Thursday 16 January 2014

Bloomin' CAL: Hey baby!


A new year, a new baby blanket to give to a friend!


I blocked the blanket last night, and I’m glad I did – the mum, whose daughter is in Little Flower’s pre-school class, is having the baby today! The little girl’s grandma brought her to pre-school today, which made all of us parents smile and introduce ourselves and start guessing gender, size and names...

Blocking the little blanket
This will be her third child, and she has lots of friends and family in the area. I know she probably has oodles of baby blankets and paraphernalia, so I decided to create a *useful* item. This is a small blanket, intended for car seats and prams, a lap blanket for a buggy – any place you don’t want to have to fold and tuck a big blanket. Then, when baby is older, it will be a manageable size for a snuggly blankie.

I love the crochet stitch; being January, I wanted a compact fabric, warmer than more traditional lacy baby blankets. This is Sirdar Snuggly yarn, so soft to touch but very easy to care for.

To add a wee bit of colour, I worked pale green into the border (I had a bit left over from this baby blanket I made last summer). After edging with one round of dc in white, I added a round of dc (US: sc) in green.


I wanted an actual stripe of green, not a row of little stitches, so I went round the back loops only of the green, with a htr (US: hdc) in white.


A pretty edge is a must for a baby blanket, but big ruffles wouldn't suit this small piece. So I went for a little picot-type border with dc, ch1, dc in every other stitch. Easy peasy!


Now that this blanket is finished, it’s time to face the music with the hexies I have neglected for so long...


Poor little dears, look at them. All rumpled, yarn ends dangling, a little gang of crochet urchins. Time to clean up these sweet blooms and get back on track with this project!

I have a very long list of crochet WIPs that I must tend to, but I don’t want to keep these hexies in the back of the cupboard any longer. So I will do what women do best: multitask. A few hexie flowers, a few rows on that purple scarf. A few hexie flowers, the wolf that has been waiting so long to join Little Red Riding Hood. A few hexie flowers, the crochet doily lace that I bought fine thread for in November. I could go on, and on, and on. Life is one big WIP!

What are you hooking this week? As usual, link up below!
Happy crafting!

Chrissie x


40 comments:

  1. Such a pretty baby blanket and you're right a very practical size too! :)
    V x

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  2. Hi, what a pretty little bl;anket. I'm sure 'mummy' will be thrilled to receive it. Loving the hexagons and curious to see the finished article (eventually). I managed to finish a nautical sweater I've been working on for my little boy last night. I'm really pleased with it. He shall be wearing that tomorrow I think. My next project is hopefully a crocheted cushion - just have to decide on which pattern to use.

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  3. Love the blanket and I'm sure the new Mum will too. What stitch did you use in the main body of the blanket? I'm actually doing a spot of baby knitting myself using the Sirdar Snuggly (never used it before) and it is really nice and soft. :O)x

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    1. Hi Jackie, the blanket used a grouping of stitches - dc, htr, tr (US: sc, hdc, dc) in each dc from the previous grouping below. Makes for nice little bobbles all over, a gorgeous texture! Cx

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  4. Your blanket is lovely Chrissie and I am sure that it will be very well received and loved! You will get back to the hexies and everything else when the time is right for them to need your attention I am sure! xx

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  5. Your little baby blankie is just gorgeous and I'm sure the Mama will love it. Sooo many projects, so little time... have fun with the rest - those hexies are so pretty.
    xx

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  6. How lovely of you to make a baby blanket! I'm sure it will be loved for years to come. And your African flowers? DIVINE! Such prettiness. I would love to have a go at those motifs, but my list is just so long! I shall just stare at yours and drool a bit instead! Have a super day!

    Vanessa x

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  7. how lovely. the border is the perfect finishing touch

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  8. Lovely blanket - I don't think you can ever have too many blankets, especially handmade ones. Best wishes, Pj x

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  9. I love this baby blanket Chrissie, you've done such a lovely job with it, and the stitch is so sweet! Gosh you have a lot on the go too - a little bit here and a little bit there makes for much progress; enjoy every bit of it! Love and hugs, Joy xo

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  10. The blanket is beautiful! I used a crochet afghan my great aunt crocheted for me as a baby all through my childhood. It is something that will be cherished. The hexies are so sweet and I look forward to seeing what you create with them!

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  11. The baby blanket is gorgeous! It will be treasured it really will. The pretty green edging sets it off nicely. You have lots of lovely projects on the go.
    Marianne x

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  12. What a gorgeous little blanket Chrissie! I'm sure the Mum will be thrilled with it, it sounds such a useful size and the green edging is lovely.

    The hexies are looking great, I do love the colours you choose.
    Gill xx

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  13. That is such a lovely little blanket, with such a pretty stitch. I'm sure the blanket will be much loved.
    Have fun with the hexies,
    Kate x

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  14. What a gorgeous blanket, perfect snuggle blanket and it looks really warm. Love the colours of your hexies Joanne x

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  15. A really lovely blanket there, yes it's a shame we have to neglect one WIP for another, we really should be an octopus! :) x

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  16. Oh I love that baby blanket, the stitch gives it such a lovely texture!! I can't wait to see more little loved hexagons....my hexagons also got put on the back burner as well, but with Bloomin' CAL back on, I am going to give them some love again!

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  17. It's a lovely blanket. I agree, baby blankets should be small enough for a car seat, pram or cot - anything bigger is just too big. I have so many WIPs already and it's only January, how is that possible?? x

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  18. a lovely blanket and nice stitch. I really should try some more patterns! your hexie flowers would make a pretty scarf, don't you think? Heather x

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  19. That border is so effective - the main stitch of the blanket is great too. What a lovely blanket! I might have to add that to the 'to do' list!
    Maria x

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  20. So pretty! How exciting to have a new baby in your life. Congratulations to the family.

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  21. AW a new baby how lovely sure your friend will absolutely adore that I'm sure. Wonderful blanket. xx

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  22. That is a pretty border. Might have to steal something like that to highlight THE blanket! Jo x

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  23. I would have loved to receive that blanket when I had my children....t'is gorgeous!! I think one day I will finish the crochet blanket that I started in the summer...maybe next summer :) Sarah xo

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  24. Such a pretty blanket, it looks simple, fresh and crisp. Beautiful work.
    xxx

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  25. The baby blanket is going to be a treasured gift, and this little one deserves something brand new and special.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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  26. What a beautiful blanket Chrissie I sure they'll be thrill with it, the green edgeing is perfect, as for WIP i have to confess to about 15 festering at mo eek. xxx

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  27. I love the edging on the baby blanket ....lovely

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  28. I really like the edging on the blanker. What a great idea, it really completes the blanker. Love the hexies the colours are beautiful.

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  29. Lucky friend to be receiving such a gorgeous blanket! Julie x

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  30. Just found your lovely blog through Ladybird Diaries. I have so many WIPs! Beautiful baby blanket. Maggie xx

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  31. Beautiful blanket! I am sure new mum and baby will be delighted. Anna x

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  32. your blanket is beautiful! I love the crochet pattern it looks so cozy. I love your hexies! they turned out lovely as well, so pretty and reminds me of spring and summer when the flowers start blooming! Have a great weekend,
    Lisa
    www.needlesandwool.blogspot.com

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  33. Good luck with your WIP's. those hexes look too gorgeous - have fun!! Sam xx

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  34. The blanket turns out gorgeous.

    Lisa

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  35. Lovely !!!!!!!
    Anna

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  36. The baby blanket is a lovely gift, it looks so soft and snuggly. I love your pretty crochet hexies!
    Wishing you a happy weekend....keep cosy!
    Helen xx

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  37. Very beautiful blog with interesting creations!!!!
    I would be very happy to see you on my blog too!!!
    Kisses and hugs!!
    Sophie from Greece!!!

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  38. Your baby blanket looks gorgeous, I love the little addition of the green. I am all over the place with trying a little of this and that and not being able to make up my mind which project to follow through :o) Love your hexies and the colours you have chosen. Once I have decided on my project and I may just add my link to your blooming CAL xox

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  39. An absolutely gorgeous baby blanket, I love the white with the green. For me white says all baby, isn't that weird, but that's just the way I always think of babies. You have done such a lovely job with it, well done you!! xoxo

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