I recently finished the Sooper Sweater by Anna Maltz, the ninth project from Boost Your Knitting. I had dabbled in marlisle knitting a year or two ago, but knitting the Sooper Sweater gave me a chance to really delve into the technique. The result was two-fold: a finished sweater for my daughter can wear come autumn and a fuller understanding of this technique and how I might like to use it in the future.

Which is all to say — my Sooper Sweater got me thinking about how useful baby knits are for learning and perfecting new techniques. Like (grown up) accessory patterns, they are small enough to be achievable quickly — a perfect canvas on which to try new skills.

I’ve also recently gone from having zero little people in my life to knit for, to having not just one of my own, but something of a backlog of new baby presents to knit! I’ve been looking anew at the AC Knitwear + friends pattern catalogue for interesting baby patterns. Thinking of each baby project as a chance to stretch new knitting muscles makes my backlog of baby gifts seem like so many knitting adventures, rather than tasks to check off a to do list. I’ve come up with this little list, sorted into categories in case, like me, you’re looking for some fun baby knits to boost your knitting skills.

Blankets

Baby blankets are a perennial favourite new baby present. They’re never outgrown — so if you, ahem, don’t finish in time for the baby’s arrival, there’s no worry that it won’t fit by the time you finish!

The Little Tern Blanket, designed by Tin Can Knits for A Year of Techniques, packs a lot of technique punch in a cute rectangular package. Not only does it give you the option to learn one of two provisional cast-on methods (Judy’s Magic Cast On or a Crochet Provisional Cast On), it also lets you try out adding a knitted on edging and has some lovely simple lace! Depending on size, it takes 3-5 skeins of Fyberspates Vivacious DK, but I think it’d also work up a treat in Coop Knits Socks Yeah! DK.

Indeed, baby blankets can be a really great way to boost your lace knitting skills. For a confident new knitter, Jen’s Holton Blanket could be a great way to dip toes into lace knitting. After working a nice garter square, you knit an approachable lace edging separately — the rows are short, meaning if you make a mistake, there aren’t many stitches to tink!

The Aphaca Blanket by Donna Smith is designed to be a great introduction to lace knitting. Accompanying tutorials in Something New to Learn About Lace teach how to work yarn overs and how read from a lace chart (and there’s also a chance to practice grafting). Both blankets suit Something to Knit With 4ply perfectly! I’d be tempted to choose Blanket for a classic looking cream baby blanket or to go bold with Strawberry or Twilight.

Hats

New babies can never have too many hats, and they are such quick and satisfying projects—perfect for a baby gift on short notice.

I’ve already knit one Beloved Bonnet by Tin Can Knits, and it’s such a clever little pattern — and perfect for perfecting your short row technique! Knit end to end, the pattern comes in sizes that cover baby to adult. It’d really show off the semisolid tones of Vivacious DK or beautiful heathered quality of Socks Yeah! DK or would be a great way to use a handdyed 4ply (held double) from stash!

If you fancy giving cables a try, Woolly Wormhead’s adorable Tinker would be a great place to start (and if you need help with your cabling technique, check out Something New to Learn About Cables).

Garments

At heart, I’m a garment knitter, so I am particularly enthusiastic about baby garment knitting as a chance to try new skills — and who doesn’t love seeing a little one in a handknit?

Fancy giving seamless set in sleeves a try? Gudrun Johnston’s Islay cardigan is beautiful in its simplicity and comes in sizes for little people … it would be ever so special knit up in Stolen Stitches Nua.

Ever wanted to try inserting a zip into a knitted garment? Jen’s Wee Bruton would be the perfect canvas for practising — and Something to Knit With 4ply would really show off it’s lovely details!

Mary Jane Mucklestone’s Oorik tank top from A Year of Techniques would be a perfect project you’re ready to try your hand at steeking. Having never done it myself, I find the idea of trying it on a smaller garment first really appealing!

In fact, I think the Oorik tank top will be my next cast on for my little one … but I’ll need to pick the perfect shades of Jamieson & Smith 2ply first!

If you’ve got some little people in your life to knit for, I hope this post has given you some idea for fun knits that will let you exercise your knitting muscles.