This is a special section on one of the most popular forms of knitting, a category that has never really died out even with the advent of modern factories and clothing stores.
Happy Grandmothers, beloved aunties and expectant Mom’s all often continue the tradition of baby knitting; if for no other reason that it is so cute to see one’s handy work sitting on a tiny head, foot or torso.
Baby knitting, is also popular, because like sock knitting it is small, portable and can be done almost anywhere.
Finally, in normal situations, it is one of the few times that even fiber snobs like me can give themselves permission to indulge in bright-colored, fancy and synthetic fibers.
However, knitting for babies with either an eye on prepping or just severely cold weather and possible fuel shortages is a bit different from making a cute bonnet with animals ears or polyester-washable baby blankets for Linus.
As late as the 1950′s, almost every baby knitting book included long-lost garments such as soakers and full “pram sets” designed to meet the actual needs of the infant (or parents) not just look pretty in a family photograph.
Many younger parents may not even know what some of these items are, as they have been replaced by modern (and often better performing) factory produced versions.
Even those items that are still regularly made, were made with very different motives in the past. Today, we mostly make baby things to keep babies “warm” or “cool” depending on the local climate and often as not that is as much protection from modern heating and air conditioning as anything else. Any baby taken out in a North Dakota Winter is likely to be wrapped in a modern snow suit, no matter what else they are wearing. This garment is seldom a hand knit these days, rather made of factory based polar fleece and similar materials which are wonder as long as you have access to them.
Handknit Bunting or Baby Snow Suit
On of my favorite baby knitting stories was in an old knitting magazine I had years ago, where the women had a picture of herself as a tiny infant during the 1930′s depression. The baby is totally covered in what was then called a “Pram suit” or “Buggy Outfit” pretty much sweater, tights, booties, mittens and blanket.
Typical Pram or Buggy Outfit
But the story behind those garments was that they were made from her mother’s knit coat, because unable to afford yarn, the family realized the baby could die from the cold without proper outdoor gear. So Mom and Grandmother unraveled the coat and produced the needed articles of clothing; the picture was in black and white, but the writer pointed out that she was probably the only baby around dressed in “Chocolate Brown” for her first year. But what really stuck with me was the understanding that these garments were not made to look cute, but because they were considered vital to an infants Winter survival.
An important part of the natural thermal garments was the use of pure wool at least in outer garments like sweaters, blankets and buntings.
Wool yarn was also considered essential for garments like “soakers” that in the pre-plastic pants era, were the only way of keeping a wet-baby dry until the next diaper change. Today soakers have had somewhat of a revival among those using cloth diapers or who have babies with plastic allergies. While no one pretends they do a perfect job of “soaking” up a soiled diaper; if there are no other options they can mean the difference between a cold, chilled and possibly sick baby; and a mostly dry and comfortable one.
Word of Mouth evidence suggests that only WOOL YARN really works for soakers and that most babies can tolerate soft-wool yarns on their legs and skin. If a baby absolutely can’t have wool next to their skin than making soakers from cotton yarns or a breathable synthetic is probably the next best thing, but polyester and cotton yarns simply will not absorb as well as wool and will have to be changed more often.
In any case, the basic needs of a baby in cold weather are to be warm but not too hot, which with a tiny infant can mean having several options of tiny knitted garments to put on and take off. Tiny babies have trouble regulating body temperatures even in moderate weather, in cold weather it is essential that they have layers that can be removed or put back on, as needed.
It is possible to knit pretty much very part of a baby’s wardrobe, except for diapers; your need to do so will depend both on your knitting skills and access to some factory made clothing.
The most basic undergarments can be made with soft wool or cotton (except for soakers), and a good idea is a simply shorts and t-shirt like garment that can even be worn in hot weather. Many of these were one-piece garments knit for both girls and boy, some having feet and some with separate booties or infant socks.
Next would be the basic “Buggy or Pram set” with sweater/jacket, booties, mittens and baby bonnet. Many modern patterns replace the bonnet with a hood, which has the advantage of not having hats for baby to pull off. Either way it is very important to have a head covering for small babies, who can lose a lot of body heat, if their head is not covered.
Tiny babies also require hand coverings (often just called “fingerless mitts” in old patterns), foot coverings (booties) and tights (which are easily hand knit and will stretch somewhat as baby grows).
Older babies may need “baby socks” knit with strings to tie them on their feet as it is one of the first garments (along with hats) that most children learn to take off.
Then there is the baby blanket, favorite knitting garment of friends and older sisters (and aunties) everywhere because of its easily shape. Here, your needs can dictate the fabric, for warmth again wool or woo blended yarns are best, but for easy care polyester (or cotton) yarns do much better. A lot depends on the age and needs of the child, a tiny baby may do better with a blanket of the softest wool; whereas an older child may do better with a totally washable polyester one he can drag in the dirt.
Finally, there is the long forgotten, but much appreciated garment: the nursing shawl. This garment has grown less popular over the years as breast-feeding has gained wider acceptance in public (a good thing) but is still very useful because its warm can protect both the nursing mother and the baby from drafts at home and colder weather when feeding happens outside in bad weather. Not to mention that a lovingly knit, lace nursing shawl can go a long way to making a new mother feel pretty and elegant which can be very important in the early days of sleep deprivation and mountains of dirty diapers. Just be certain to use a small, tight lace pattern so baby does not get her fingers caught up in it.
However, even the simplest, plain knit shawl does wonders for warmth and comfort, sometime they are the best and warmest versions and can later be turned into baby blankets as required.
These shawls can be knit or woven (as the old-fashioned Welsh one in the photo) as long as they are warm and large enough to cover both mother and baby.
This is by no means a complete breakdown of every knitted item a baby will need, but is a good basic starter list. There are many, many vintage and free pattern sites out there for baby clothing of all sorts; just be careful of some vintage sweater and cap patterns. For hundreds of years these were knit or constructed with lacing that we now know can be a danger to a young baby if pulled on too tightly (especially around the neck). A good way to make up these patterns is to use a hidden elastic band or sewn down ribbon instead (to provide the gathering) but have the actual opening closed with a covered snap or button.
Below is an example of this type of pattern alternation with the knit “lacing” made into a bow instead of tying under the neck in the old way.
Finally, baby clothing and accessories are great things to knit, even when you don’t have a baby. If you enjoy knitting tiny garments, they are great small projects to work on and put away until needed. Usually that need is when a close friend or family member tells you the “good news” that their family is growing. However, it also means having a small stash of baby items put away, “just in case,” something happens and a baby is part of the picture.
For the same reasons I always recommend that any prepping family, no matter their ages keep at least one baby bottle and a can of infant formula about in their preps. You never know when it might be needed and it can tie you over until you can find a goat or wet-nurse in an emergency.
More on that for another show, in future I will try to add a list of free baby knitting resources from the web. Some of the books already listed in the knitting resources section are also fantastic for baby patterns.
