Baobab forms part of my Mzansi - South Africa on my Needles collection, available as a stand alone pattern, an Ebook and Print book

Order Mzanzi - South Africa on my needles eBook, and you’ll get all 15 patterns for only $20!

This pattern has been tech edited by Martha Jane McLellan and all sizes have been test knitted

Story:
So many years ago that it sometimes feels like a dream, I went up to the north of South Africa to see the Baobab trees, and visit the saltpans in Botswana. This was where I first met these amazing trees. They are sometimes known as the upside down trees, as it looks like they have roots twisting and turning up to the sky rather than branches.

I say ‘met’ them because they are huge trees; you can almost feel time when you stand next to them, the sense of calm that surrounds them, the solid presence of something that has been around for eons. (The average lifespan of the “tree of life” is 2-5,000 years!)

While climbing and sitting in the immense branches of one of the trees, I looked down and in the crook of one of the branches was a nest of baby owlets, big eyes looking back at me. It was a magical moment that I will never forget.

PATTERN INFO

Description
These trees were the inspiration for my Baobab Baby Pullover. This pullover is knit from the bottom up, in the round, and then split off for the arms and neck. The sleeves are picked up and added after the body has been knit. There is a tiny seam on the button shoulder where the 2 rib sections meet. This is the only seaming required. The button shoulder makes the pullover easier to get on and off a baby’s head.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate
The pullover is a very simple design and with some basic knowledge of cables this could be made by an adventurous advanced beginner with some experience in knitting sweaters.

Skills Needed:
Cables and twisted stitches, basic decreases, buttonholes, applied I-cord bind off, 3-needle bind off.

Needles
Pick the option that works best for you
4mm/US 6 circular needles for magic loop of body and sleeves 80cm/30”
or
4mm/US 6 smaller hat size circular (40cm/16”) for the body of the pullover if you don’t want to use magic loop
4mm DPNs can also be used for the sleeves if prefer this to magic loop.

Yarn
Hartlam Tulbagh DK 80% Superwash Merino/10% Cashmere/10% Nylon (100g; 212m/232yd)
Weight: Double Knit

Yardage
Newborn: 114g; 240m/263yd 0-3months:125g; 265m/290yd 3-6 months:140g; 290m/317yd 6-12 months: 178g 370m/405yd

Notions
Cable needle
2 Stitch holders or scrap yarn for holding stitches 3 buttons

Sizes
Newborn, 0–3 months, 3–6 months, 6 – 12 months
Finished measurements:
NB: chest: 46cm/18”, length: 23cm/9”
0 – 3 months: chest: 50cm/19.5” length: 24cm/9.5”
3–6 months: chest 55cm/21.5 length 25.5cm/10”
6–12 months: chest 58cm/22.5” length 28cm/11.5”

Gauge
Stocking stitch: 22 stitches and 29 rows over 10cm/4” blocked

Any questions or problems please feel free to email me cameronsallyjane@gmail.com