Saartje’s Booties & Grumpy sweaters
I know, the Saartje bootie pattern (pdf) is like the Clapotis of the infant crowd, but I simply could not resist it’s charms any longer. Knit at the suggested gauge, the pattern produces teeny newborn-sized booties, but knit in worsted weight yarn on size 5 needles, it makes a pair perfectly fit for a 7 month old. These were knit in Elsebeth Lavold Angora and were probably the quickest thing I’ve ever knit. I knit the first one during June’s morning nap and the second one during her afternoon nap. Verdict: painfully cute.
Also, do you like my new hand-knit sweater?
Isn’t it so cute? “Bertha!” you are probably thinking, “you didn’t tell us you were knitting a sweater!” True! That’s because I didn’t knit this. Do you want to know who did? Grumperina. Yes, THAT Grumperina. How did I come to own this awesome piece of knitwear? Glad you asked:
Kathy recently wrote an entry on her blog in which she admitted she is not a sweater knitter and that sometimes it makes her feel as if she’s not a “complete” knitter. I left a comment saying that I hadn’t knit a sweater yet because ever since I started knitting I’ve been either trying to lose weight or pregnant, so I didn’t want to invest all that time and money knitting a sweater until my weight had been stable for a little while. I also admitted that while I love the idea of knitting a sweater, I don’t generally enjoy the actual process of knitting. My favorite part about knitting is buying yarn. I also love looking at patterns, books, blogs and ending up with something cool that I made myself. But the actual knitting itself? Eh, not so much. It takes a long time, it’s often frustrating, it frequently involves my most hated of hates: numbers & maths…I am really only in it for the finished product. I am, in essence, the complete opposite of Kathy who loves the process of knitting and doesn’t really care so much about the finished product in the end. I admitted that sometimes I feel like less of a knitter because of this.
Kathy e-mailed me in response to my comment and asked if I’d be interested in purchasing some of her sweaters. I was a little (a lot) surprised by this, but it made sense. I love hand-knit sweaters, but don’t really have the desire to knit one of my own right now. Kathy has knit tons of sweaters, out of the love of knitting, but doesn’t wear them as she overheats easily and they are just sitting there, sadly unused. I was intrigued by this idea, but had a couple of reservations: sizing & pricing.
Kathy is a bit more petite than I am, so I didn’t think any of her sweaters would fit me right now, though I remembered one wrap sweater she had knit and thought maybe that would allow for a variety of fits. Kathy said this was the exact sweater she had in mind. She told me that she’d gained some weight since she made the sweater and it still fit her nicely so she thought it would work for me. So the first issue was resolved, but the second lingered on my mind. I couldn’t fathom the cost of owning a Grumperina original and formulated several discussions in my head about how I’d tell Matt we weren’t feeding June this week…While I will not disclose the price I paid, rest assured June remains well-fed. 
If you want to read about the original details of this sweater, see Kathy’s post here. She designed this pattern herself so it’s a true original! As you can see, it does not fit me as intended! But the back, arms and shoulders fit perfectly, so I think on me it looks as if it was designed to be worn this way, like a cute little capelet style cardigan! I am, however, hoping to be able to wear it in it’s original format if/when I ever lose a “few” (right) pounds. Also, in real life it’s not all asymmetrical like that, it was just the way I was standing.
Kathy, I LOVE this sweater, so much. Whenever I am faced with a knitting crisis, I shall don this garment and feel the power of the Grumperina surging through me and will know what to do. Thank you!
(PS…if any of you reading this are more Kathy-sized than I am and might be interested in owning one of her sweaters, it would be worth contacting her…she doesn’t wear any of them (she never even wore mine once!))
Ooooh, lucky you! I’m the proud owner of a pair of Grumpy socks, so I know you’re wearing an impeccably-knit sweater right now—and it does look great on you! That swingy capelet-esque cardigan is where it’s at this season.
Lucky June too-those booties are so adorable.
The sweater looks cute the way you are wearing it, and will adjust as you lose weight. How perfect!
June’s new bootie look great. Swaeter looks as if it is meant to be worn that way. Love the color. Lucky you to have a Grumpy original. I am like you however and have no desire to knit a sweater. The process takes to long for me and I tend to lose interest if it takes more than a few days to knit something up.
Great booties! I guess I don’t read the right blogs because this is the first time I’ve seen them knit up. (I have, however, come across the pattern on Ravelry).
What a great story about your Grumpy sweater! Isn’t it serendipitous how some things happen
What a fantastic story! Win for Grumpy, win for you! And SUPER win for you: the sweater looks like it was MADE for you. The color and everything. So cute! And yay! I love those Saartje’s booties, and even more so when I get to see them on teensy baby feet!
Hey pretty girlie! The sweater looks great on you, and I’m so glad you’ll be able to use it right away, and in the future. I must say that pin is coming in very handy as a closure mechanism!
the sweater looks great! i really understand your feelings about knitting–i like finished projects SO much more than the knitting of them.
It’s interesting to read what different people get out of knitting. I can’t decide which kind I am. I like just knitting the stitches, but no so much trying to figure something out when I’ve messed up or am confused by the pattern, though I still figure it out anyway (I don’t think I have abandoned anything yet). But I’m not looking forward to the day when I have to figure out how to customize something, like a sweater. I’m not good at thinking on my feet. I basically just follow the pattern and hope it fits. I don’t buy much yarn or knitted related items, and aside from a few blogs I read (and not even the most popular ones) I’m not all that into the knitting world (The Yarn Harlot visited Halifax and I didn’t go). I don’t know what kind of knitter that makes me!
I haven’t really knitted much the past 2 months either.
I love that stripes and orange combo! I’ve had those booties bookmarked for a while–2 babies I know are due in the next 2 months!
And yay sweater!
Beautiful stuff! The slippers on little June are unreal.
Hee you look so damn pleased with your sweater! It looks fab on you!
I love those Saartje booties, they are on my list of things to do - I even found the cutest little ‘mouse’ buttons to fit!
Keep smiling pretty lady!
LOVE those booties! I need to make some of those, I think.
Also, the sweater just rocks. Fantastic- and so cool that Kathy knit it!
:) I was wondering when that Angora was going to become a pair of booties. (Assuming that’s the ball I sent you many many eons ago.)
You look very chuffed with your Grumperina sweater, it looks great on you!
Those booties are awesome as are those black and white striped britches (where can I find some?)! And that sweater looks great on you too.
That is so cool you got Grumperina’s sweater! Also, the baby booties are so cute–I want to make some too, and I don’t even know any babies.
Just wanted to say I am sure the etsy seller I posted about will do custom bracelet orders. She was really easy to work with when I bought from her regarding watch sizes, patterns, etc.
cute booties! That’s a great story behind that sweater, and it looks great!
Dear Bertha!!!
))
Yesterday I received an amazing package from you (I went 3 times to the post etc etc.) with incredible beautiful socks in it + lots of great things
You are a sunshine! Thanks so much!!!!
I cannot post in my blog now because I’ve too much work and I’m leaving for traveling some days. I just managed to take some pictures, in my flickr…
They fit perfect, love the pattern and color. ¡Gracias amiga!
that sweater looks great on you!
and the little shoes are so adorable… june will never be a hobo baby with so many cute shoes. does she like to chew them too? or is she too busy crawling to chomp her feet.
i forgot to say in the e mail, i need a dress for jen and terrys wedding, do you? want to go shopping?
Those booties are amazing and won’t June and you cut a stylishly hand knit figure together?
Awwwww! How sweet of her! And it does look good, very stylish in fact. What fun too!