Fluffy Brioche Baby Blanket

Even though babies are so huggable, squeezable and delicious, we do have to put them down every now and then. That's when a Fluffy Brioche Baby Blanket comes in handy!

Wonderfully squishy and decadently soft, it is just right for a little playtime on the floor. And when it's all over, scoop up the whole cozy bundle... baby, blanket and all...  and get back to oohing and aahing!

Fluffy Brioche is one of our very favorite stitches. With its deep waffle texture and lofty thickness, it is just right for handsome hand knits. Plus, its four rows of patterning make for knitting that's interesting enough for a dull plane ride, but not so interesting that you miss the inflight rom com!

To show off the pretty complexity of Fluffy Brioche, we chose Cascade's stitch-defining Superwash 128. So soft and cuddly, Superwash 128 is a quick chunky weight, and as the name says, its totally machine washable. Plus, this yarn packs a ton of quality into an affordable price. Yay!

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Laura's Loop: The Sweatshirt Sweater

I grew up wearing a school uniform, which, for me, turns out to be a hard habit to kick. Some people seem to totally reject their childhoods of forced attire, opting for recklessly eclectic wardrobes. But I can't fight it; I'm a uniform kid, through and through.

I am sure you'll be relieved to read I am no longer sporting ill-fitting plaid jumpers, but there is rarely a day that goes by that I'm not in my own personal uniform. Lately, it's been dark-wash Levi's paired with some form of a baseball T or an athletic-gray sweatshirt. Naturally, I need handknit interpretations of these basics! I accomplished the first this past autumn when I stitched up the Everyday Linen Raglan. And now, I'm happy to add a thicker, cozier, woolier version to my collection... the Sweatshirt Sweater!

The Sweatshirt Sweater is my new go-to garb, spacious enough for underlayers and soft enough to go without. It's knit in Swans Island 100% organic merino, a beautiful light worsted yarn that evokes a natural refinement. I'll be in this uniform for these last snowy days of March, all the way through the crisp nights of spring!

Spoiler alert: as the seasons change, so does my uniform, so keep your eye out for some more knit basics in the months to come!

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Whit's Knits: Baby Jumper

When there's a baby in the picture, knitters have a hard time sitting idle. Our fingers twitch until we've outfitted that little bundle in our finest efforts. So when Molly's baby Guadalupe joined the Purl Bee family, that was my cue to get knitting!

I designed this Baby Jumper to appease little Lupe's budding sense of style but also her mother's legendary concern for practicality! Loose and soft and comfy, this simple dress is easy to slip over a squirmy baby's head and really works for the longhaul, first as a jumper, then as a tunic, and even later as a shirt. Plus, it's machine washable. Even Molly has to approve!

And since every hand knit baby gift has heirloom potential, I knit this one up in Anzula's very special Sebastian yarn. Sebastian combines superwash merino with sea cell, a newfangled seaweed-cellulose fiber that offers durability, drape and a very pretty soft shine!

PS Want to catch a glimpse of sweet Lupe in her Baby Jumper? Click here to see her on Instagram!

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Whit's Knits: Cozy Ear Flap Hat

No one's fond of cold ears and we're all pretty averse to icy wind blowing down their canals. So, here is a hat designed to protect these most vital appendages.

And you know that swathe at the back of your head that gets ignored by both hat and scarf? This hat covers that too! These are important practical issues but certainly not excuses to be uncute. In fact, these concerns for warmth and comfort may have inspired our sassiest hat yet!

For toastiness and style I turned to Purl Soho's Super Soft Merino. This is one yarn you'll welcome right up against your ears. Itch-free and wonderfully sumptuous, it also happens to make the best pom poms ever. So don't leave the top of your Cozy Ear Flap Hat out in the cold!

Make your ears happy!

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Molly's Sketchbook: Liberty Tea Towels

One of the many reasons I love Liberty of London fabric is that it evokes an English countryside fantasy I’ve always harbored. As a child, I would get lost in the worlds of Beatrix Potter, The Secret Garden, and Brambly Hedge. I was captivated by the soft colors of their illustrations, their images of teatime and frilly frocks.  My favorite Liberty of London florals all remind me of those charming books!

Recently, Purl Soho received Liberty of London’s new Tana Lawn Seasonal prints, many of which were beautiful florals! What better way to use this fabric than in a set of soft tea towels straight from my childhood daydreams!

For strength and absorbency, I used creamy porcelain Prairie Cloth as the base and added the incredible Irma print to one end. These simple tea towels are put together in a novel way that encases the end in a pure swath of Liberty. With only one visible seam, it’s as if they were dipped in the pretty print!

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