Sheepy Sack
Pattern: Using smaller needles, cast on 80 stitches using a stretchycast on.Place marker and join,being careful not totwist. \*K1, p1\* for 8 rows. \*K3, p1\* for 8 rows. Switch to larger needles. Knit every row until sack measures 12 inches from cast on edge. Switch to smaller needles. K1, p1 for 2 inches. Bind off, being careful not to bind off too tightly. Make a drawstring about 30 inches long using whatever method you like (crochet, braid, I-cord, etc). Use a large darning needle to weave drawstring through the ribbing. Weave in ends. Notes: The sack size can easily be adjusted; just cast on any number of stitches you want that is a multiple of 4. I find this size gives a good fit for newborns and for several months, until they are old enough to start moving around. Here is my interpretation of a soaker sack. It's a pretty simple design, easy to knit up even for a beginner, and ideal for the newborn period when it's hard to put little noodle legs into soaker leg holes. Yarn: Worsted weight wool. The sample is knitted with crudo (undyed) wool from www.100purewool.com, which is extremely soft and lovely yarn. Their new 3 ply is just as soft and somewhat more durable. Any worsted weight wool will work, but since it's for a newborn, you'll want something soft like Merino or Bluefaced Leicester. A 100 g (200+ yard) skein is more than enough for a soakersack. Needles: Size 4 and 7 US (3.5mm and 4.5mm) 16" circular or double pointed needles, or size needed to getgauge. Gauge: 5 stitches per inch.
