some even lend themselves to using leftover odds and ends of yarn from other projects.
The Internet is teeming, literally, with websites where free patterns for baby items are posted, so many that it’s not an exaggeration to say that one could spend days surfing the Web and never exhaust the supply of free patterns out there.
Most websites offering free patterns — baby items or others — require you to register and choose a password. Sometimes there is an option to sign up for a free newsletter that will be emailed to you daily, weekly or monthly. It’s a good idea to sign up for the newsletter because new patterns will appear like magic in your inbox at regular intervals. If you decide, later on, you don’t want to receive the newsletters, click on the “unsubscribe” button and the missives will cease to appear.
Specific websites, such as Lion Brand or Classic Elite, for example, offer free patterns that call for yarn those companies manufacture. Naturally, those websites make it easy to order yarn and other supplies online.
Recently, I did a quick survey of a few yarn company websites and selected baby patterns I found appealing, in hopes that others might also find them of interest also.
At DROPS Designs, garnstudio.com, I found a sweet pattern for a cap shaped like a strawberry, knit of alpaca yarn. The link to the pattern is http://www.garnstudio.com/lang/us/pattern.php?id=5447&lang=us.
At Patons, patonsyarns.com, I discovered instructions for stretchy baby socks sporting a stripe around the ankle and another around the foot part of the sock. The link to the pattern is http://www.patonsyarns.com/pattern.php?PID=5419
At Classic Elite, classiceliteyarns.com, I revisited a pattern I had seen several years ago, the Provence Baby Cardigan, adorned with leaf panels on each side of the front and with a seed stitch front band. Pattern link is http://www.classiceliteyarns.com/WebLetter/33/Issue33.php.
At Lion Brand, lionbrand.com, I was attracted to the Snowfall Garter Stitch Cardigan knit of baby wool. The link is http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/L0030AD.html?noImages=.
At Bernat, bernat.com, I was intrigued by a circular baby blanket, crocheted in rounds — just like a doily. Go to http://www.bernat.com/pattern.php?PID=6477 to find the pattern.
Or go to coatscraft.co.uk to access instructions for knitting a polar bear toy, complete with a pretty blue garter stitch scarf. The link is http://www.coatscrafts.co.uk/Knitting/Projects/polar_bear_teddy_toy.htm.
But don’t take my word for it. Cruise the Internet yourself and you’ll be amazed by what you find. If you have favorite links to share, let me know.
