Baby Snuggle Wrap - knitting pattern

Baby things are always such a pleasure to knit.  I find myself taking the rhythmical meditation that comes with rhythmical stitching to new levels... with every stitch I imagine I'm infusing my handknit with love and hope and endearment, to envelop and protect the tiny baby who wears it (so much so, that I can't knit for a baby if I'm in a bad mood).  This Snuggle Wrap was not actually knitted with anybaby in mind (wishful knitting, possiblement?)... just an idea I had and it seemed like the perfect project for the Misti Alpaca yarn that had been calling out to me from my stash basket.  A delicious yarn to knit with, and a deliciously satisfying project, and even dreamier to knit if you have a little one on the way...

Size: newborn - 6 months
Gauge: 3.5 stitches per inch

Abbreviations

k - knit
p - purl
st(s) - stitch(es)
rep - repeat
cont - continue
CO - cast on
BO - bind off
RS - right side
WS - wrong side

Materials

• 3 x 100g Misti Alpaca Chunky (100% baby Alpaca)
• 7mm needles
• 5mm crochet hook
• yarn needle to sew in tails
• little scissors

alternative folding technique

Instructions

CO 97 sts.

rows 1 - 6: work in Moss st (k1, *p1, k1 rep from * to end of row).

row 7 (RS): (k1, p1) 3 times, knit to last 6 sts, (p1, k1) to end.

row 8 (WS): (k1, p1) 3 times, purl to last 6 sts, (p1, k1) to end.

rep rows 7 & 8 until piece measures approx 20in/50cm in length.

next row (RS): (k1, p1) 15 times, k37, (p1, k1) 15 times.

next row (WS): k1, (p1, k1) 15 times, p35, (k1, p1) 15 times, k1.

rep these last 2 rows 2 more times (6 rows total of the Moss st shoulders).

next row (RS): BO 26 sts, (k1, p1) twice, k37, (p1, k1) 3 times, BO last 25 sts.

At this point you can either break off yarn and rejoin it, or using a crochet needle slip stitch over to your 46 live stitches.

Hood

cont in the same pattern of the 6 st moss st border at each end of row, stockinette st in between, until hood panel measures approx 8.5in/21cm.

You now want to slip 23 sts onto another needle (preferably a double-pointed needle, otherwise you'll have to slip them all a second time in order to get your needle points matching up when you fold the panel to close the hood seam).

Close hood seam with either a 3 needle bind-off or the kitchener stitch.

Sew in loose tails.

Fastening

Using a crochet hook, join your yarn at a shoulder corner, chain 10, rejoin with a slip stitch at the same point you started to create a loop.  Break off yarn and sew in tails.

Using the photo as a guide, join yarn at a point on the opposite shoulder, chain 40, break off yarn leaving a few inches of yarn to spare.
Make a mini pom-pom with a scrap of a contrasting yarn, or the same yarn, and attach it securely to the long chain (I like a simple reef-knot).  Now you can feed the chain through the loop and fasten it however loosely or tightly you want.