I don’t know if it was something in the water or what but it seems that I know lots and lots of women who are expecting babies over the next several months … lots and lots!

So in my search for the perfect go-to baby-knit, I have found a couple of books I’d like to review for you today:

The first, a new one from DK books, is titled Baby Knits Made Easy. This one is packed with designs … from the simple to the advanced, from the classic to the unique. More than 50 knitting projects are included in this paperback that also includes lots of detailed pictures and tips on knitting for the little ones. The projects include:

• clothing ideas that include dresses, skirts, newborn cardis, hats and caps and other great baby clothes with a separate chapter on a myriad of accessories that will knit up quickly
• toys — these are adorable and include stuffed animals, pillows and teething toys and knitted blocks and rattles
• blankets and other nursery decor — the crib mobiles are adorable as are the pillows and classic blankets

Surely, you’ll find something perfect to knit for the little one … and of course, you can always check out my designs for a suitable baby gift.

The second book, Debbie Bliss’s Design It, Knit It: Babies, has been out for a while and is one of those I bought for my personal reference library. If you know what you want to make, but just can’t find it in any pattern, this Bliss book is a great place to start. Bliss explains a technique (choosing fibers, styles, color, embellishments) in great detail and then includes a design that shows that technique to perfection. She gives the reader lots of tips on how to make these designs “your own” and ends the book with a “design workbook” that includes basic shapes, graph paper, and charts to help you start designing on your own. The (hidden) spiral bound book includes a removal gauge card with a needle gauge and answers to frequently asked questions such as “which size should I make” or “what size yarn should I use”?

So what would you make? What’s your favorite go-to baby knit? Let us know in the comments and also post any questions you might have on knitting for babies … I’d love to hear from you!