Spin on knitting: Create something special for the nursery, author suggests

Every baby deserves a knitted nursery, says knitter and author Susan B. Anderson. "Even if it contains just one or two knitted items, there is a magical connection between knitting and babies. They come together in ways that make people fall in love. Knits are so soft and warm and cuddly."

Plus, she says, "knitting is an act of pure love, and who better to shower this love on than a baby? Knits can be used, but they can also be treasured and handed on."

Anderson was recently in Salt Lake City to do a workshop at the Wool Cabin and to talk about her newest book, "Itty-Bitty Nursery" (Artisan Books, $17.95). It offers 40 different patterns for nursery items ranging from the standard blankets, booties and sweaters, to toys, pillows and accessories. There are projects for every level of knitter, says Anderson. She's conscious of beginners, she says, probably, in part, because she taught herself to knit. "Knitting has its own language, and some of the abbreviations used can be intimidating."

Anderson was raised in the Madison, Wis., area, where she still lives. "I grew up in a very crafty, artistic family. But no one knitted. Strangely, that was what I was interested in. I can't tell you why. I'd done a little crocheting, but that was it."

She was working as a lifeguard and had a strange schedule — 45 minutes on; 15 minutes free. "I got a pamphlet and was determined to learn knitting in my free time. I worked and worked at it. Everyone thought I was a big goofball sitting there knitting."

This was back in the 1980s, "and no one was knitting then — at least not in public." The first things she made were terrible, she says. "But I loved it. It became my big love affair. And I've never stopped."

About 12 years ago, she began designing her own patterns. "I've knitted almost anything. I would see something and think, I could do that myself."

She was married and teaching school, but always knitted for her babies. Then when her third child came along, "I quit teaching to be a full-time mom and crazy knitter. I was knitting for my kids and for charity events and fund-raisers."

One thing she noticed was that a lot of people seemed to love baby hats. "That spurred me on." She began doing some art gallery shows and selling baby hats at a local knitting shop. Then she was hired to design hats for a manufacturer.

"That's when I got into serious pattern writing. I decided to send some of my patterns to a publisher, and within two weeks I had a book deal." Her first book was just on baby hats. For this book, she expanded her repertoire to include other nursery items.