Baby Clothes and Items

Since I had crocheted a lot of blankets recently, and am still in the middle of the Granny's Favorite blanket, I wanted to do a couple of projects that were fast, and could be done in one day.  I ended up crocheting three sets of baby clothes/items.

The first is a newborn baby outfit called "Little Boy Blue Long Pant Suit." The pattern is from Danette's Angels, a site that offers crochet patterns for use with charity items.  I used a skein of Canan yarn from Big Lots in Navy Blue and a K hook.  I even found some navy buttons in my button tin.  I decided to add a couple of rows to the legs and top of the pants and to the body and arms of the sweater, as this pattern was originally for a preemie baby.  This will be for a local charity.

My next outfit is a preemie kimono and hat.  Since I couldn't find a free pattern for a kimono, I adapted this pattern from Bev's Country Cottage.  The yarn is partly Bernat Baby Coordinates and some non-labled yarn from my stash.  I added several rows to make it longer, and added a tie to the inside, that wraps around the back.  The hat is a pattern from Momma That Makes.  If it does not fit the preemie I made this for, it will go to the NICU where she is, for another preemie.

Finally, I crocheted a preemie Post Stitch

Cuddle Sac and Hat from a pattern on the Preemie Hat Project blog.  I used Snuggly Wuggly baby yarn in Soft Lilac and trimmed the sac and hat with Canan baby yarn in Purple.  This will also go to the preemie baby mentioned earlier.  I am sure it will fit, as it is almost as long as the baby!

I am sharing this post with these linky parties.

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Newborn Baby Booties

When I saw this tutorial on Annasimplecrochet, I knew I would be making them.  After I crocheted one, it looked a little floppy, and didn't hold it's shape.  I also didn't have enough yarn in my stash to make two.  So, I decided to adapt the tutorial to my liking.

This is what I did:  I used one ball of baby yarn from my stash to make the sole.  Using an E hook, I began with 11 chains.  Then, I made an sc in the second chain from the hook and an sc in each stitch across.  For rows 2-18, I made a single crochet in each stitch across.  I finished with a rectangle.

For the sides of the bootie,  I used another color of baby yarn and crocheted an sc in the end of each row of the rectangle, up one long side, two sc in the corner, in each stitch across the short side, two sc in the other corner, and back down the other side in the ends of the rows.  I turned and crocheted a row of sc for rows 2-10.  Then I fastened off, leaving a long tail for sewing.  I overlapped the sides and sewed across the short section where the toes would be.  The booties turned out better for me this way.  They held their shape better.

This is not meant to be a pattern, but a description of how I adapted the tutorial to suit me.  I will try to answer any questions if you try this .

I am linking this post to these parties.



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The Eleanor Shrug

Several months ago, I bought some yarn at Big Lots, a local discount store.  It was labeled "Baby Soft" by Canan, and didn't give a weight.  Recently, I decided I wanted to make something for me, using this purple yarn.  I looked at many patterns, and decided on the Eleanor Shrug that I found on Ravelry.

After I had crocheted about six rows, I realized that the shrug would not be as wide as I wanted it.  I frogged it and added 30 chains, so that it would be from elbow to elbow across the back.  I had determined that the yarn was similar to DK weight, and chose to use an H hook.

It worked up pretty fast.  I made it in about eight days, crocheting six rows each day.  I think it turned out perfectly, and I am really happy with it.

I am linking this post to the places listed on this page.

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Granny's Favorite Prayer Shawl Progress and a New WIP

Eight rows, 72 squares at this point.  I am glad I didn't commit to crocheting one a day or anything like that. 😃 In the last row, I made two two-colored squares.  I may keep doing that once and a while for variety.

My new project is the Eleanor Shrug, a pattern that I originally saw on Ravelry. I am using some yarn I bought at Big Lots a while ago.  I am making this for myself.

I am linking my post to the places listed on this page.


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Four Finished Projects

I am staying home a lot lately, except for doctor appointments, so I have had more time to finish things.  I guess it also helps that they are smaller projects. ☺

The Star Blanket is the first project completed this week.  I used this pattern from Yarnspirations, but used worsted weight yarn from my stash.  I edged it with one row of white dc, and one row of variegated slip stitch.  I tried to do sc first, but ran out of yarn!

The next project was supposed to be a baby sleeper, but turned into a "fleece" vest.  I was using yarn from my stash again, and didn't know how much there was.  So, I yet again ran out.  It looks warm a cuddly.

In honor of Valentine's Day, I made a Heart 

Valentine Candy Basket.  This is another Yarspirations pattern you can find here.  Instead of the yarn listed, I  used a ribbon yarn from my stash.  I originally made it for us, but my husband suggested that I gift it.  We'll see.

Last night I made this Triple Loop Skinny Scarf. I used a free pattern from Little Monkeys Crochet, that you can find here. Again, using stash yarn, I had to modify the pattern.  I used an L hook, worsted weight yarn for the main rows, and edged it with novelty yarn with single crochet.  I added an antique button from my button jar for the wrap piece.  This is my favorite project of the week, and definitely a keeper.

I am linking this post to the parties on this page.

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Baby Sweater and Car Seat Blanket

I received a gift card for Michaels from my DH for Christmas, and went to shop there a couple of days after Christmas.  Funny enough, I forgot the gift card!  I fell in love with this book from Leisure Arts, and bought it anyway.

My first project from this book was the Filet Rectangle Blanket.  I crocheted the smaller size, with a G hook and some yarn I got at Big Lots, called "Baby Soft," by Canan. It is a very light blue, although in my pictures, it almost looks gray.   I was a little disappointed by the wonkiness of the middle section, but it will still keep a baby warm. ;)

Then I decided to make a sweater to go with it, and adapted a pattern by Laura Tegg called Chunky Monkey Cardigan.  I modified the pattern to match the filet, and did a reverse crochet edging, like the blanket.

This pair will probably go to a church mission project.

I am linking to the sites on my Sharing Page.

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Little Girl's Puffy Sleeve Sweater

I belong to a group on FB called Crochet Craze.  One of the members of the group showed a picture of a sweater she had just finished.  I saw it, and know it was something I wanted to make.  It is a pattern created by the Double Stitch Twins, and is on the Red Heart site, here.

I had some yarn left over from the baby blanket that I thought I would use.  I crocheted a swatch and found that I needed to use two strands together of the baby yarn from Big Lots, with a K size crochet hook to get the right gauge. I used pink and yellow yarn together for the back, the sleeves, and the peplum.  Blue and green yarn were combined together for the front and the edging.  I also used one less treble stitch in each stitch for the sleeves, since it seemed like it was getting too bulky. It is the smallest size, for a two-year old.   It  worked up pretty fast, since I crocheted it in one evening.  I figured out how to tie it before I photographed it, the next day. :)

Front

Back

I am linking up at the places on my Sharing page.

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Granny Stripes Baby Blanket

I have crocheted a baby afghan in the pattern commonly called granny stripes.  I have seen it many places around the internet, so I don't have a particular pattern link.  I used a baby yarn from "Big Lots" that is labeled as Hand Knitting Yarn For Baby Projects.  I chained the length I wanted, using a G hook, and then crocheted a 3 dc shell in every other stitch.  The next row was a 3 dc shell in the place between the shells, just like in a granny square.  I chose to have three rows of each color, with 12 rows of white between them.  I edged the blanket with a row of sc, followed by a row of sc, ch 3, sc.   

 

As always, look on my Sharing page to find where I link my projects.


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Pink Button Scarf

Earlier this spring I was looking for a neck wrap I liked.   The hi-low temperature in Illinois changes rapidly, so I wanted something light.  I browsed the internet and found this pattern at Fave Crafts. 

The Blue Button Scarf is a scarf that is described as "a spiderweb scarf. You only wear it around your shoulders kind of like a shawl."  I decided to use some yarn I had from my stash, a pink mixed fiber yarn from GALA Yarns that I had purchased at Big Lots. 




Scarf laid out

Scarf as worn

In the description, it says the pattern is easy, but I would not agree.  Although the pattern only uses chains, and single and double crochet, the six-row pattern repeat needs to be carefully followed eleven times.  Having to concentrate this much was difficult for me, and I was only able to work on it for about an hour each time, and could only finish two repeats each time.  Even so, it was well worth the effort.  I think it turned out beautifully.



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FO Friday (night!)

I did manage to finish a sweater vest that I had started crocheting for my husband last winter.  I didn't do anything with it over the summer, because it was so hot.  Since it is cooling down again, and I wanted to finish it in time for him to wear it this year, I have been working on it the last couple of weeks.  I found a pattern for it in an old Workbasket magazine, and used some of my bargain yarn from "Big Lots."  I added the stripe of burgundy in the front, and I like the vertical stripes of front post stitches.  Some of those patterns in that magazine are timeless!

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Playtime Overalls

Yes, they are finished!  As you can see, I ran out of the variegated yarn, so I put my spin on the pattern with the white bib, red straps and blue buttons.  All in all, a success.

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Baby Ensemble

There are many people I know having babies, so I just keep making outfits and blankets for the newborns.  Someday I will be donating to the local charity again. :)

This sacque and bonnet were from a pattern in Workbasket Magazine from September 1985.  I used Gala Yarns in baby pink.  The only adjustment I made to the pattern was that I made an i-cord instead of using ribbon for the ties. The pattern included instructions for booties, but I chose not to include them.  I find that patterns like these are timeless.  I hope that the receiver is as pleased as I was making it.


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Star Baby Blanket

Another teacher is having a baby.  This blanket is for one of my husband's colleagues.  I used some fun-fur type mixed fiber yarn that I got at Big Lots and some yellow Red Heart Super Saver yarn.  I made up the pattern as I went.  I may try to write up the pattern. If anyone is interested,  let me know in the comments section.

Linking to my regular sites, on the right side of my blog, as well as this new site.

April Blog Hop

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In the Loop

My newest creation was a difficult one.  I found Crochet! Magazine's Easy, No-Sew Crochet at a local store.  It had over 60 projects with no needle assembly required.  I couldn't wait to start my first pattern.  I finally decided to try the "In the Loop" pattern that is described as a halter-style vest that can also be worn as a buttoned cowl.  I used Red Heart's Super Soft in Burgundy and Gala Yarn for the scallop edging.

It took me three times with crocheting the entire pattern, including the time-consuming scallop edging, before I finally got it to fit right.  For some reason, in the second half of the pattern each row had to be crocheted in reverse order.  I  don't know if it is a left-handed thing, or what.  Anyway, I am pleased with the result.  I think it was worth the effort.

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Something I Made for Myself

It has been a while since I made something for myself.  I tried to knit a shawl, but I didn't like how it was turning out, so I took it out and designed a crocheted shawl instead.  The yarn was another bargain I got at Big Lots for a dollar a skein, and it only took three skeins.  It was a unique yarn, with about three strands of different colors that made an interesting blend.  I unraveled the strands for the fringe.  It looks blue in natural light, but the picture doesn't show its natural color.  The funny thing is, it has been in the 70-80's this week, so I haven't really had an opportunity to wear it much.

Fringe closeup

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