Showing posts with label surprise jacket. Show all posts
Showing posts with label surprise jacket. Show all posts

Saturday, July 2, 2011

BSJ and Knitted Babes

On one of the knitting blogs I read, I learned about the "Baby Surprise Jacket" or "BSJ".  This was a new one for me.  It is a jacket you knit in one piece,  and it ends up looking like a floppy rag:


  then you sew two seams or sides together and suddenly you have a jacket. 





The original design was created in 1968 by Elizabeth Zimmermann,  a British woman who revolutionized knitting.  Sounds odd, doesn't it, knitting and revolution? She also invented a way to enlarge garments, mathematically, which is very clever:



From which the following quotation:

"Her "EPS" (Elizabeth's Percentage System) is still widely used by designers: it consists of a mathematical formula to determine how many stitches to cast on for a sweater, given that the sleeves and body are always proportionate no matter what yarn or gauge is used. Other patterns and techniques for which she is well known are the so-called "Pi Shawl," a circular shawl that is formed by regularly spaced increases based on Pi, 'i-cord' (or 'idiot cord'), and the "Baby Surprise Jacket," which is knit completely flat and then folded, origami-style, to create a nicely shaped jacket."

Since, after you start the project you can change yarns several times, you really have no idea how the end product will look.  I am assuming that,  because I  have not made one.  I am pretty much done for now with the baby jackets and wanted to try this, but in an adult size.  I found the pattern for $14.95 Incl. S&H, on line,  and this pamphlet  also includes the baby size and other kid sizes check out this great source for patterns and other needle stuff:

just scroll down the page a bit until you see this pamphlet and then click on the abcsj link

Another project I am working on is knitting a doll.  From Amazon I recently ordered this book:


it is inexpensive as well, about $12 I believe,  and also available, really cheaply, used.  These dolls are so cute.  They basically have a big head, smaller body and stringy arms and legs.  They are finished quickly.  Then you can give them hair, clothes, etc., to create their personalities.

Another blogspotter here , http://knittedbabes.blogspot.com/   has a lot of finished dolls and toys, really impressive!

Here is my WIP:  got a long way to go.  I found this wonderful thick, wavy colorful yarn which I thought was perfect for the hair.  The undies are from the book.  I like to put the face on last, after the doll is fully dressed.  I don't know why. Perhaps "clothes make the woman"?


~ Tranquility and Tolerance ~