This week, we have a trunk show of kid’s designs from Blue Sky Alpaca. The new fall patterns are adorable, and I’m itching to cast on for a kid’s sweater! Here are some of the highlights:

The Kid’s Pullover is a great little fair isle project. It’s knit with Blue Sky Alpaca Skinny Cotton yarn, a soft DK-weight cotton that’s completely machine washable. The pullover you see here is definitely for boys, but the colors can be easily customized for a girl.

The Girl’s Sundress looks summery, but it’s really a great all-season garment. Your little one can wear it alone in warm weather, or layer it over tights and a long-sleeved shirt in the cooler months.

The Baby Hoodie is a staple garment at Loop. It knits up quickly, and with all of the colors of Dyed Cotton available, the possibilities are endless!

If you’re not sure if the baby will be a boy or a girl, why not knit a toy? This fish is not only adorable, it’s entirely unisex. Knitting toys is a great way to spice up your knitting–and you’ll never have to worry about whether or not it will fit!

Those are only a few of the samples we have on display. The trunk show is only here for a few days, so be sure to stop in and take a look!

Lately I always have a baby gift on the needles with all the babies my friends and family are having. It’s nice to have a few patterns that I know and can knit quickly and easily.

These Baby Socks from the Fall 2008 Knit Simple are just one of those gifts. Designed by sock knitting master Wendy Johnson, these cute little socks are a snap to knit and are a big hit with new moms and dads.

I knit 2 pair from 1 hank of Koigu KPPPM yarn. It’s a great pattern for using leftover bits of fingering weight yarn.

Knit Simple also includes a women’s version of the sock, so you can make yourself a pair too!

Emily sent us pictures of her latest creation: a striped kids sweater knit with Blue Sky Alpaca’s Dyed Cotton yarn. She knit it for her friend Tara’s soon-to-arrive niece.

I love that she chose to put her own twist on a simple pattern by using uneven stripes.

We don’t have the pattern Emily used, but you could make your own by using Lillie’s Little Sweater from Cottage Creations or the Baby Hoodie from Blue Sky Alpacas. Knitting Pure and Simple also has some great top-down, one-piece sweaters for children.

Thanks for sharing your sweater, Emily!

Since his arrival just over 2 years ago, my baby knitting is reserved almost exclusively for my nephew Asher. I really don’t give him anything but knitted gifts at this point, because he doesn’t yet ask me for anything. I guess as he gets older he’ll get something he’s asked for and something I’ve knit him. But until then, the gift choices are mine.

So for his recent 2nd birthday, I knit Asher a pullover for spring.

I followed Knitting Pure & Simple’s Children’s Neckdown Pullover pattern and used Mission Falls’ 1824 Cotton yarn.

I love the kink of the 1824 Cotton yarn and the beautiful colors, especially the good boy colors.

Asher put on his sweater as soon as he opened it and said thank you before returning to his toys. It’s a little big, so he’ll hopefully get a few months use out of it before I make him another.