Make this Knititty with the slogan ‘Fit to Bust’ for your baby to show the world how he or she is being fed. Fit to Bust is also a book written by former lactation consultant Alison Blenkinsop. It’s a treasure chest of light-hearted information to celebrate breastfeeding and raise funds for Baby Milk Action.

 

See Alison Blenkinsop’s website www.linkable.biz and click on The Breastfeeding Enabler’s Toolchest tab to view and download resources, including the Fit to Bust Knititty.

 

Please retain Alison’s name and website with any resources of hers that you use.

Please consider donating £1 to Baby Milk Action for this pattern – http://www.babymilkaction.org/shop/donation.html

This is based on the pattern for a Knitted Breast by Lactation Consultants of Great Britain, and adapted by Catherine Hall and Alison Blenkinsop. Send any comments or queries to Alison on aliblenk@hotmail.com, and check on www.lcbg.org for updates or improvements to the pattern.

 

Size (approximates only, because of lack of models to try on!)

Size 1 (newborn 5-8lbs), size 2 (2-6 months), size 3 (6-12 months). Larger sizes can be made by casting on additional stitches in multiples of 10, and adding extra rows above the lettering and making further decreases to the crown.

You will need

a pair of 3¼ mm (size 10) knitting needles; a pair of 3¾ mm (size 9) knitting needles

25 g (25g, 50g) double knitting yarn in main colour

small amount of double knitting yarn in contrast colour for the lettering, and areola & nipple

needle for sewing up

a beautiful baby                                         

Abbreviations

st(s) – stitch(es)

k – knit

p – purl

st st – stocking stitch (alt rows k and p)

m – main colour

k1m – knit one in main colour

p1m – purl one in main colour

c – contrast colour

k1c – knit one in contrast colour

p1c – purl one in contrast colour

mm – millimetres

k2tog – knit (or purl) the next two stitches together

 

Method

With 3¼ mm knitting needle and m cast on 71 (81, 91) sts, loosely

Make a base of 8 rows in your preferred style, a) rib, b) moss stitch, c) garter st or d) rolled st st.

Rib                  First row (k1, p1) repeat to last st, k1

Second row (p1, k1) repeat to last st, p1 – repeat rows 1 and 2 three times more

Moss stitch    First row (k1, p1) repeat to last st, k1

Second row as first row – repeat rows 1 and 2 three times more

 

Garter stitch              First row knit to the end

Second row knit to the end – repeat rows 1 and 2 three times more

If you want to turn up the brim for the above 3 bases, add here 10 rows of st st

Rolled st st    First row knit to the end

Second row purl to the end – repeat rows 1 and 2 three times more

Main part

Change to 3¾ mm knitting needles and work 4 rows in st st

You are now ready to place the “fit to bust” writing

 

This can be done in one of three ways:

• knitting with the main colour and contrast colour following the chart
• knitting with the main colour and contrast colour following the instructions
• embroidering with the contrast colour after making up, using Swiss darning.

 

(Do an online search for Swiss darning to find some excellent websites with video tutorials.)

Chart method

Work 18 (23, 28) stitches either side of the lettering in m.Then, using c for the letters (shown in black) and m for the background (shown in white), follow the chart and these tips:

• Twist the 2 yarns at the back every 2-3 stitches so the loops are not too long.
• In particular, twist the yarns at the beginning and end of the lettering.
• DO NOT PULL TIGHT, or you will have to donate your hat to the premature baby unit!
• The knit row reads from right to left; the purl row works from left to right.
• Keep turning your work to the right side to check the lettering.

 

(click on the picture to make it bigger)

 

OR

Instruction method – see also instructions on twisting yarns above

Work 18 (23, 28) stitches either side of lettering in m on every row, remembering to twist yarns at the back before and after lettering (TY given as a reminder from row 7 on, where it’s essential).

 

Row 1 k1m, (k1c, k3m) three times, k2c, (k3m, k1c) twice, k4m, k1c, k2m, k1c, k3m, k1c, drop c, k to end in m

Row 2 p1c, p3m, (p1c, p1m) twice, p1c, p2m, (p1c, p1m) three times, p1c, p2m, (p1c, p1m) 7 times, p1c, drop c, p to end in m

Row 3 k2m, k1c, k1m, k1c, k3m, (k1c, k1m) three times, k1c, k2m, k1c, k1m, k1c, k3m, k1c, k4m, k1c, k1m, k1c, k3m, k1c, drop c, k to end in m

Row 4 p1c, p3m, p1c, p1m, p1c, p4m, p1c, p3m, p1c, p1m, p1c, p2m, (p1c, p1m) three times, (p1c, p2m) twice, p1c, drop c, p to end in m

Row 5 k2m, k1c, k3m, (k1c, k1m) four times, k1c, k2m, k1c, k1m, k1c, k3m, k1c, k4m, k1c, k1m, k1c, k3m, k1c, drop c, k to end in m

Row 6 p3c, p1m, p1c, p1m, (p3c, p2m) twice, p1c, p3m, p2c, p2m, (p1c, p1m) four times, p3c, drop c, p to end in m

Row 7 k2m, k1c, k2m, k1c, TY, (k8m, k1c) twice, k4m, k1c, k5m, k1c, drop c, k to end in m

Row 8 p1c, p3m, p1c, p1m, p1c, p4m, p1c, p8m, p1c, p11m, p1c, drop c, p to end in m

Row 9 TY, k14m, k1c, k19m, k1c, drop c, k to end in m

Row 10 p1c, p2m, p1c (do not weave c across now), p to end in m

Row 11 k32m, k2c, break off c, k to end in m   Row 12 purl to end in m

You are there, the worst is over!  Go and have a lie down in a darkened room!

Work 4 (6, 8) rows in st st then Shape crown

Start here for size 3

New row k1, (k2tog, k7) repeat to end of row (81 sts) – Next row p to the end

Start here for size 2

New row k1, (k2tog, k6) repeat to end of row (71 sts) – Next row p to the end

Start here for size 1

New row k1, (k2tog, k5) repeat to end of row (61 sts) – Next row p to the end

New row k1, (k2tog, k4) repeat to end of row (51 sts) – Next row p to the end

New row k1, (k2tog, k3) repeat to end of row (41 sts) – Next row p to the end

New row k1, (k2tog, k2) repeat to end of row (31 sts)

Change to contrast to make areola and nipple - Next row p to the end

New row k1, (k2tog, k1) repeat to end of row (21 sts) – Next row p to the end

New row k1, (k2tog) repeat to end of row (11 sts) – Next row p to the end

To make a textured (moss stitch) nipple:

New row k1, (p1, k1) repeat to end of row. Next row k1, (p1, k1) repeat to end of row

New row k1, p2tog, k2tog, p2 tog, k2tog, p2 tog (6 sts). Next row p1, k1, repeat to end of row

Making up Leaving a long enough thread for sewing up, break off the yarn and thread though the remaining stitches. On the wrong side sew up the side carefully in matching yarn, reversing the seam for a turn-up brim, and fold back brim. Add the hat to a beautiful baby…..then, fit to bust!