More BSJs

I've become a huge fan of the BSJ. I love to knit them, and I've done many! Here are a few that I've recently finished (well, except for the buttons). The larger one is Sirdar Denim DK, the smaller is from Noro's Kureyon Sock Yarn - love the stripes!

Done with this baby!

Finished the BSJ. Mom tucked for me; check out the buttons!

Pink and Blue BSJ

I never tire of the BSJ. I think I have made about 15 of them now. This little one is made from Rauma Babygarn a machine washable 100%wool yarn from Norway. It comes in such a wonderful variety of colors.

I chose a bright pink and blue for a friend's baby and did some random stripes. The sleeves always look unfinished to me so I have added ribbed cuffs that are long enough to fold back on themselves. Then they can be unfolded as the baby grows. The neckline is finished with single crochet to hide the changes in color. I need to get it sent off soon.

Finished BSJ

I'm not sure why, but this took much longer than I anticipated. I really lost interest once it was seamed up and all that was left to do was the border! I do really like the colors, though - they remind me of the beach. This is worsted weight Patons Decor with Plymouth Encore for the trim. Details and more photos are on my blog: here are finished photos and here and here are progress photos.

BSJ2

After my first baby surprise jacket I knew I had to make another one, it is simply too much fun. So another one was cast-on, this time for a baby to be born during Australia's autumn. I used Socks That Rock heavyweight in Ms la Rock on 4 mm needles. It was very very nice to work with this yarn!

Since I thought that the only problem with the BSJ are the short arm-lengths, this time round I elongated them. I knitted for each arm a piece of 7 ridges and I put the increases which normally come after 6 ridges in these pieces. Then I cast on the middle stitches for the back in between them and continued in the normal pattern. This gives a nice arm-length and is not that hard to do. The only worry I had: do I have enough yarn... It turned out that I had but to have 3 yards as left-over is not much.


I was lucky with the buttons, we have a real haberdashy shop in my town and the have a real excellent selection of buttons. I love these little ones, very nice I think for children items.

I guess if another opportunity comes around I will make another BSJ. In fact my daughter has kindly asked for one for her "build a bear" rabbit and I have a lot of sock yarn left-overs. It just might be that opportunity.....

bsj by 11yo dd

my daughter made this bsj for her 3yo sis. i couldn't help at all, never having made a bsj myself. she used fisherman's yarn and scrap yarns from the stash. she followed ez's instructions; her gauge was 4spi.

she was worried that it might not fit right; it looks fine, even if the sleeves *could* be longer.

BSJs, of course!

This pattern really is addictive. Don't let the lawyers know or they'll have us putting warning labels on all of EZ's books! I had a ball doing them, and like others am going to have to scour my friend base to find more new babies!

OH yes, there is just one glitch - I hate sewing on the buttons. LOL

This one is cotton/linen blend, and it drapes so nicely!

This is my first woolen BSJ. Do other folks make matching hats for these? I think I'm going to make a few. Babies need hats!

I Need to Find More Babies to Knit For!!

The Baby Surprise Jacket is such a wonder of engineering. I would have loved to watch the process as EZ designed this little charmer. How did she figure it all out? Amazing.

My humble contribution to the masses of BSJ's that have been knit, is made from Zitron Life Style in color #1864. There are many more photos on my blog.

My First BSJ

I finished my first Baby Surprise Jacket. Fun, fun pattern, and really easy too. I was a little nervous about starting it, because I'd seen all kinds of cheat sheets and references to knitters using spread sheets to help them keep their place in EZ's instructions. Bah! Totally not necessary, IMO. It's pretty straightforward, really.

My increases did travel a bit on one side at one point, but otherwise it was smooth sailing. I used US size 4 needles and some scraps of sport weight acrylic I keep on hand for charity stuff. I plan to donate this to the local hospital. Now that I know I love the pattern, I'll have to find some scrumptious yarn to make one for T (and figure out how to size it for a toddler . . .). Maybe Peace Fleece on size 7 or 8 needles? Although something softer and maybe superwash would be nice . . .

And, of course, some pics:





crossposted (more or less) on my blog

BSJ Hybrid

It's got the Tomten Hood, but it's actually a BSJ.


Back View:
I made a similar-colored BSJ a few weeks ago, but when a friend saw it, she asked me to knit another one for her daughter. I hate knitting the same thing twice, so we decided to tweak the design a little bit. I've listed all the mods I used on my blog, if any of you would like more details.

Getting started on a BSJ

I have just begun on a BSJ. I am using Zitron Lifestyle in color #1860. It is a superwash Merino. I LOVE the greens!

~ Robyn

WeeBit Wonky

Yet another BSJ

I never tire of making these sweaters. This one is trimmed with I-cord but seamed at the shoulders with crochet. I used size 8 needles with a yarn that claims bulky weight but is probably more of a heavy worsted weight. I think this one will fit about 9-12 months at least. It measures 11 inches across the chest when flat (22 inches circumference) and 14 inches from neck to hem.

Click the picture to enlarge it.

There is more information on my blog.

Another BSJ

Speaking of BSJs, I just love how no two are ever alike. Mine is my first, but not my last, and I echo the sentiments recently expressed that it will become more and more enjoyable with practice. I used Malabrigo wool and cute little ducky buttons. Heavy worsted weight resulted in a garment that will fit my almost four-year-old daughter, so I am hoping a DK or sock-weight yarn might yield a baby sweater. The possibilities are truly endless.

I had a bit of difficulty understanding the directions, so I bought this DVD for help. It was wonderful. Next one I make, I plan to use some of the alternative instructions Meg uses to make it neater, such as better double decreases.

See my blog for pics and details, this won't let me post pics for some reason!

Knit on, Zimmermaniacs.

Lots of Pink Baby Surprise

I almost forgot to show you my finished Baby Surprise Jacket!

This one came together in no time, although I was more than halfway finished before I could figure out the right-side-upness of it.





I opted for pastel mismatched buttons.

This was knit with Katia Jamica yarn. The BSJ took about 1.25 skeins. I used another .25 of a skein for a improvised hat.

Roxie loves it (can't you tell?) I'm sure that the baby recipient will too.

For more about me, my cats and my knits, you can go here.

My first BSJ

I have completed my first Baby Surprize Jacket and I was left guessing until I had cast off as to how it was going to magically turn into a Cardigan!I used five mini skeins of Merino-alpaca that I got from Hip Knits for my first EZ pattern.


I'm going to try the February sweater next when I decipher the pattern!

Hey everyone, I'm a new here and posting about my first BSJ.


Despite having been knitting for 33 years now, I only discovered Zimmermann a couple of years ago - she really isn't as well known in the UK as she is in the US.

I'm a knitwear designer myself specialising in Hats and appreciate EZ's logical approach. Am in the middle of writing a book, so discovering that I'm pregnant for the first time gave me the perfect excuse to put the Hats, patterns and sample knitting down and finally knit a BSJ! It was exactly what I needed.

This one will fit a 3-6 month, with a gauge of 22-24sts per inch. Knitted in 4ply & DK oddments from my stash on 3.25mm. I followed the pattern to the word (which is v.unusual for me ;) and am really happy with the result. I may however unpick the last couple of rows and reduce the buttonholes from 5 to 3, so that the bottom half of the jacket sits open.

Next stop, the Tomtem.

Edit:- gauge is 22/24sts to 10cm/4", not an inch - sorry! You can also find more photos here.

Toddler Surprise Jacket

My first BSJ. 15 sts over 4 inches. About a size 2T. Ingenius knitted origami.

The wool came from my grandmother. She knitted all her scraps into hats for my brother and I. When the hats were outgrown they were stored until the next generation needed them. My children wore these hats until I started knitting last winter.

We came to the conclusion that the hats would never be properly loved/needed again so I ravelled them and knitted the wool into this. This will go to my small cousin Adalina, great granddaughter of this wool's first knitter.

BSJ

Hi Zimmermaniacs

This is my first post, I have been reading the site for ages and finally have got around to joining the fun. I'm in the UK where so many people don't know of the talents of EZ, but I am doing my best to change that.

BSJ My very first EZ knit for my 18 month old daughter, done on 5mm with various DK-ish weight leftovers, I added an extra bit on the sleeve length, next time I'd do a provisional cast-on for the sleeves but as it was my first I needed to get my head around it! Betsy has been wearing it for a bit now and what I absolutely love - apart from the obvious engineering genius - is the shaping over the bum/nappy, so very clever. She wore it on our recent holiday to Cape Cod and got comments everywhere we went, more modelling pics over on my blog.

I have a February sweater almost complete and am contemplating my next EZ assignment, what to knit...

Sarah

Cracking the DaV.... EZ's code

Finally, I did it! I cracked this ... code with my 2nd trying. First time I didn't like the yarn and I was lost in the pattern with markers.

Thanks to Ready Set Knit podcast who did it as a Knitalong and explained it in plain English.

This is RS


and this is WS

Adult Surprise Jacket

Hi,
I'm new to the blog. My friend and I would like to make the BSJ for ourselves and could use some guidance from those who have done it. I saw the pictures and they're outstanding.
Thanks,
Pam