Knitch Magazine

Now we know what the spring/summer fashion forecast is for adult women, but what do the knitwear gurus have in mind for our favorite wee ones? Sometimes we see similar trends reflected in outfits from the leading babywear designers, and sometimes the trends are totally different. So let’s see what the fashion mavens are recommending for babies and children this season.

We can always rely on U.K. yarn powerhouse Sirdar to give us wonderful baby and kids’ options, and this season is no exception. The striping trend is very hot for spring and summer, and the designers at Sirdar have embraced this style with a new auto-striping yarn. Such projects as the Smiley Stripes Collared Bolero and the Smiley Stripes Cropped Cardi are gorgeous examples of how you can let the yarn do much of the work for you. You can also create your stripes the traditional way by using several shades of the same yarn. For example, the adorable Tiny Tots Ballerina Cardi combines three hues to get marvelous results. Or you can go for more subtle striping by mixing two yarns with different textures as in the Baby Snowball Blanket. Or if you want to go with a more romantic look for little girls, check out the feminine Tiny Tots Lace Cardi.

Another British designer well-known for her children’s designs is Debbie Bliss, and she also has some adorable new creations for the spring and summer. Her Cashmerino Mondrian Magic Dress shows fantastic of color blocking with lots of extra touches such as the contrasting buttonhole tab at the neckline. Then her Cashmerino Flower Child Dress gives you a retro, feminine look for little girls and is also designed in that popular A-line shape. If you prefer stripes for your wee one’s spring & summer wardrobe, then Debbie also has several options for you too with the precious Eco Baby Striped Dress and the unisex Eco Striped Pullover.

A newer yarn company from the U.K. that’s quickly becoming known for using only high-quality natural fibers is Sublime, and we agree that their designs for spring & summer are definitely sublime. Retro, unstructured options abound as in the adorable Sublime Pram Cardigan and in the classic Vintage Smock Coat. Then for a more feminine, romantic look, check out the Little Miss Cardie design with its precious front ribbon tie. We also highly recommend the Sublime Bow Cardie with its wonderfully coordinated Bow Shoes too.

And as we turn our attention to North American designers, we must take a look at the sensational children’s designs from Berroco’s Creative Director Norah Gaughan and her team of talented professionals. Norah and her crew definitely show us just how superbly a self-patterning yarn can work up in a variety of baby and children’s projects. For instance, the Wald Crocheted Blanket uses three different color combos to create hexagon-shaped motifs in this heirloom-quality piece. Then the Berroco Sox Baum Hoodie is ideal as a short-sleeved jacket for your favorite little girl, while the unisex Wien Hoodie is great for little boys too. Or knit up a color block toy as with the Koru Stuffed Dog in just one colorway and the classic, easy-fit Wunsch Cardigan by mixing several shades.