Somehow the name of this set seems very fitting at the moment, Ireland is under another big freeze.  Even though we are such a northern country thanks to being a small Island and the gulf stream we generally have very temperate weather.  Someone forgot to tell the great weather gods and last year and this we have seen weather that I never saw before in my lifetime.  I’m in the south, which avoided the worst conditions (Dublin was quite a mess with several feet of snow!) but its still really, really cold and slipping along on icy roads is no fun.  Amazingly for the first 10 days we had no water problems but this morning our water is gone (I guess with frozen pipes as the pump seems ok).  Roll on the end of the week when it SHOULD be a small bit warmer!

Now back to my Iceling Set.  This baby/child cardigan and hat set is inspired by my Knitty Iced Cardigan.  It is such a simple but effective cardigan I wanted to make a child’s cardigan inspired by it.  The basic construction remains the same, top down raglan shaping with a larger garter stitch double breasted shawl collar.  With the smaller version I didn’t think bulky yarn would work so I designed it with aran weight yarn.  Garter stitch bands are added at the wrist to make it easy to fold back (they look the same on both sides!) this way the sleeves can be worn both long and short.  The cardigan is kept a little shorter than average so that the overall style is in keeping with the original.

After I had finished the cardigan I added a simple little beanie with a wide garter band.  Like with the cardigan the band can be worn down or folded up.  The hat is designed with extra length so that it is easily folded for the perfect small size (baby size is shown with the band folded back).

My friend Tracey very kindly modeled with her 5 week old son for the photos..both are totally gorgeous!  I think he got his Iceling set just in time for the weather.

Jeni from Fyberspates kindly donated the yarn for the project, just 2 hanks of Scrumptious Aran finished both the cardigan and hat in the smallest sizes!

Iceling Set $5.95

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Cosy and timeless, this jacket and hat will be cherished for years.  This jacket is easy to knit, with a top-down seamless construction.  The large double breasted front collar is knit with two rows of buttons so it can grow with the child; when more room is needed the jacket can be fastened on the second row of buttons.
Garter stitch bands at the wrist are designed to worn either folded up or left down, again making it ideal for fast-growing children.
The understated hat is knit with an extra wide bottom band that can be folded up or down, perfect for oft-used items.

SIZE
Cardigan
Chest Size: 17 (19, 20, 20.5, 21, 23, 25, 27, 28.5)”/ 43 (48.5, 51, 52, 53.5, 58.5, 63.5, 68.5, 72.5) cm.
Approx. Age: 3mts (6mts, 12mts, 18mts, 2yrs, 4 yrs, 6 yrs, 8yrs, 10yrs)
(Sample shown on newborn in size 3 months)
Hat
Head circumference: 16 (18, 20)”/ 40.5 (45.5, 51) cm.
Age: Baby (Toddler, Child)
(Sample shown in Baby size.)

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Cardigan
Chest: 18.75 (19.5, 21.25, 22.25, 23, 25, 26.75, 29.25, 30.25)”/47.5 (49.5, 54, 56.5, 58.5, 63.5, 68, 74.5, 77) cm, with front bands overlapped
Length: 9 (10, 10.5, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17.5)”/23 (25.5, 26.5, 28, 30.5, 33, 35.5, 40.5, 44.5) cm
Note: Choose a size that is 1-2”/2.5-5cm larger than actual chest measurement for loose fit.
Hat
Circumference:  13.75 (16, 18.25)”/ 35 (40.5, 46.5) cm.

MATERIALS
Yarn
Fyberspates ‘Scrumptious Aran’ (45% Silk, 55% Merino; 165m/180yds per 100g skein); color: #401 Cherry; Cardigan:  2 (2, 2, 4, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4) skeins; Hat: 1 (1, 1) skein; (Actual yardage used for hat: 55 (75, 90)m / 65 (89, 108)yd.)
2 skeins provide sufficient yardage for the smallest size of the cardigan and hat together.

Recommended needle size
1 set US size 8/5mm double-point needles
1 US size 8/5mm circular needle, 24”/60cm
Always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed, as every knitter’s gauge is unique.

Notions
Stitch markers; waste yarn; tapestry needle; 4 buttons approx 1”/2.5cm diam.

GAUGE
18 sts/24 rows = 4″/10cm in st st
17 sts/32 rows = 4″/10cm in garter st

Last week the second version of Iced (in green this time) that Torya knit arrived.  It took me a few days to get around to weave in ends, put on buttons and block it but I eventually got it finished up and we took a few photos.  This time it is knit in the small size which has around 1″ negative ease for my bust.  To compensate I put the buttons on the button band so that it doesn’t fully cross over (you can see in the details below).  I’ve also shown a small detail of the side showing the waist shaping which you couldn’t really see in the first version.  For anyone going to UK knitcamp in Scotland next month I’ll have this version with me for the Knitty Fashion show.

I’ve also had a new pattern come out in Interweave Fall 2010 here.  Its called ‘Leitmotif Cardigan’ and I’ll blog very shortly with more details about it and some of my own photos.

Btw if anyone has hairstyle ideas send them to me..I was leaving my hair grow this year (as well as having my MIL’s hairdresser attack me with dye at Christmas!) but I’m contemplating cutting it again.  I just love getting a new hairstyle!

I didn’t expect to be blogging again so soon…2 days in a row, unusual for me!  Yesterday evening I went out for a few hours and came home to a new Knitty!  Lots of fun stuff in this issue, I love the lace back of Milly and Mythos is a really flattering sock weight cardigan.  My contribution to this issue is Iced.

I got a few balls of Drops Ice a couple of years ago.  It is an unusual yarn, a bulky cotton/acrylic blend that has almost a velvety rope texture (if you can imagine that!).  I began by knitting several swatches in different stitch patterns but they really didn’t work with the yarn.  It sat for several months unused until I picked it up again and realized that it really need something simple.  So Iced was born..I knit it in time for a Florida holiday, simple and casual.  Neutral enough to be worn with everything (I pack light and didn’t bring anything else warm!).  This is good TV knitting, top down with raglan shoulder shaping.  The front shawl collar is knit in garter stitch with a little short row shaping at the back. (As with almost all of my designs there is of course some waist shaping!)

When we arrived in Florida we met my sister in law (Nicki in the photo) and she tried the cardigan on and fell in love.  It was made for me so it was a little large on her but that kind of suits here style.

Here is a photo of me half asleep on the beach wearing the cardigan.

I still love the cardigan as a great everyday staple, Torya ( thank you!) has made a second version for me in green that just arrived this morning that fits wonderfully.  When I put some buttons on it and block it I’ll share a few photos.  This version is in the smaller size so there is no ease, if you feel the fit is too loose it works well with little to no ease also.  Anyone inn Knit Camp in Scotland will be able to see this version in the Knitty Fashion Show.