My favorite baby sweater

Those who know me are familiar with this design.  I started making this sweater back in the 70's when I was hanging out in my friend's yarn shop a lot, The Yarn Basket.  I was reminded of this sweater just this morning when I saw a young man walk into the diner where I was having breakfast whose mom asked me to make one of these sweaters for him when he was a baby.  I had also made one for the mom who asked me, because her  mom asked me to make one for her.  Mom's love this sweater, it isn't fancy or pretty but the design is ingenious.   I wish I could claim it as mine, but I have rewritten the directions in a different format and made a couple of small changes and offer it for free on my website. 

I have gotten some really nice comments about the pattern that I have gotten permission to reprint.

"Just wanted to let you know I started your "zip up the back" baby sweater.  My mother made this sweater for my daughter 32 years ago.  As an avid knitter, I have been searching for this pattern for years. How happy I was to find it on your site.  (Don't remember how I got there).  Now I am making it for my first Granddaughter (to be born this summer)  I have the original 32 year old sweater and it seems to be identical.

 By the way, the pattern is written very well." 

"Just wanted to thank you for your free zip up the back baby sweater pattern.  I was fortunate enough to run across it the other day in my search of knitting patterns for kids.  I am in the process of knitting it right now using Encore worsted tweed.  It looks awesome.  I wanted to let you know how much I appreciate the pattern.  It is written very nicely and easy to understand.  The part that I really like is the ends of the rows as far as "k across to last 2 sts P1, K1 and vice-versa on the purl row.  It is leaving a very nice edge for my zipper!  Anyway, I just wanted to thank you for the pattern, too many times I've tried to knit free patterns and they just don't turn out right!"

"I have been knitting for more years then I care to count (60!) and I have to tell you that I have never encountered such an explicit pattern and instructions as your Hooded Baby Sweater with Back Zipper.  The clarity is outstanding -- and why have I never heard of the "mattress stitch" -- why have I never seen the instructions you give to pick up and knit stitches?!   This sweater was the most relaxing work I have done in a long time.

I love to knit sweaters on round needles from the neck down.  When my 48 year old son was 2, I knitted him my first sweater from a Candide Classic Raglan pattern.  Because it is written for sizes from 6 - 46, he's still getting Mom-made sweaters from this pattern!  But now they'll be sewn (sleeves) and stitches picked up around the neck in a much more professional manner.

My knitting experiences would have been so much better - not to mention the quality of my work - if I had found you long before this.  Thank you so much.  I look forward to using many more of your patterns.  I found you on the internet."