Double the Love

Tags

baby blankets, blanket, Crochet, fleece blanket, gift

Three weeks ago, my best friend from back home had twin boys. Since she was on bed rest, her baby shower ended up being canceled. When I was home last week, I was able to meet her lil’ cuties and finally give them their gifts.

Double the Love

I made them each three fleece blankets with a brown crocheted trim. One white, one green and one monkey print. I hope these lil’ monkeys love their new blankets.

Monkey Blankets

What new bundles of joy have arrived in your life recently?

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April Showers Bring Babies!

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baby blanket, baby boy, baby crafts, baby gifts, baby nursery, baby presents, baby shower, baby shower gift, craft gifts, crafting, crochet blanket, crochet border, crochet edging, crochet trim, crocheted blanket, crocheted gift, crocheting, fleece, fleece blanket, half double crochet, it's a boy, nursery, postaday2011

It‘s a boy!

March & April seem to be raining babies (actually more like pouring), it’s hard to keep up with each bundle of joy. Today is a close friend‘s baby shower and I wanted to share what I’ve been working on for her lil’ baby boy… baby blankets of course!

Baby Boy Blanket Trio

 

This trio of blankets complement one another, while each being unique. One cream blanket has a dark country blue border, one light blue wrap is made with a dark country blue trim and there’s another cream blankie, this time with country blue edging. Each blanket is made of fleece with a crocheted yarn border. To create these cute snuggle wraps, I used a skip-stitch blade on my rotary and ran it along all four edges of a fleece rectangle. For the first round, I used the new slits to single crochet around the edge of the blanket, four stitch in each corner hole. The second round, I used a half-double crochet.

Fleece Baby Blankets with Crocheted Trim

 

Depending on the width, one yard of fleece can cut in half to make two blankets.

Congratulations Brandi & Josh! Welcome baby Brick!

The second half of March, posts have been few and far between. Thanks for being patient and supportive everyone! I tried to start my Spring cleaning this week and catch up on all the baby crafting I need to be doing in these baby bonanza months…

Tenth Day of Christmas – Fleece Blankets

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10th day of Christmas, 12 Days of Christmas, bedding, blanket, Christmas, Christmas cheer, Christmas craft, Christmas gift, Christmas present, days of Christmas, fleece, fleece blanket, fringe blanket, gift, gift giving, holiday craft, Holidays, kids craft, no sew, no sew blanket, present, tenth day of Christmas, twelve days of Christmas, XMas, Xmas present

On the tenth day of Christmas Young Wifey shared with me her Fleece Blankets, Bottle Cap Magnets, Fleece Sphere Ornament, Button Wreath Ornament, Christmas Mouse Cat Toy, Melted Frosty Ornament, Crocheted Fan Bookmarks, Crocheted Snowflake Ornaments, Wine Glass Charms and Glass Globe Ornaments…

Almost everyone in the crafting world (even those who only lightly dabble) has made a fleece blanket at one time. About 5 years ago, the no-sew fleece blankets with the tied fringe became popular; it’s easy to understand why… Only cut and tie and you’re finished. It’s an easy child’s craft! Of course with babies, most people like to add stain blanket binding or crochet a fancy border. A few years back, my MIL made one for Hubster & I, one for Pumpkin and one for every other member of the family. My nephews have outgrown their baby blankets and are ready for blankets of their own. For all the projects below you will need two pieces of fleece, 2 yards each. I like using a print fleece on one side and a solid print on the other. You could also make yours with two different prints, two different solid colors, the same print or the same solid color.

No Fringe How To:
I use this method if the blanket is to be part of the bedding. Place wrong sides of fabric together. Stitch around the edges leaving 1/4″ inseam, leave a 10″ on the last side. trim excess from corners. Turn blanket right side out. Blind stitch the opening closed. To create edging, stitch around the outside of the blanket about 2″ in from the edge. 

Dinosaur No Fringe Fleece Blanket

 

No Sew How To:
I prefer to use this method for throws. Place right sides of the blankets together. Cut a 4″ square off of each corner. Cut 1″ wide strips, 4″ deep into the fleece on all four sides. Tie opposite piece of fringe together. Tie all the corners first, then evenly tie all sides. 

Rock & Roll No-Sew Fleece Blanket

Hybrid Blanket How To:
If you like the fringe look, this is great, because you don’t have the fringe tickling your neck all night. There’s no fringe on top, only sides and bottom. Lay right sides together, cut 4″ square on bottom two corners only. Cut 1″ wide strips, 4″ deep into the fleece on only three sides, leave top uncut. Place wrong sides together and stitch top together, starting 4″ in from the sides. Turn blanket right side out and begin tying the sides together.

Approx. Cost:
Both projects coast the same, except the no fringe has the added cost of thread. Solid fleece = $3 yard, Print fleece = $7 a yard. Blankets could range from $12 – $28 depending on the colors and prints you select. I’m sure you can find fleece cheaper if you shop around or during the summer.

If you’re feeling extra crafty or extra generous, get another yard or two and make a few matching or contrasting throw pillows. Use the same directions for the blanket, just add filling!

2009′s Christmas Countdown – On the twelfth day of Christmas Young Wifey shared with me, her chocolate Christmas fudge, chocolate bonbons, coconut clusters, cranberry almond bark, chocolate amaretto cherries, pecan turtles, raspberry chocolate truffles, gingerbread fudge, peppermint bark, dark chocolate peanut butter balls, cracked glass candy, and her peanut butter fudge recipe…

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?