In the "olden days" when everyone sewed their own clothes and darned holes in socks because it was a lot less work than knitting new ones.....mothers made clothes that would fit their babies for longer than 0-3 months, 3-6 months, 6-9 months....you get the idea.
And I did it for ER(1).
Not because I tried to, but because I was a novice knitter and wasn't the best guestimator when it came to newborn sizes! Although, she had a few woollies that were true newborn size and only fit a short while (like this licorice allsort soaker)
these three pieces were worn from her very first week....right through to now:
OK, so they're rolled up twice and keep her ribs warm - but that's not a bad thing!
...and they're a perfect fit now!
baggy then...
and baggy now!
from longies...
to shorties!
from little feet.....
....to toddler feet.
And just for the record, she has NEVER worn a disposable nappy. NOT EVEN ONE.
It's one of those issues that seems INTRICATE to my generation, but is really quite SIMPLE.
Our grandmothers didn't have the choice to use throw-away nappies, so they just held their babes out over pots and washed their cloth squares. It needn't be any different today - except that we have become accustomed to the convenience of throwing things away. While it may be convenient in the short term, it's not a simple solution in the longterm. We clog up landfill and leave chemicals to leach out into the surrounding soils.......but you've all heard me say it before!!!
5 comments:
beautiful knitted clothes
youre clever Rach
I'm glad you got so much use out of those beautiful longies Rachael. ER is looking fantastic! Looks like she's walking too, or nearly!
I love your blog. You are wonderful. The grace & mercy of God for those who seeks it. www.watchlady.blogspot.com
What a fantastic job you have done on these - I wish that I could find a pattern that I like - can I ask what the pink one is.
Hi Kylie - those pink ones were my first ever attempt. I used a very basic pattern http://www.birdcrossstitch.com/organicwool/woolpants.html and just made them shorter and put a picot edge on the bottom cuffs. Being a beginning knitter I was also too scared to go back and undo the 3cm I had knit without changing needle size after the ribbing! So they were done entirely on 3.75mm needles - in the end this turned out to be good because they were very waterproof!
Now that I have learned the joys of circular needles though, I will never go back! When I've finished the longies I'm working on right now I'll post a picture and the pattern so you can try it out if you like - it's one I've mish-mashed together from various sources - I think I could call it my own! I've only just done the gusset and I'm going to do ruffles partway down the legs AND it's a size 4-6, so I won't be done this week! (BTW, my 4yo does not wear nappies! We just love woollen pants!)
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