Secret Baby Items (of bibs & blankies)

When I haven't been working on the Belcarra Cardigan, I have been crocheting baby items for a very special expectant mum.

I'm afraid I cannot tell you what they are until baby arrives, but since I have been in 'baby mode', I thought I would share some of the crocheted baby items I have made in the past.  

My first baby sunhat with my first flower ever!
August 2006
I cringe now at the uneven fabric and
'wonky' flower but we all need to start somewhere.
The main thing is to start!
I am sure the young recipient didn't notice
these minor faults and the hat still served its purpose well.

Many of these were made when I was still very new and inexperienced at crochet.

"Sun Hat & Sandals Set"
January 2007

You can see the skill development between my first baby sun hat in 2006 and the next one in 2007, venturing into sandals as well!

My first baby shoes. February 2007
Pattern: 'Dancing Shoes' by Lesley Stanfield

Baby items are great for honing your crochet skills with (almost) instant gratification. Because they are so small, they are done quickly. You can practice a variety of techniques across many different projects in a relatively short time.

Sometimes it is hard to look back on the early projects with all of their imperfections, knowing things now that I didn't know then.  It is important to accept that it is all a part of learning, and by looking back, one can appreciate the journey so far, remembering that the process is just as important as the product.  

"Baby Boy's Sunhat" January 2007
Pattern: 'Classic Sun Hat' by Lesley Stanfield

"Baby Boy's Sandals"  January 2007

Pattern: 'Small Sandals' by Lesley Stanfield

Baby Bucket Hat October 2010

Pattern: 'Baby Bucket Hat' by Susie Johns

"Hat for Baby 'Z'" February 2011
Modified pattern using tapestry crochet

Baby Sneakers March 2012
Pattern: 'Baby Sneakers' by Irene Strange

"Tahnee's Hat" October 2010
Modified pattern for tiny head size

What are your favourite baby patterns?

My favourites for practicality would be bibs and blankets. 

Bibs are quick and simple and one never has enough…you can always do with one more bib. 

"Puppy Bib" July 2009
Pattern: Nursery Favourites
Made for my darling 'grand-nephew'

"Puppy Bib" July 2009

Pattern: 'Nursery Favourites', Creative Needles,
Issue 15, 1991.

Lincraft Super Saver Craft Crochet 4 ply soft cotton; Mint Vari #36019 lot #4895, Apricot  #36004 lot #4587.

Sullivans Natural Soft crochet & knitting cotton 4 ply equivalent; Brown #40284 lot #5059, Black #40213, lot #4937.

Milford/Semco soft knitting crochet cotton 4 ply, 50 g; White #8001 lot #241666.

Hooks: 2.5 mm & 3 mm.

"Bunny Bib" August 2009
Pattern: Nursery Favourites

"Bunny Bib" August 2009

Pattern: Nursery Favourites, Creative Needles,
Issue 15, 1991.

For bib:
Super Saver craft-crochet-knitting soft cotton 4 ply, 50 g; Apricot  #36004 lot #4587, Mint vari #36019 lot #4895.
Milford/Semco soft knitting crochet cotton 4 ply, 50 g; White #8001 lot #241666.

For embroidery:
Apricot (as above)
Sullivans Natural Soft crochet & knitting cotton 4 ply equivalent,
50 g; Black #40213, lot #4937.

Hooks: 2.5 mm & 3 mm

"Frog Bib" August 2012
Pattern: Lion Brand 90160AD
Frog bib has brought a smile
to everyone so far - did you smile too?

"Frog Bib" August 2012

Pattern: Cotton-ease 'Frog Bib' #90160AD,
Lion Brand Yarn

Moda Vera Beetle 50% cotton 50% acrylic 100 g / 188 m per ball.
Lime Green #41 lot #120513 used 20 g / 44 m

Purple #09 lot #1109218 used 1 ball

White #31 lot #1109222 used 5 g / 11 m

Hook: 4.5 mm bamboo

Notes: Very quick to work, could easily be finished in 1 day.

Blankets have longevity. 

• Use in the cot or pram, as a wrap,cocoon or pram cover to settle and protect baby from the elements, or
• Secure the blanket in the top of the car window to shade baby from the baking summer sun (for hard wearing blankets only!)
• A small blanket can provide extra privacy when breastfeeding in public places.

When baby has grown out of the pram and cot, these mini blankets are great in the car and on outings: 

• as knee rugs 
• for a picnic
• for sports spectators to wrap up in an extra layer
• folded, blankets make useful cushion substitutes on cold hard playground benches
• hold them up as a small screen if children need to change clothes while out and about
• and, when you get home, a throw rug for a favourite armchair

"Teddy Blanket" for 'C' April 2008
Pattern: 'Bear Necessity' by Candi Jensen
3D ears are free for littlies to grab;
my first attempts at embroidery

"Teddy Blanket" for 'C' April 2008

Pattern: 'Bear Necessity'
by Candi Jensen

Panda Magnum 8 ply acrylic 100 g / 310 m per ball

White #301 lot #753923 used 2 balls
Tan #334 lot #753669 used 2 balls

Blue # 310 lot #753636 used 2 balls

Notes: used just over 1 ball of blue; took 3–4 weeks to finish. 

"Sheepie Blanket" June 2008

Pattern: 'Farm Fresh' by Candi Jensen

"Sheepie Blanket" June 2008

Pattern: 'Farm Fresh' by Candi Jensen

Spotlight Marvel 8 ply acrylic 100 g / 310 m

Lime #1020 lot #1874 (main colour)

White #1001 lot #159635 (picket fence border)

Spotlight Moda Vera Puff bright acrylic 50 g / 80 m

White #01 lot #709336 (sheep)

Black #04 lot #709339 (sheep)

Notes: picket fence border to contain sheep in their paddock. Sheep are also crocheted and have embroidered details.

"Teddy Blanket" for 'T' March 2010
Pattern: 'Bear Necessity' by Candi Jensen
  

"Teddy Blanket" for 'T' March 2010

Pattern: 'Bear Necessity'
by Candi Jensen

 Kmart Homemaker 8 ply acrylic 100 g / 310 m per ball
White #301 lot #765326
Blue #310 lot #764499
Panda Magnum 8 ply acrylic 100 g / 310 m
Tan #334 lot #753669
Panda Magnum Soft 8 ply acrylic 100 g / 189 m
Black #4614 lot 765361
Marvel Premium 8 ply acrylic 100 g
White #1001 lot #159635

"Kitty Blanket" December 2010
Pattern: 'Purr-fection' by Candi Jensen

"Kitty Blanket" December 2010

Pattern: 'Purr-fection'
by Candi Jensen

Kmart Homemaker 8 ply acrylic, 100 g / 310 m per ball, used 3 balls (247 g / 767 m)
White #301, lot #765326

Panda Magnum Soft 8 ply acrylic 100 g / 189 m per ball, used 3 balls (242 g / 458 m)

Pink #6768 lot #765362

Remnants in pale brown for whiskers, blue acrylic for eyes and pink 4 ply cotton for mouths.

Oh! I almost forgot–children will love any sized blankets to use for making a cubby!

References

Creative Needles, Issue 15, Fabbri Publications UK Ltd. / Gruppo Editoriale Fabbri, London, UK, 1991.

Jensen, Candi, Candy Blankies: cuddly crochet for babies + toddlers, Sixth & Spring, New York, USA, 2004.

Johns, Susie, Crochet for Beginners: learn to crochet with 19 hot projects, Viking, imprint of Penguin Books, 2004.

Lion Brand Yarn, "Frog Bib", free pattern #90160AD, New York, USA: http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/90160AD.html

Stanfield, Lesley, Adorable Crochet for Babies and Toddlers: 22 projects to make for babies from birth to two years, Collins & Brown, imprint of Chrysalis Books Group, UK, 2005.

Strange, Irene, "Baby Sneakers", Inside Crochet, Issue 16, April 2011, www.insidecrochet.co.uk, KAL Media, Hertfordshire, UK, 2011.