Make ALL the Baby Things!

Yes, thats right. Its been about a year since I last posted. But I have good reasons!

Reason #1 is that I got started making another Woven Plaid Blanket, but this time in KING SIZED.

Yes, I do know how insane that sounds. Thats why I gave myself a full year to get it done before my sister's wedding this past June. For the record, I did not get it done in time. It presented plenty of challenges, and it basically boils down to the fact that in order to weave it correctly (without shrinking it), I had the husband build a frame on which I could weave it - but the frame is also king-sized (at least in width) and it keeps me confined to the basement. Combined with the fact that I have to lean over uncomfortably in order to weave, it was a MUCH slower process than I anticipated based on the baby blanket size. The moral of the story being that I got about half of the weaving done by her bridal shower, so I presented it to her in its semi-complete status, with the promise that SOON I will get it done. Soon.

Reason #2 is that the husband and I got an awesome piece of news this February: We're expecting our first baby in October!!! Yaaaaaay!!!!

The wonders of morning sickness, followed by the feeling of "I'm so fat, why can't I bend forward" also made the weaving of the plaid blanket problematic. So instead, I decided that between me and all of my other friends who were sporting baby bumps, it was time to make ALL the Baby Things!

So, without further delay, here's most of the stuff I've been working on this summer!

Amish Puzzle Ball
Made for my cousin's baby boy Dylan who is about 1 year old.
Pattern Available Here

Baby Hat and Airplane
Made for our baby boy! He's getting an aviation themed nursery in these colors.
Hat was freehanded with hdcs, Airplane Pattern Here (requires translation)

Baby Blanket for Felicity
Pattern Available Here
Made using 5.0mm hook and single strand of Baby Yarn (Loops and Threads Snuggly Wuuggly)

C2C Baby Blanket for our Little Boy
Corner-to-Corner Pattern Here
Made Using Feza Fantastic Yarn I got on Closeout from the local boutique!

C2C Baby Blanket for another anticipated Baby Boy
Corner-to-Corner Pattern Here
Made using 11mm hook and 2 strands of worsted, held double

Genius Flower Headbands for Baby Felicity
Pattern Available Here
I really love this pattern! Very easy, quick, and adaptable. Not to mention STRETCHY!

Various Baby Boy Scrap Yarn Hats
Left: Textured Newborn Beanie (with pom-pom)
Right: Ribbed Baby Hat 
Center: Modified Version of Newborn Beanie
Rnds 5-8: Use DC cluster stitch (dc3tog, ch1, skip 1 st)
Rnd 10-12: hdc in each st

Scrap Yarn Baby Hats & Booties
Baby Bootie Pattern
Hat Pattern: Modified Version of Newborn Beanie
Rnds 5-9: Use DC cluster stitch (dc3tog, ch1, skip 1 st)
Rnd 10-11: sc in each st
I made 1 hat & pair of booties as a gift, and then I ended up making another SEVEN hats in newborn and premie sizes that were donated to the NICU at the hospital where my birth center is located. I still have enough yarn left over for a few more!

Scarlett's Springtime Baby Set

My sorority sister, Jennifer, is pregnant with her first child, a little girl to be named Scarlett. This is the set I made for her baby shower.

For all Projects -
Hook: 3.5mm
Yarn: Red Heart Baby

Size: 3-6 Months

Dress - Click Here for Pattern Link
I didn't heavily modify this pattern, I just left off the little sleeves and did 1 row of hdc sts along the inside where it buttons. Somehow it ended up being a little wider along the circle than the pictures show, but thats just more room for little babies to crawl! The button closure was replaced with a velcro one, for ease of dressing. I liked the look of the buttons, so I sewed those on the front anyways. Flowers added are simple puff-stitch mollies - Click Here for Tutorial.

Ruffle-Butt Diaper Cover - Click Here for Pattern Link

This one was a heavily modified version of the 0-3 month pattern. Still a bit large for a newborn. Start with 1/4" elastic instead of 1/2". Work rounds 1-10 as written. Work round 11 such that the first and last 17 sts are worked in the back loop only. This leaves the front loop for where you can attach the ruffle later. This also establishes the back center. Work the pattern for row 10 twice more, then repeat row 11 (as rows 12-14). Repeat row 10 twice more (as rows 15-16). Bind off your yarn, and re-attach 12 sts to the right of center. Follow pattern as written for row 14 (first row of "crotch) but in back loops only. Follow pattern as written for remainder of patten, through row 33.

Ruffle Butt: Attach yarn at the end of one of the front loop lines left at rows 11, 14, and 17. Ch 1 + 2sc in first st and 2sc in each loop across. Ch 1 and turn. (sc + ch1) twice into each st across. Switch colors. With new color, ch1 and sc in each st across. If the ends of your ruffle won't stay put, tack them down with a small piece of scrap yarn. Repeat on each of the remaining front loop lines.

Booties - Click Here for Pattern Link
Heavily modified this design. Work rounds 1-2 as written. Rounds 3-4 simple dc in each st around instead of increasing by 1st. Skip to instructions for row 6 leaving a 2-3 st gap for the foot. Stop at row 8 and sl st the heel shut. I completely changed the cuff, so see my pattern notes below.

Cuff: attach yarn at the heel. Sc in each st around in same color as foot. sl st through the first st of the round, switching to second color. 3dc in each st around with second color to create the ruffle cuff.

UPDATE: Scarlett looks adorable in her springtime set! (Too bad its fall!)

Little Boy Blue

So Adina had her baby this morning, so now is as good a time as any to post the cute little set I made for her baby boy. I gave her the set a few weeks ago, but never ended up posting it. The hat pattern came from the Stitch N' Bitch: The Happy Hooker Book (which is an ESSENTIAL for anyone learning to crochet. I highly reccomend it!). The Bootie Pattern is one I found through Ravelry. Turned out super cute!

On a side note, I have caught up on all of my Christmas presents! Well, at least the premeditated ones. After the Black Friday Sale at Micheal's, I decided to make a few more things. I already have gifts for those people though, so the deadlines are a bit more flexible. I am, however, looking to make a non-crochet item for myself to wear to bellydancing classes. Check out Franken-choli!