Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Advent Giveaway II: What to Knit When You're Expecting

Another December week has gone by, so that means it's time for our second Advent giveaway!  Today's is the utterly beautiful What to Knit When You're Expecting by Nikki Van De Car.

All photos © Claire Richardson

The book shares a title with the author's blog, which she began to chronicle her days with her young daughter and the knits she'd work on in her spare time.  The book was a natural progression from the blog and is lovely collection of twenty-seven designs for baby knits that range from tiny garments and accessories to nursery decor items to more utilitarian pieces like a bib and burp cloths.  The book is beautifully photographed and styled and is absolutely gorgeous to look at.  Something about the overall feel of the book is so peaceful and calming -- it reminds me of those first few days home with Daniel when all he'd do was sleep, and all we'd do is sit there and stare at him.

While most of the knits in the book are gender neutral, there are also designs for both boys and girls, and all garments and accessories are sized from from 0 to 12 months.  There is a nice techniques section in the beginning, then patterns are cleverly broken down into what you might want to knit in each of the three trimesters of pregnancy.  Some of my favorites include...

From the first trimester, when you have a whole pregnancy in front of you to knit larger pieces and baby basics:

Honeycomb Blanket

 Bloomers
 
 and the teeniest, tiniest Simple Mittens

From the second trimester, when you can get a little more gender-specific (if you go that route!):

 
 Ike Sweater Vest

Striped Boatneck Sweater

 Maile's Sweater (I love the lace and those contrasting buttons!)

and the sweetest Tutu (seriously, how cute is this?!?!?)

And, from the third trimester, when you may be starting to feel a little impatient and need some quick, instant-gratification knits:

Chickadee Hat

Burp Cloths

and Owl and Monkey Pillows

This would be a wonderful book to have if you are indeed expecting, but I also think it would be great to have on hand even if you already have/don't want kiddos for special gifts for friends who are. You can see more about the author and all of the patterns on Ravelry. 

And, if you'd like to win a copy of this book, please leave a comment here telling me whom you'd knit these little treasures for by midnight this coming Sunday (the 16th), and I'll draw a winner that afternoon.  Good luck, and have a great week!

50 comments:

Unknown said...

I knit tons of baby gifts (my baby turned 13 this year) for family & friends & this seems like a great resource for all those gifts. :)

Anonymous said...

Future grandchildren. What beautiful photos - I agree, so peaceful and calming. Thanks for doing the giveaway!

Beth said...

I have one month until my due date... I should've got my hands on this sooner :-) But luckily it's never too late to start on such sweet little projects!

Dor said...

Ooo, for my baby due in July!

Kate said...

I love knitting for my little nephew!

Shirley said...

I would love to knit that adorable monkey pillow for my 8 month old grand niece. She is crazy about monkeys.

Jodi said...

What a beautiful book! I've knit at least one of her patterns before and really enjoyed it.

I'm in my 30s, so there's a baby boom in full swing around here! Never a shortage of babies to knit for, though I'd be most likely to knit something for my best friend's little boy.

Josiphine said...

Seriously? I want that tutu for ME.

MrsZuvers said...

I just took a peek at this book when I saw it on the library shelf yesterday! Ideally, I'd need it for me. The hubs and I have been talking about having a second kid. When I had my first child (in my first marriage), it didn't know how to knit yet, and part of me wants another one just to knit tiny things for my own little person. O course, if we chicken out, my mom is the youngest of 14 siblings. I try to make a knitted thing for every baby shower. And trust me, there are a LOT of baby showers in this family.

VicKnits said...

What a great book, I would love to knit something for my great niece/nephew due in May!

Bogna said...

My niece is having a baby and the owl or monkey pillows are so awesome

melanie said...

I'd knit for my friend who is due by xmas, another one due in April, and more that are in the planning stages!

Jessica said...

A friend is due any minute now, and I'd love to knit a little something for the wee one, and maybe start on some things to put away for friends who are in the trying stages.

Unknown said...

I would love to knit some little things for my niece who is due in July..

emi love said...

Lots of young, new, and incoming nephews and nieces and 3 more friend pregnancies announced this week. Will be knee deep in knitting this year and am looking forward to new inspiration. :)

Aristi said...

I'd knit for my two lovely nephews and perhaps with a little tweaking of numbers I could knit some patterns for my son! He's 2 and a half :-)

knitraslatezen on Ravelry

Susan said...

My newly divorced neighbor has 7-month old twins that I would love to try to make something as a welcome to the neighborhood gift.

Heidi said...

Love the mittens and owl!
Heidi

Katlyn said...

Just found out I am pregnant and I love the tutu pattern sooo sweet! Would love to knit our new little one something!

Lydia said...

I would love to knit some tiny sweaters for my sweet little neice.

Amanda said...

I am *mostly* caught up on baby knitting for the moment, but I hope to be expecting my own little by this time next year!

Andrea said...

Well, I can't wait to start knitting for my future children. I'm a newlywed so hopefully that happens in the near-ish future. However, currently I enjoy knitting for my friends who are becoming parents right now.

Jennifer R. said...

Oh my, I have been wanting this book!!!
I have 2 beautiful grand-daughters (3 years old and 5 months old), and my youngest brother has a 7 month old son. I'd definitely knit for them!
I also work in a rural hospital in the Labor & Delivery dept. I knit baby items all of the time to give to "our" babies. Rav ID: jaydawnrn

Caroline aka FiberTribe said...

I'd knit for several friends who are all due within a few weeks of each other in February. Sweet giveaway, thanks!

Awa said...

my friend Amy, knitter and preggo!

BLBlanchard said...

We have several friends and coworkers who are expecting, not to mention our own 1 year old and a 9 month old niece! Would love to add some of these to their wardrobe :)

MollyHA said...

I have 4.5 more months to knit for my baby girl before she arrives!

Beverly C. said...

I have two new grandchildren and a great grandchild on the way. Also, my two youngest children are in prime child-bearing mode - so there may be more!

Unknown said...

our wee on is due in February, i'd love to get some more knits ready for him!

Tiffany C said...

I have a couple of pregnant friends right now that I'd love to knit for.

Laura said...

I'd have to knit for my baby cousins!

Unknown said...

I would knit for my 11 week old baby and then use the patterns for future babies to be born to my family or friends. What beautiful patterns and such fun!

You can contact me through my blog

http://www.knittingwitholof.com/

And I'm also OlofDrofn on Ravelry

M said...

I just found out that one of my best good friends is expecting another BOY (her first boy is AWESOME and a close friend of my own boy). I would knit up that chickadee hat and a vest for him.

And then I would hope to be knitting for ME because we're trying for another...

So cute. So cute it hurts a little.

Ginger said...

I'd knit some for my daughter, though I'd have to knit fast! Also, my best friend is pregnant, so something for her little one too.

Kesha E said...

I would knit for my niece/nephew arriving on the 5th of May.

Anna said...

I'd knit for my bun in the oven - gender still a surprise, due March 28!

Adrienne said...

Baby Girl Sloan! Due February 2! :)

Unknown said...

There are so many friends around me that are making babies, I think I'd have to put names in a hat to see who gets knit for first! But, the likely front runners are my cousin (due Jan 17, with the sex of the baby a surprise!) and a good friend, due in May.

EtOH said...

For a friend's baby, due in Feb

tngaston said...

Who would I knit for? My baby girl, and the million other little babies arriving in my life right now. :)

Suzanne said...

I Luke absolutely make several of these items. The tutu. The monkey. The mittens. That's just the short list. It promises to be a great book.

Kim said...

What a beautiful book! I'm right at the end of the first trimester, so for starters I'd knit for my baby--it's our first, and we're sooooo excited! If it's a girl, that tutu would be perfect for my sister's wedding next fall. And then later on of course for future kids, both mine & of friends & family.

I'm BeanerShnump on rav.

Barbara B said...

I would love to knit the Maile sweater and give it to my friend, who is expecting a little girl, along with the book (she's a knitter too!)

ZuzanaK said...

I would knit it for my kids and myself (the pillows :)).

Hind DP said...

Between friends, cousins, and nieces there are are a few new babies in my life to knit for. What a beautiful book, I love the variety of the projects.

Rav id: mamamustknit

Anonymous said...

For my neptune that will com this spring. And other babes that comes my way.
Rav: Ninnilina

GynnaB said...

My bestie is expecting her first little one. I would definitely knit an outfit or two from this book!!! EVERY Single knit is adorable!

Katie said...

I would knit them to donate to a local hospital.

Unknown said...

I'd knit something for one of the many women at work who are having babies! !

Domestic Diva said...

I'd knit for my soon-coming little one.

lovelydomesticdiva (at) gmail (dot) com