My Darling Clementine

My friend Shawna is having her first baby in April, so I’m making this little sweater for her. It’s the placket-front sweater from Last Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson. A word to the wise: There is extensive errata for this sweater from the early printings of the book. There’s a complete revised pattern available at purlsoho.

Shawna’s having a girl, but I happen to know she really doesn’t like pink … Uh oh. Could have gone the bright route, but I decided on a nice soft orange, Clementine, from Rowan: Cashsoft DK, which is similar in content ( 57% extra-fine merino, 33% microfiber, 10% cashmere) to the Debbie Bliss Cashmirino. Had heard some negative chatter on the Cashmirino as far as durability and pilling, and the Cashsoft got a glowing review. Washability is key for a baby sweater, of course, and this looks like it will fit the bill.

It’s knitting up nicely, though I had to take a break while recovering from pneumonia and flu. Yes, I was too sick to sit up on the sofa and knit. I got 3 skeins, hoping to be able to do the adorable Saartje’s booties. And then little pearl buttons will be the nice feminine finishing touch the set will need.

This is a little hat pattern I developed after seeing similar hats in shops. I added the i-cord topknot, emphasized the roll-up edging, and changed the leaves to be better defined than the ones I’d seen.

This one is worked in TLC Cotton Plus on US size 7 & 8 circular and double-point needles. I find that 100% cotton lacks the bit of springiness needed to get a good fit around a little head. It also works nicely using size 8 or 9 needles with a worsted merino such as Patons or Brown Sheep for toddler size. (For very lucky babies, this is beautiful in Debbie Bliss Cashmerino or Cotton Cashmere.) Or, if you have a problem with wool, you can use an acrylic craft yarn

It’s very adaptable for different yarns and sizes, so have fun and experiment: Just add another 8 sts to make a larger size. For toddler size, you’ll probably also want to make it deeper so there’s still some roll up edge when the hat is on.

Feel free to share the pattern, with attribution, or sell or give away the hats you make. But please don’t sell the pattern. Thanks.

Gotta cute “action shot?” Post it in the comments!

Give me a yell if anything doesn’t make sense or if I need to make corrections.

Grab the PDF!