knits, notes, etc.

In my opinion, knitted garments for babies should be very simple projects, with simple shaping and construction. I can't imagine spending more than a few days, or at most a week, on one baby garment (unless it's a blanket). Baby bibs are especially quick projects; they are rather tiny, after all. I've wanted to knit a baby bib for some time now, but just did not know where to begin. It really wasn't until Hilary knitted a couple of braided-cable baby bootees, that I was inspired to just take the plunge and start this (so often, I talk about all the projects I want to design, but never get to).

Wow. Though the bib took me a little more than two hours to finish, it's taking me near to two weeks to write these instructions. So, now, rather than putting it off any longer, as I find more things to modify or correct, I think I will just post what I have. Also, I don't actually have the finished bib in front of me at the moment, just my scribbled notes (I'm writing this as my husband and friends play poker)... I hope there aren't too many mistakes, but, please let me know otherwise. Chloe—Thank you so much for requesting this pattern!

Finished Size About 7" (18 cm) wide at the widest point and 5.5" (14 cm) tall for the body. The button band extends another 5.5" (14 cm) and the buttonhole band 4.5" (11.5 cm).
Yarn Rowan handknit cotton (100% cotton), 1 skein.
Needles Size 6 (4 mm). 3.5mm crochet hook.
Notions Markers, tapestry needle, 2 buttons.
Gauge 20 sts and 28 rows = 4" (10 cm).

Pattern Description
This pattern is knit from the bottom-up. You begin with a provisional cast-on and knit the cable pattern for the width of the bib. Then, on the next right-side row, you knit across the cable pattern, pick up and knit stitches along one edge, remove the provisional cast-on and knit those caston stitches in the cable pattern. Now, you're set up for knitting the body of the bib, which has three parts: right cabled edge (shown below as Chart A), stockinette panel, left cabled edge (shown below as Chart B). The first few rows of the body uses short rows to shape a small curve at the bottom corners of the bib. After the short rows, you continue to knit the three parts of the body in the established pattern, adding some decreases to shape the top of the stockinette panel. Then, you bind-off center stitches of the stockinette panel for the neck and continue knitting the edge stitches in the cable pattern to create buttonhole and button bands to clasp around the baby's neck.

Notes
For the provisional cast-on, I used a crochet hook and waste yarn to chain 12. Then, using the project yarn, I picked up 8 stitches from the backs of the chain. You can also use a long-tailed provisional cast-on as described by Wendy Bernard in her tutorial.

Cable Chart

Instructions

Bottom
Use a provisional caston method to CO 8 sts.
Begin with the Setup Row (WS) of the cable chart, then repeat Rows 1-6 of the cable chart 7 times.

Next Row (RS) Beginning with Row 1 of of the cable chart, knit in pattern across 6 sts, p2tog (this sets up the first 7 sts for Chart A), pm. Pick up and knit 29 sts evenly across the edge, pm. Remove the waste yarn on your provisional caston and slip these sts onto the left needle. P2tog, (this sets up the last 7 sts for Chart B), and following the last 6 sts of Row 1 of the cable chart, knit in pattern across the last 6 sts.(43 sts)

Short row shaping
Next Row (WS) K in pattern (you should be at Row 2 of Chart B) across first 7 sts, sm, p across stockinette panel to last 11 sts, yo, turn
Next Row (RS) K to last 11 sts, yo, turn
Next Row (WS) P to yo, p2tog tbl*, p1, yo, turn
Next Row (RS) K to yo, k2tog, k1, yo, turn
Next Row (WS) P to yo, p2tog tbl, p1, sm, follow Row 2 of Chart A
Next Row (RS) Follow Row 3 of Chart A to m, sm, k to yo, k2tog, k1, sm, follow Row 3 of Chart B

* For WS of short-rows, before I p2tog tbl, I usually setup the stitches: pass the yo to the right needle, turn the next st on the left needle (without twisting), pass the yo st back to the left needle.

Body
Continue in the established pattern for 11 rows, ending with WS. Dec row Follow Chart A, sm, ssk, k to 2 sts before next m, k2tog, sm, follow Chart B to end. K 3 rows even in pattern. Repeat last 4 rows 2 more times. (37 sts)

Bind-off for neck
Row 24 (RS): Chart A, sm, ssk, k2, bind off 15 sts (there should be 3 sts unworked before next m), k1, k2tog, sm, Chart B.

Button band
Next Row (WS) Follow Chart B to end.
Dec 1 st at neck edge on next and following alternate rows until 8 sts are left. Remove m. Now, you will return to following the full Cable Chart.
Repeat Rows 1-6 of Cable Chart 4 (5) times, then Repeat Rows 1-2 once more.
Next Row (RS) P all.
Next Row (WS) K all.
BO all sts.

Buttonhole band
Join in yarn on WS, p3, sm, follow Chart A to end.
Dec 1 st at neck edge on next and following alternate row until 8 sts are left. Remove m. Follow the full Cable Chart.
Repeat Rows 1-6 of the Cable Chart 3 (4) times, then follow the Cable Chart to Row 5.
Next Row (WS) K2, p2, yo, p2, k2. (9 sts)
Next Row (RS) P2, k1, k2tog, k2, p2. (8 sts)
Next Row (WS) K2, p4, k2.
Next Row (RS) P all.
Next Row (WS) K all.
BO all sts.

Finishing
Weave in loose ends. Sew on the two buttons—I placed them in the center of the last two cables. Block lightly and try it on a baby!

FIN

These instructions seem pretty complicated for such a simple design. Please let me know if you have any questions!!! Thank you.