Crochet Swaddling Blanket

Tags

baby afghan, baby blanket, baby gift, baby shower, blanket, gift, gift giving, handmade, handmade gift, yarn craft

Friends of mine are due to have a baby next month. I purchased a gift off their registry, but needed to include something more personal and handmade. Earlier this week, I attended their shower and presented them with this crochet swaddling blanket. They have talented friends and received many wonderful homemade gifts.

I used a double-stitch, Lion Brand Baby Soft Yarn in pistachio, and size J crochet hook. 71 stitches across and 43 rows created this ultra soft and light-weight blanket. I hope their baby loves it. ❤

XOXO,
Young Wifey

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The Kindness of Others

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afghan, baby blanket, baby gift, bloggers, crocheting, friend, friendship, infant, kindness, newborn, postaday2011, preemie, receiving blanket, swaddler, yarn, yarn craft

One of the reasons I love blogging? Friends, blog friends. Why not making friends through blogging. In my grandmother’s and mother’s time, maybe it was a snail mail pen-pal. When I was younger it was e-mail pen pals. I have friends who even have met their spouses on-line. Why not make a friend through blogging? Strangers that you connect with over the commonalities in your blogs and with whom you develop friendships. When they don’t post you worry. When you don’t post, they notice. I have developed several blog friendships and today I want to tell you about one of them.

Last month, my posting slowed down a bit and I shared a few reasons why. Many of my blogging friends offered well wishes, positive prayers and kind thoughts. One blogging friend took it a step farther. She had just finished crocheting a baby blanket and offered to send it for my friend’s preemie. A kind gift to welcome him into the world. Today, I received the blanket and a heartfelt letter full of positive energy. I cannot wait to deliver the blanket to this tiny guy, who is now over 4 lbs.!  In a world that is full of chaos and craziness, it’s refreshing to know that there are still genuinely sweet people. Thank you for your friendship and kindness Samina.

Beautiful Baby Blanket from Samina

❤ ❤ ❤

Baby Gifts for BFF

Tags

Baby, baby blanket, baby gift, baby gifts, baby shower, diaper bag, fleece blanket, Sewing, sewing project

I’ve recently heard from other moms that diaper bags are too frumpy, or they’re too small or that with the zipper you can’t easily open it and grab something when you’re on the way…

When my one BFF found out she was pregnant, I decided that I wanted to make her a cute diaper bag, bigger than most and with an easy access top. I decided to use faux leather to stitch together a diaper bag, that could double as a beach bag or something ex post (baby) facto. Overall, the bag’s shape turned out really well, the stitching is off in a few places, even using leather needles, the material was too tough for my lil’ sewing machine (ah, how I miss the machines at the costume shop). I used cute napkin rings to attach the straps to the bag. I think if I ever make one again, I’ll just sew the lining and use a strong bonding glue for the leather and maybe add a stiff insert between the lining and the exterior.

Finished Diaper Bag

Unfinished Pocketed Lining

I wanted to fill it with cute things for the baby; a Baby’s Memory Book, a cuddly teddy bear and I made a chocolate-brown changing pad and navy satin trimmed fleece blanket. I also filled it with a few diaper bag essentials, hand sanitizer and slim wipes case, diaper cream, alcohol wipes, diaper sacks and a grooming travel ring (with comb, brush, clippers and forehead temperature strips).

Diaper Bag Goodies

Since I had a lot to prepare for her shower, I didn’t get the diaper bag finished in time. I took it to her on Monday when I went to help her set up her nursery.

My BFF had her baby boy at 12:01am Wednesday morning. He is adorable and I’m thrilled for them. Congratulations Horst family!

What are your baby gift thoughts?

Baby Blankets

Tags

Baby, baby afghan, baby blanket, baby gift, baby shower, baby shower gift, crib blanket, Crochet, crocheted blanket, fleece blanket, gift, gift giving, satin blanket binding, satin trim

I remember how much I loved the texture of my crocheted baby blanket against my skin as a child. I also remember the cold smooth satin trim on several of my other blankets. I remember tactile details throughout my life

Hubster’s cousin is having a baby boy in August and this afternoon (actually, now) is her baby shower. I made her two blankets, one crocheted, one fleece with satin trim. The main color in the nursery is between a spearmint green and light sage green, with lot’s of neutral tones.

For the crochet blanket, I used my size “I” crochet hook to double stitch 52 rows with 70 stitches.  I created a striped pattern with the spearmint, chocolate, cream and tan plush yarn (8 rows spearmint, 2 tan, 1 cream, 2 tan, 8 spearmint, 2 cream, 1 chocolate, 2 cream, 8 spearmint, 2 chocolate, 1 tan, 2 chocolate, 8 spearmint).

Conner's Crocheted Blanket

For the fleece blanket, I used a cream-colored fleece and chocolate satin blanket binding I used cream thread to create the contrast n the blanket binding.

Conner's Fleece Blanket w/Satin Trim

The blankets complement one another, so they can be used alone or apart. I also gave her two board books, my favorite children’s bedtime stories, Goodnight Moon and Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown. I folded the blankets, stacked the presents and tie them with a chocolate ribbon!

Looking forward to Connor’s arrival!

What do you remember from your early days? The smells? Tastes? Sounds? Or touches?

Monster Dolls

Tags

Baby, baby gift, children's dolls, children's toys, cute monsters, doll, felt dolls, fleece dolls, gift giving, gifts, kid's dolls, kid's toys, Kids, monster dolls, stuffed animal

It’ been a week since I last posted, we’re still trying to catch up for the wedding in NC last weekend. I have a few projects for the weekend, so hopefully I’ll post more.

I got the idea for these Monster Doll’s when I saw a cute onesie and bib at my BFF’s baby shower. My youngest nephew’s first birthday was the perfect opportunity to make him a cute monster doll (or two, or three…). His older brother just turned two in November and I decided to make enough for them to able to share. I thought it would be cute for them to have a small crowd of monsters.

After quickly sketching a few quick cute monsters, I cut their bodies out of fleece. I cut out their eyes, teeth and other features from fleece and felt, then stitched them on their faces with my sewing machine. Then placing wrong sides together I stitched together their bodies, leaving some room to stuff them. I trimmed the excess fabric, notched the curved edges, turned right side out, stuffed and stitched closed.