Bombay Love

During my masters degree (crazy but I am on the website. My claim to fame), I shared an apartment with a wonderful person. We had nothing in common. We met out of circumstance, found a place, and lived together. It was magical, romantic, and fulfilling. She is one of "those" people in my life where there are no boundaries, no inhibitions, no pauses. I can pick up the phone and we pick up our relationship from the time we talked last. The picture is from our old college years.



After several years of waiting and hoping, Nilanjana (aka Nilu) is having babies. Yes, babies as in twins. Babies in general make me terribly emotional, but nothing like this time around. Making these two little shirt-sweaters for them was a journey for me. I remembered our years in Bombay, the wars with our worlds, and the negotiations regarding what we wanted to become. I also thought of the heartbreaking journey that Nilu has undergone to become a mother. Her disappointed voice, but her very hopeful spirit. I am so very happy for her.





I came up with this pattern and figured a way to write it--this could not have been more timely. My first pattern to met the rest of the world. It is called "Bombay Love" ...reminiscing Nilu's and my old times in the city we both love so much. And the city in which we met and built our wonderful friendship.

Bombay Love (Queue it on Ravelry by clicking here)





- Top down baby shirt-sweater. Fast and furious.
- This is my first attempt at writing a pattern. Please email me with comments/corrections. My apologies in advance.

Stuff:

* 1 skein of worsted weight yarn; a little bit of worsted weight yarn in contrasting color for edging (I used Vanna's Choice Solids)
* size 5.5 crochet hook (fits newborn - three months)
* US 2 DPNs
* two buttons and one yarn needle.

Abbreviations:

* Ch: chain
* DC: double crochet
* SC: single crochet
* St: stitch
* DC-DEC: double crochet decrease
* Sl st: slip stitch

Body:

With the main color of your choice, Chain 38.
Row 1: DC in the 3rd ch from hook and in the next ch (first front), (DC, Ch1, DC) in the next chain, DC in next 4 chs (first sleeve), (DC, Ch1, DC) in the next chain, DC in next 12 chs (back), (DC, Ch1, DC) in next chain, DC in next 4 chs (second sleeve), (DC, Ch1, DC) in next chain, DC in the next 11 chs (second front), Ch2, turn. Do not count this ch2 as the first st in the next row or in any other row. If you dont do this, then when you do the edging, there are "holes" between the edging and the body. Does that make sense?

Row 2: * Work DC until Ch1 space, work (DC, Ch1, DC) in this space, repeat from * 3 more times, DC to end, Ch2, turn.

Repeat Row 2 until desired chest measurement. My shirts had a chest circumference of about 20 inches.

Next row: DC until Ch1 space, work DC-DEC in the first Ch1 space and the next Ch1 space (one sleeve created), DC until next (third) Ch1 space, work DC-DEC in the third Ch1 space and the next (fourth) Ch1 space (second sleeve created), DC to end, Ch2, turn.

Next row: DC in each st across, Ch2, turn. Repeat this row until desired length of the shirt. My shirts had a total length of 10 inches. Remember to end with WS row.

Next row: Change to edging color. SC across the lower edge, continue SC across the first front, around the neck, across second front. Fasten off. I would suggest that at each corner you might come across during the edging, work 2 SC. This will stable the corners and will reduce curling up.

Sleeves:

Attach edging yarn at Ch1 space at underarm, Ch1, work SC around, join to Ch1 with sl st. Fasten off.

Repeat the same for the next sleeve.

Buttons:

With DPNs and with color of your choice (I just used what was remaining), cast on two stitches and work I-Cord for about 9.5 inches. Sew the I Cord to body as shown in the picture. I placed the I Cord between the fourth and fifth row from the top. Sew button on the other side.

Finishing:

Weave in ends.
Smile.
Look at your handmade project again.

Please:
This pattern is for your personal use only. If you use it, please link/acknowledge the pattern. Kindly do not publish pattern text or photographs without my written permission. Thanks!