About

Learn how to make Elizabeth Zimmerman’s Classic Baby Surprise Jacket in a four-session (Sundays, 1:00-3:00 p.m.) workshop "knit -along."  The sweater is knitted using Garter stitches in a back and forth manner.

• The first session will feature techniques for making double decreases. 
• The second session will address techniques for making double increases.
• The third session will focus on how to make buttonholes for the jacket.
• The fourth session will cover the finishing steps including sewing up the jacket and adding modifications (i.e. collars, hoods or pockets). 

SKILL LEVEL REQUIRED: Early Intermediate Knitter.  An "Early Intermediate Knitter " can knit independently with casting on, binding off,  as well as being able to do knit and pearl stitches.  Typically, Early Intermediate Knitters have taken some beginning workshops and completed knitting projects such as a scarf or hat.  Please contact one of the instructors (fiber.lead@bainbridgebarn.org) if you have questions about whether you are ready for this workshop.  Intermediate and Advanced Knitters will find this a creative knitting project and will enjoy the camaraderie of a "knit-along" with fellow knitters.

AGE Requirement: 14 or older.

SUPPLIES NEEDED: Fingering (aka sock yarn) will be available from the instructor or bring 100 grams of your own yarn.  24 inch or longer circular knitting needle size 5 if your own yarn is fingering weight, size 6 for sport or DK weight or size 7 for worsted weight  

MATERIALS FEE: $15 include the Baby Surprise Sweater Pattern packet. Please bring cash or check made out to BARN to the first day of class.

This legendary sweater patterns is the "Baby Surprise Jacket" designed by Elizabeth Zimmerman in 1968. It is great fun to knit because it doesn't look like much more than a rectangle when you are knitting it, but then SURPRISE! It folds to become an adorable baby sweater, like the examples shown.  

The "Knitting Daddy" describes his experience knitting the Baby Surprise Jacket in his blog (http://www.knittingdaddy.com/2013/12/02/the-baby-surprise-jacket/):

"At its core, the Baby Surprise Jacket (BSJ) is a knitted rectangle, with shaping. The shaping is where it gets fun. Once the BSJ comes off the needles, it looks like a mess. You can see that it kinda looks like a rectangle, but mostly it’s full of puckers and things that just don’t look right. But then, with some fairly simple origami-like maneuvering, it’s a jacket that requires just a little bit of seaming on the sleeves to complete the construction"