Seaweed

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When temperatures get low and you are carrying a baby in one of these super-modern baby carriers, your coat is likely not to be big enough for both of you. Baby carrying coats are usually quite expansive and come in standard colours such as black and grey, not in anything radiant that might brighten up foggy days.

The solution is to knit Seaweed to suit and warm both baby and you. It is easiest to knit for a double-breasted coat. If you knit it for a one-breasted one, you will need some buttons.


The pattern for the hat (knit top down) can be found here in German and here in English (thanks to At Loose Ends for finding it).

Difficulty Level
intermediate (The knitting itself is easy, but you need to do some measuring and counting before you can start. If you are really bad at that, knit Seaweed very loosely and just put the buttons through normal stitches that happen to be in the right place...)

Materials needed
Lana Grossa Ultra Print (95% Virgin Wool, 5% Polyamide; 35m per 50g skein); color: 115 (discontinued); 5 skeins
1 set US #10/6mm needles
Tapestry needle or crochet hook (to weave in ends)
If you prepare Seaweed for a one-breasted coat: buttons matching the buttonholes of the coat.

Yarn substitutes
You can substitute any yarn as you will have to swatch and measure anyway.

Sizes
Size depends on your own measures – my personal Seaweed is 20inch/50cm x 21inch/52cm

Gauge
10 sts to 15 rows measured over 10cm (4inches) in 2x2 rib stitch

Measuring
Seaweed will be different for every baby, carrying person, baby carrier and coat, so make a swatch and measure before you start.


› Put the baby in the baby carrier and put on the coat.
› Measure from the baby’s toes to the first button – this is your length measure A.
The vertical spacing between the buttons of your coat will probably be the same between each – this is length measure B.
› Measure across the baby from each button on one side to the other side. The coat on the photograph has four buttons on each side, so you have four width measures (C, D, E, F). The widest width measure will be the most important one – add 2inch/4cm on both sides. This will give measure G, the width of your personal Seaweed.


Pattern
General: 10 stitches in garter stitch, 30 stitches in 2x2 rib, 10 in garter stitch.

› CO enough stitches for width F – in my case, 50 stitches.
Work 4inch/10cm in the general pattern – this is where the baby’s toes will be. Work in pattern until you have reached measure A.
› In the next row, create the first buttonholes: Find the right places for the two buttonholes using measure C, and in both places, cast off one stitch, yarn over.
Work in pattern until you have reached measure B from the first buttonholes.
› In the next row, create the second buttonholes: Find the right places for the two buttonholes using measure D, and in both places, cast off one stitch, yarn over.
Work in pattern until you have reached measure B from the second buttonholes.
› In the next row, create the third buttonholes: Find the right places for the two buttonholes using measure E, and in both places, cast off one stitch, yarn over.
Work in pattern until you have reached measure B from the third buttonholes.
› In the next row, create the fourth buttonholes: Find the right places for the two buttonholes using measure F, and in both places, cast off one stitch, yarn over.
Work until the piece measures at least 2inch/4cm above the fourth buttonholes.
› Cast off.

Finishing
› Weave in ends.
If you prepare Seaweed for a one-breasted coat: Sew the buttons to the right spots matching the buttonholes of the coat.

Photos: Ingolf Erler
This pattern was originally published on MagKnits in November 2007:
http://www.magknits.com/Nov07/patterns/seaweed.htm