Skip to main content

Review + Giveaway: Knit for Baby Sweater from Kraemer Yarns

Baby knits are such a great instant-gratification project, and having a stash of cute baby things comes in handy when someone announces that they're expecting. I was excited to try out this project kit from Kraemer Yarns when they were looking for reviews of their new project kit offerings at patternsbykraemer.com.

IMG_2629

The Knit For Baby Sweater is a t-shaped simple garter stitch garment that is knit flat all in once piece and then seamed. The kit includes a printed pattern on high-quality glossy paper with full color photos, and two skeins of Tatamy DK yarn, a blend of 45% Cotton and 55% Acrylic. I chose a nice gender-neutral color, Rubber Duckie, and they sent me two project kits so that I can give one away to my blog readers - keep reading to find out how you can win this project kit!

IMG_3141

The pattern instructions are easy to follow and keep track of as you work - just count the purl bumps to know how many rows you've worked - and the seaming is quite easy once you're done since there are only two seams to work (each side and sleeve). When I seam garter stitch, I just connect the bumps (or smiles and umbrellas, if you'd rather) - here is a good tutorial to show you how it's done.

I did make one small modification to this sweater to fix a problem I always have when it comes to buttonholes: I single crocheted around each buttonhole with the yarn and a size C crochet hook to fix the loose stitches on each side which would otherwise catch on the button.

IMG_3115
Before: wonky button holes

IMG_3117
After: Reinforced buttonholes!
As luck would have it, I had the perfect buttons in my stash for the closure - check out these cute handmade buttons from Wildflower Button Studio. I used a little bit of white embroidery floss to sew them on before washing the sweater in some wool wash and laying flat to dry.

IMG_3148

This was my first time knitting with this particular yarn, and I'm pleased to report that it was easy on my hands as I knit - cotton and cotton blend yarns can sometimes be a problem for me. I really like the tweedy effect to add a bit of visual interest to the finished project. Each skein has plenty of yardage, and I have enough left over from the second skein to knit a matching hat (I knit the 3 month size of the sweater).

Kraemer Yarns is a family owned textile mill Nazareth, Pennsylvania. Many of their yarns and spun from wool raised in the US, and they use a range of natural fibers to create their unique blends of yarn (read more about their interesting story here). There is a nice range of knitting and crochet pattern kits available at patternsbykraemer.com, so you're sure to find something to inspire your next project!

IMG_3150


As promised, one lucky blog reader will win a Knit for Baby Sweater Kit of their very own! This contest is open to readers worldwide, you just have to sign up for my newsletter via the link below (or enter your email address so that I can confirm your subscription) to be entered in the drawing, and you will also unlock bonus entries. I'll randomly choose 1 lucky winner to announce next Wednesday, May 2 right here on this blog. Good luck!

Comments

  1. I find I like smaller buttonholes on baby things - I use an eyelet buttonhole ... yo k2tog. Most buttonholes are too big.

    Looks like and will make a great gift!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Easy DIY: Beaded Vintage Snowflake Ornament Kits from Solid Oak Inc.

I was really excited to step outside of my comfort zone and try something new as part of my "Christmas in July" theme this month. The kind folks at Solid Oak Inc offered me a chance to review one of their Nostalgic Christmas beaded crystal ornament kits I couldn't resist. My tree is already full of ornaments I've inherited or been gifted from other family members and friends,  so these pretty crystal beaded ornaments will fit right in I think! I was super impressed with  this compact little kit , which includes everything needed to create three gorgeous vintage-style ornaments - just add a pair of round nose pliers (I found mine on Amazon for less than ten bucks).  The instructions had some fabulous tips for newbies like me; for example, it recommended sorting the beads and laying them out in order on a towel or beading mat to prevent them from rolling away. That may seem obvious, but I was totally ready to start beading on my kitchen table without a

What If I Didn't Add Heels?

Last weekend, I finished the first sock with my Waterlilies yarn , and just for yuks, I tried it on even though it was basically just a tube sock. Much to my surprise, it fit really well, even without a heel. Who knew? So, that got me thinking: what if I just didn't add the heels?  I never thought a tube sock would actually fit nicely, but I genuinely like the fit, so...why spend time to add the heels? As the saying goes, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.... Let's say I decide not to add heels once the second sock is done - there will still be placeholder yarn for the afterthought heels, as you can see above, so should I leave it in and just weave in the ends? Or should I remove it, put the live stitches back on needles and at least graft them together using more of the Waterlilies yarn? I plan on mulling all of this over as I knit the second sock, and I'd love to hear your opinions of what you think would look best (or if you think this whole "n

Overdyeing A Finished Knit

Even after just a few years of knitting or crocheting, you're bound to have some finished projects lying around that never get worn or used. After 10+ years of crafting, I have more than just "some" or "a few"....and with my ongoing quest to declutter my house this year, I've become obsessed with going through these forlorn projects and making some Big Decisions. Sometimes, they are perfectly fine and just need a new and loving home. Other projects may have not turned out quite right: there might have been some mistakes in the knitting that I thought I could live with, or the yarn was gorgeous but not well-matched to the pattern, or my  taste has drastically changed since I finished making the project...in any case, why on earth did I keep knitting?! Who knows, but I don't feel good about gifting anything that falls into this category to someone else. These projects have been relegated to the "frog pile" (or should I say, frog pond?), to b