There's a sense of inner peace I get while I'm knitting. It's like using all my senses together from design, crafts, to even math. This sweater, Cloverfield Toddler Girls Cardigan (Sizes 18 months, 2T, 3T - featured on Petite Purls) by Vickie Howell is particularly dear to me. Vickie is an amazing crafter I met while working at MAKE/CRAFT and as a fellow mom, she's inspirational. I still remember one afternoon when I had to do a conference call with her. I didn't know Vickie that well yet and I definitely wanted to be professional. I had timed our conference call for one of Chloe's nap time. Of course, this was the one time she didn't take that second afternoon nap and I was frantic at trying to juggle between getting her napping right and moving her into a bouncy chair. I just remember Vickie telling me that she didn't mind. It was all going to be ok. It made me so relieved I just took a deep breath and relaxed. She made this new mom feel so much better and I'll never forget it.
To me, knitting for kids is perfect because the projects are small and your little one is old enough to appreciate your handiwork. For the Cloverfield Cardigan, I let Chloe pick the main colors she wanted so that she felt like she was a part of the making process. Ideally I could have knit this project within a month but life as a mom is hectic as you all know. I finally finished it about a year and a half later, only having to add around an inch of length to the sweater in the middle to ensure the right fit. Knitting the little bobble flowers while you knit the cardigan was a really fun process too! This sweater made me realize how much I loved the idea of short sleeved sweaters for girls. Even as we live in San Francisco which is year-round sweater weather I never have to worry about these sweater sleeves getting all grimy as all of her messes end up on the t-shirt sleeve. hehe.
Chloe loved the fittings when I would try the sweater on her in different stages. Today she wore the sweater to school for the first time. She couldn't wait to tell her friends that "My Mama knit this sweater for me."
Vickie Howell Sheep(ish) Yarn from Caron
Vickie sent me some of her new Sheep(ish) Yarn produced by Caron to knit this project. The yarn is so soft and is a blend of acrylic and wool making it very affordable at $3.99/ball. You can machine wash the yarn in cold water and dry flat. You can find this yarn at your local Michaels, Jo-Ann's and more. Use the store locator to find out where to buy Sheep(ish).
I used Teal(ish) and Turquoise(ish) for the main colors of the sweater with the flower bobbles in White(ish) and the stems in Olive(ish).
And let's just say, kids will be kids. In order to get the few wonderful smiling photos of Chloe for this post, I had to endure five minutes of her silly faces and infectious giggling. I wouldn't change that for the world!
Note: Vickie Howell Sheep(ish) Yarn was provided by Vickie Howell/Caron for this project.
