Essential Baby: Over 20 Handknits to Take Your Baby from First Days to First Steps

by Debbie Bliss

A complete knitwear collection for every new baby, this guide includes 20 must-have designs for babies ranging in age from zero to 18 months. Divided into three main sections—Coming Home, On the Go, and Downtime—the author has carefully considered the needs of any new parent and devised an assortment of essential projects for their newborn.

Genres: Knitting, Crafts, Nonfiction

144 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2007

Reviews

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely adorable stuff. The introduction has clear examples of the basic techniques and there's a good range of projects without getting to complex. My only gripe is that, while Bliss says that the projects were chosen for a range of skill-levels with most being on the easy spectrum, the projects have no indicators of their difficulty level.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are some cute patterns in this book, and I've heard that the Debbie Bliss patterns are fairly easy to understand. I'm going to be making the Hooded Carrying Bag, but there are some cute pants and a couple of sweaters that I like as well. Many of the patterns go up to 24 month sizes, which I love. I am only disappointed so far by the suggested yarns... the hooded carrying bag calls for something like 6 balls of Cashmerino Aran in cream... That's something like $60+ for a robe/blanket for a tiny baby... they're going to grow out of it so fast that it'd have to be a super-special occasion for me to knit this with the actual recommended yarn.
Nonetheless, I'll be trying this one out and will probably put it on my wishlist.

[Minnesinger · Rating 3 out of 5]

The 'Shawl Collar Sweater' pattern is the best of the book, IMO, followed by the 'Dufflecoat' (0-12 months). The 'Shawl Collar Sweater' (3-24 mo.) is knit in Cashmerino Aran, while the 'Dufflecoat' is knit in Rialto DK.
The 'Pinafore Dress' is forgettable--plebeian compared to Bliss's other 'Pinafore' Dresses. (I wish she would try to come up with more original names to differentiate among the many with the same title.)

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

great basic patterns for babies using Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Baby yarn. I have only made the Crossover top, but plan on making the "pants to match". Pretty good reference, only I always adapt Debbie Bliss patterns to knit in the round instead of flat.

[Leanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

A few adorable patterns, probably not worth buying the whole book.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great book for beginners. I plan on making many of the projects in this book.

[Erynn Ahern · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute patterns, but all patterns are knit flat which creates a huge amount of fairly unnecessary seaming. Why modern baby clothing patterns aren't all done in the round is beyond me.