Bolen Baby Surprise is Done!

WhooHoo!!! The Bolen Baby Surprise Sweater is done. Notice I called it sweater because I left off the row 80 flap and made this about 2 inches shorter than normal. The finished length on this one is about 10.75 inches which is plenty long for a six month old.  Again this is my version of Elizabeth Zimmerman’s Baby Surprise Jacket in Liberty Wool colorway is Watercolor Rainbow using size 7 US needles. I cast on 160 stitches which is really the pattern for gauge of 6 stitches per inch. My gauge was 5 stitches per inch. I wanted a larger size.

I still have to assemble shoulder seams and add buttons. The main reason that this is called a Surprise Jacket is that when you knit it looks like an odd shaped “rectangle” with some extra corners. When you finish you fold it and sew a couple of seams and you have a jacket. It’s usually fun to knit and can be jazzed up with fun buttons or you can add cuffs or a hood. The pattern that I use gives instructions on how to make this in any size. If you have scrap yarn it’s a great scrap sweater. I usually use striping or variegated yarn. I’ve used fingering, sport, DK and light worsted weights. I’ve used size 5 and size 7 needles.

I’ve still got finishing work to do but will now cast on what I’ll call the baseball buttons cardigan. I ordered baseball buttons for it. I’ll use Berroco Comfort DK and size 5 US needles.

Till next time, no frogs, no tinks, just knits.