Knit for Royalty: How the Duchess of Cambridge Made Classic Baby Knits Popular Again

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The nation cooed with excitement over the birth of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s third child on Monday 23rd April. Many waited in anticipation to catch sight of the tiny baby boy and were delighted when his siblings, George and Charlotte arrived to meet their little brother.

George and Charlotte with dad at St Mary’s Hospital
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As is common with public appearances by the mother and their children, speculation about what the young pair were wearing shortly followed.

At LK we love that the young royals often sport knitted garments so thought we’d take a look at how the young royals have sparked a resurgence in classic baby knits.

First there was George…
In 2013, the iconic image of new parents Catherine and William, cradling Prince George on the steps of St Mary’s hospital captured hearts across the globe.

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While the world caught its first glimpse of the newest royal, eager eyes were also drawn to the gorgeous knitted shawl surrounding the tiny baby.

The soft merino christening blanket was gifted to the couple before George’s birth by independent Nottingham-based firm, GH Hurt & Son as it was identical to the one William himself was wrapped in at birth. Within minutes of the £45 lace blanket appearing in public, the company were inundated with orders.

Then there was Charlotte…
When Princess Charlotte was born in 2015 and similarly draped in one of their shawls, the brand again saw a mass surge in demand as 100,000 people from 183 countries visited their website in less than 24 hours.

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As the tiny Royals have grown, their influence on clothing has too. George and Charlotte are often photographed in knitted garments, this has led to a rise in children’s knitwear in retail and an abundance of knitting patterns emerging in the world of craft.

Knit For A Royal
On her first birthday, the world delighted in the adorable image of young Charlotte in a blue M&H frock with classic cream knitted cardigan from Olivier Baby and Kids.

© HRH The Duchess of Cambridge/REX/Shutterstock

Founder of the company Emma Davison worked at Cath Kidston before setting up her own label in 2011. Her first design was this vintage inspired cashmere cardigan called the Rose, named after the stitch used throughout the design.

Princess Charlotte in cashmere
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Legacy Garments
Cosy cardigans make sense for any growing toddler and this little cardi is typical of the traditional clothes the young royals are dressed in. The knits at Olivier Baby and Kids are always 100% cashmere which the Duchess of Cambridge reportedly favours.

While luxurious fibres like cashmere tend to be more expensive, they are super cosy for baby and the ideal yarn for creating a legacy garment that can be folded away and treasured, or perhaps worn by the next generation. So while the yarn may cost you a few more pennies, creating something that will last forever is surely priceless, and truly one of the special things about being a knitter.

The eagerness of fans to replicate Kate’s chosen style for the children means that any clothing brands associated with the dapper family can expect a rapid increase in sales.

In line with Kate’s reputed love for reasonably priced high street fashion, the children are frequently pictured in clothing that even us “normal” folk can afford, such as this M&H cardigan, which retailed for £23 and was a huge hit with followers of baby Charlotte’s wardrobe.

© HRH The Duchess of Cambridge/REX/Shutterstock

Royal Fair Isle
Fast forward to May 2017, when Kensington Palace released an image of the two year old wearing a cute pastel Fair Isle cardigan from John Lewis The image went viral and the £18 jumper sold out in minutes as parents around the world fell in love with the thought of dressing their little one like a Princess.

© HRH The Duchess of Cambridge/REX/Shutterstock

Kate is clearly a fan of Fair Isle designs as George has also been pictured wearing a jumper with a simple motif in family pictures, and the royals have been pictured in Fair Isle since King Edward VIII famously sported a Fair Isle jumper in 1922.

© Chris Jelt/PA Wire/REX/Shutterstock

Perhaps one of the reasons Charlotte’s cardigan was such a hit was the cute sheep motif which is perfect for little ones. The option to add in colourful patterns and shapes is one of the wonderful things about working in Fair Isle. The royal children wearing designs like these has led to many retailers and knitwear designers incorporating these adorable touches in their children’s clothes.

Some knitting patterns clearly aim to emulate the “Princess Charlotte” John Lewis pattern, while some have even gone so far as to replicate the pattern.

You can purchase this pattern on Etsy

At LK, we obviously adore Kate’s choices for the children – especially when we see them in gorgeous knitwear. For many of us, knitted garments were the first thing we were clothed in as babies. They have a nostalgic link to the past and it’s wonderful to see a return to a more traditional approach to keeping babies and children cosy.

The whole family in Victoria, Canada, Oct 2016
©Tim Rooke/REX/Shutterstock

More importantly, this recent resurgence in children’s knitwear inspires us to get our needles out and start creating baby clothes ourselves! Whether it’s a legacy garment, a bright Fair Isle design or something fit for a princess, the choice of patterns and fibres out there is endless.

No doubt the arrival of George and Charlotte’s younger sibling will create even further motivation to whip up something tiny and cute, and we wait with baited breath to see the next adorable knitty outfits that the three young royals step out in.

Inspired to get knitting? Check out our 10 Baby Knits Fit For Royalty!

Don’t forget to share your tiny knits with us on Facebook and Instagram!