Traditional Smock in Adorable Crochet for Babies and Toddlers

[magiccrochetfan]

Has anyone made this top?

 

I checked out the book from the library, and swatched the stitch pattern and did a little of the smocking. It seems to me that the smocking creates a very thick area. I used yarn a bit bigger than called for, as it was all I had, so I'd like to know if a right-sized yarn results in smocking that does not seem too thick?

 

I really don't know what yarn would substitute for the Paton's Baby Pure Wool 3-ply. It looks like this yarn is available in Britain, and potentially I could order it from somewhere like http://www.angelyarns.com/patons/baby.php but I would much rather use something I could find in the US, and acrylic or something pretty sturdy would be good. A 25 gram ball is 158 meters/173 yards, and the pattern calls for a US size 4 steel hook. I also found info here http://www.coatscrafts.co.uk/Products/Knitting/baby+yarns/Patons+Baby+Pure+Wool.htm

 

If anyone has made the pattern I would love to hear how it turned out, and if anyone could help me figure out a yarn substitute I would be very grateful. Sorry my post is a little rambling!

[Empress Busy Bee]

I have this book. Bought it especially for that pattern but have not made it yet.

Searching the net, I found that 3 ply is lace weight. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong.

Going by that, I would imagine that it's not very thick at all.

[Elvee]

Isn't that the same weight as baby fingering yarn? I am thinking it is interchangeable.

 

Lorry

[magiccrochetfan]

Empress and Elvee, thank you for the input on yarn types.

 

Googling for lace weight yarn, I can find quite a few that would be similar in size but they all seem to be more high-end yarns and are not going to be easy to wash/dry. The person I want to make it for just does not have time to hand wash and flat dry her kids' clothes. Does anyone know of a lace weight synthetic yarn?

 

Looking for baby fingering I find the acrylic Bernat baby fingering, which is a little bigger at 50g/286 yards. The recommended hook for this yarn is US D/3, but the pattern says steel size 4. The book has a chart of different hook sizes and it looks to me like they do mean US sz 4 steel. Is baby fingering possibly small enough to use a steel size 4 hook?? I use a 7 or 6 steel hook for size 10 thread so that is quite small.

 

Well, I feel I am learning more about the kinds of yarn that are out there. If nothing else I now know that crocheted fabric can be smocked, would never have thought of that on my own

 

Thanks again for the help so far, and I would love to hear any other thoughts on yarn for this pattern.

[Empress Busy Bee]

The person I want to make it for just does not have time to hand wash and flat dry her kids' clothes.

I hear you.

I'm wondering if you could use DMC's Senso or Red Heart Lustersheen.

Maybe Microspun even though it's sized bigger than lace weight, it's still thinner than a lot of yarns.

Or a sock yarn.

[magiccrochetfan]

Empress, I think all of those are too big...this seems to be some tiny yarn!! I do appreciate your continued interest in my problem. Actually, this afternoon while looking for something else, I found King Cole baby 3-ply on a Canadian site, Yarn Forward http://www.yarnforward.com/bigvaluebaby.html that seems to be about the right size, 25 grams is 163 yards, and the Patons is 25 g/173 yd, so that is really close. I think I will post in the yarn and shopping sections to see if anyone here has used this yarn or ordered from Yarn Forward. Hey, shipping is only $12-15, what the heck! Hmmm, I just had a thought, maybe before I decide to order it I will email Yarn Forward or call and ask them what they think, maybe they are familiar w/ the Patons yarn.

 

I'm exhausted from looking for this yarn...went to my nearest LYS yesterday (about an hour away, but I was visiting a friend there) and I did buy a skein of (sort of) washable wool which the salesperson thought might work...hahaha, it is not near small enough! $6 down the drain, but i guess I can make some bootees or something. I am not sure I still WANT to make this pattern, even if I do find the stupid yarn:( But it really does look cute in the book......oh well, I will continue on my quest.

[Empress Busy Bee]

Senso is size 3 thread. It might be too small. It might work. It might work doubled.

Lustersheen is a 2 fine sport, however it's a not a lot thicker than Senso.

Personally if I ever get around to doing this sweater, I'm going to swatch those two threads/yarns before I order something.

[LondonLaura]

Our 3 ply yarn here in UK is indeed a thin yarn, but it's NOT thin like actual thread. I usually have the opposite problem with yarns as I love American patterns but then have to figure out which yarn to use. I agree with the lady who recommended making a swatch! If I can help at all with British yarns, feel free to ask!

[magiccrochetfan]

Hi Laura. Thank you for the British perspective. Do you know if the Patons Baby Pure 3 ply is really small enough to use a 2 mm hook? What do you think about substituting King Cole Big Value Baby 3 ply? thanks again!

[newthingcrochet]

Senso is size 3 thread. It might be too small. It might work. It might work doubled.

Lustersheen is a 2 fine sport, however it's a not a lot thicker than Senso.

Personally if I ever get around to doing this sweater, I'm going to swatch those two threads/yarns before I order something.

 

Since I work a lot with thread I would agree with this post. I just made a top (herehttp://www.crochetville.org/forum/showthread.php?t=53646) with Bernat fingering weight and used an E hook. It split a lot so I can't imagine that you could use it with a 4 steel hook. But I also like to use quite a bit larger hooks than are recommended for yarns or thread so I guess you could try it. It doesn't cost much.

[LondonLaura]

Hi Laura. Thank you for the British perspective. Do you know if the Patons Baby Pure 3 ply is really small enough to use a 2 mm hook? What do you think about substituting King Cole Big Value Baby 3 ply? thanks again!

 

Kathy, I am currently making a tiny doll's dress using a UK 4ply

yarn with a 2.5 mm hook. (4ply is thicker than 3ply). So you can definitely use a 3ply yarn with 2mm hook.

 

I would say you can substitute any UK 3ply baby yarn. They do vary slightly but it's so minimal you don't end up with a different size finished product. I often substitute for either a cheaper yarn or because I prefer the colours available in another range. But make sure you buy a BABY yarn, as our regular plys do come up thicker (and less soft) than the baby yarns.

Hope that helps.

 

Good luck!

[magiccrochetfan]

Laura, thank you for the information about British yarns...it helps with figuring out the different designations for yarn sizes. I may go ahead and order the King Cole; it's a tiny bit bigger than the Patons, which would probably be okay since the size range on the smock only goes up to 10 months, so having the finished smock a bit larger would make it wearable longer.

 

I finally made it to Hobby Lobby and picked up a ball of Senso (was glad to find a ball of lime green on sale for $1!). It is much too big for me to be able to use a 2mm hook...I need more like a 3mm/D. Lustersheen is too big too, I had some very old skeins of that.

 

Thank you to everyone for your help with this question!