knitted covers

[boy wrangler]

Hey Ladies!!

I currently use flats and PUL covers, but would love to try some knitted covers for my boy.

I would love to make them myself, except that I'm a novice when it comes to knitting and don't have a pattern or any other info about what to do (what size needles, wool etc)

Does anyone have this info, or know where I can get it?

I'm also thinking it's a bit hot at the moment, but by the time I get my bum in gear and actually do it and get at least one made it will probably be the middle of winter!!!! lol!!!

Thanks!

[gremily]

OzCloth links to free knitting patterns (http://www.ozclothnappies.org/links.html#knitting)

The tinybirds pattern is a good beginner one.

Otherwise, Picky Pants have a fantastic pattern (not free) that is easy to do and looks great.

Also, google knittinghelp.com for excellent tutorials with instructions/videos. It's how I learned to knit earlier in the year :)

Woollies are great for during summer. Wool is warm in winter and cool in summer :thumbsup:

Most woollies patterns will use 8ply wool, with needle sizes between 4mm - 6mm (give or take a few).

You could start of with wool from somewhere like spotlight, but as you get more confident perhaps look at some devine wool from Jolly Jumbuck, Bendigo Mills, Ozebaby. Once you've tried this wool (slightly more expensive than that from Spotlight), you won't want to use anything else! It's really soft, you can still feel the lanolin, and no chemical treatments.


Anyway, it becomes highly addictive once you get into it! Enjoy :)

[tishsmum]

Make sure it's as close to 100% as you can and NOT machine washable or it won't take the lanolin :) Have fun!

[gremily]

Make sure it's as close to 100% as you can and NOT machine washable or it won't take the lanolin :) Have fun!

Not machine washable? :confused: I've got a few woollies made from machine washable wool that take the lanolin fine.
What about store bought wool covers like the Baby Beehinds ones? They're machine washable.

[tishsmum]

:confused: I've got a few woollies made from machine washable wool that take the lanolin fine.
What about store bought wool covers like the Baby Beehinds ones? They're machine washable.

I've only ever used non-machine washable wool and hand washed myself. I was basing it on what I've heard from a number of people who have knitted with it and only found out when they tried to lanolise that it wouldn't taking the lanolin. So maybe some washable ones will and some won't, it's always good to hear of others experiences. :)

The Baby Beehinds are fabric vs knitted wool of course, but according to their site they are "Fully machine washable (on cold only) though hand washing will keep your covers in best condition." If the fabric was pre-washed before the covers were made then it would more washing machine friendly, though I'm not sure if that's the case with the BBH.

As with most things in life, including nappy things YMMV, but non-machine washable would be the safest choice for a novice knitter IMHO :xmas:

[kymmy]

Machine washable wools are chemically treated so yes they don't take the lanolin in as well as the less treated wools (such as the ones that are generally sold by WAHMs as Grem mentioned) . They may require more frequent washing/re lanolising. Merino especially organic is specially suited to young babies. :thumbsup: