Knitting for babies

In Knitting for Babies you’ll find a wide selection of knitted baby garments and accessories, designed to complete outfits and give you several “wardrobe” options (not just a single standalone piece). The idea is that you can choose a practical project, knit it at your own pace, and repeat it by adapting colours or details, especially if you often make gifts for newborns or the first few months.

Beyond the design itself, what’s useful is the variety: warm garments, accessories that finish off the outfit, and small projects you can complete quickly. If you like having options, this kind of book lets you choose depending on how much time you have, the season, and how the family will actually use it.

Knitting for Babies can be a good fit if you’re starting out, but with one practical condition: treat your first project as learning. It helps that the patterns follow the classic knitting format (rows, abbreviations and steps), and that the visual support guides you better than a standalone pattern found without context. If you’re a complete beginner, it’s best to start with a small project to build confidence with yarn tension, increases/decreases and finishing. And if you already know the basics, it will help you move forward more confidently because you’ll have several ready-to-go projects to choose from without wasting time searching for alternatives.

In Knitting for Babies it uses standard knitting language: abbreviations, rows and, when there’s a motif, chart support and its key. What’s practical is that when a motif repeats, the chart helps you “see” the pattern at a glance, while the text shows the exact order of the steps and repeats.

To make it comfortable to follow, use this method: first read the whole pattern and locate the chart, the measurements and the finishing section; then underline repeats and keep track with a row counter. That way you reduce typical mistakes (missing a repeat or casting off too early) and your work turns out neater.

In Knitting for Babies you’ll see that some steps show several measurements in brackets, which is very typical in patterns for different sizes or stages. The right way to choose is to decide on the size from the start and always follow the number that corresponds to that option, without mixing figures from different options, because that’s where most mistakes happen.

It’s also a good idea to make a tension swatch with the yarn you plan to use and measure your knitting as you go. Even when a pattern is clearly explained, the result changes depending on how you knit and the actual yarn thickness. Checking this early helps avoid a garment turning out too big or too snug.

If you buy Knitting for Babies, think of the boxed set as a basic “starter”, not as a complete kit for every project. It will help you get going and get a feel for it, but as soon as you choose a specific design, it’s normal to need the right yarn in the correct quantity and weight for that project and, depending on the design, an extra such as buttons or a tapestry needle for seaming.

The key is to choose soft, baby-appropriate materials (that don’t itch and are easy to care for) and match your choice to the season. That way the result will be more comfortable and longer-lasting. If you already have needles or yarn at home, you can use the book perfectly well without relying on what’s included.

Knitting for Babies is designed for knitting with two needles, both in the type of instructions and in how it explains the rows, motifs and finishing. If your main technique is crochet, the book can inspire you in terms of style and garment types, but it isn’t a pattern you can “directly translate” without knowing how to adapt structure and measurements.

If you’re comfortable with both techniques, you can use it as a base for ideas and reinterpret the designs in crochet by adjusting stitches, drape and construction. But if you’re looking for a crochet-specific book, you’ll be better off choosing one focused on crochet so you don’t get frustrated by knitting abbreviations and construction.