This is a gorgeous little handknitted jumper which was made for our Drift Collection  and book in 2015. The yarn - DK 100% baby alpaca - has been discontinued for a while now and so I never use this sample any more. 

The pattern is called Honey Bee and is by Dani Sunshine. It features a textured yoke on the front and two buttons so that the front neck can be undone. The buttonholes are quite secure so little fingers shouldn't be able to get the buttons undone. 

It might seem odd to put a baby in a jumper that's not machine washable but the other sample in the same yarn got well-used on a small child who absolutely loved it for a start, and also really put it through a lot of abuse. It withstood it all easily and the parent reported that it washed perfectly well when it did need washing. They also said that the wearer didn't find it tickly/itchy (it's baby alpaca so it is the softest type). 

SIZING

(measured with the jumper laid flat, so the widths are half the total circumference):

- 9.5 inches/23cm from armpit to armpit

- the length from armpit to hem is 6 inches/15.2cm

- the length from the top of the shoulder to the bottom hem is 10.5 inches/26.5cm

- the length down the inside of the sleeve with the cuff folded back is 4.5 inches/11.5cm

- the width of the sleeves at the top (armpit) is 3 inches/7.5cm

WASHING INSTRUCTIONS

This is a handwash-only situation, *however* knitwear like this very rarely needs washing. If it's been in a cupboard for a while or then simply hanging it out outside in the fresh air will freshen it up. Natural fibres like this don't hang on to smells and don't absorb stuff like man made fibres do.

If anyone drops a bit of food/sauce or whatever on it that will usually spot clean off the surface. Because the yarn is slightly fluffy things don't tend to immediately absorb so a dab with a tissue will lift most things off.

If you really do have to wash it then your best bet is to soak it in a sink of water (medium tempterature - not hot), squeeze it out and/or roll it in a towel to squeeze out excess water then lay flat to dry. It might expand whilst it's wet but as it dries it'll spring back a bit so don't panic. If you do actually want to stretch it you can pin it to the carpet and it'll dry stretched.