Fit for a Princess! - Crochet Edged Receiving Blanket

 When my brother got married (a few years ago now) my Aunt gave a shower gift wrapped in tea towels, I LOVED the idea!  I have to admit I've used the idea a few times myself for wedding gifts, as well as used receiving blankets as wrapping for baby gifts.

I think its a great idea to save a little paper (or when you forget to pick up paper!) and still give a beautifully wrapped gift.

 Last week I went a baby shower for a soon to be arriving little girl, and I not only used my Aunt's idea again, but I one-uped myself!  I decided to add a little crocheted trim to the edge of a store bought receiving blanket :)

It's a small little detail that gives the basic blanket so much more!  I hope it adds a little smile to her Momma's face when she sees her little princess wrapped up in the blanket that was made just for her (even if it started out as a blanket for commoners! HA!)

So now I'm sure you're thinking that you need to fancy up a blanket or two ;) Right?!?!  Well you're in luck because I'm going to share with you how I did it step-by-step! Yay!!!!

First, you need a steel crochet hook (I did my first blanket with an aluminum hook and I found it bent a little and was hard to work with, the steel was much stronger and easier to poke through), some fine yarn (I used Red Heart Luster Sheen in Lime because it was a perfect match to the green in the blanket) but any fine yarn should work, as well as the blanket you'd like to embellish (mine was in a 'Garanimals' four pack from Wal-Mart).

To start, pick anywhere along the edge of your blanket under the finished edge to poke your hook through.  

Next, pull your yarn through as a slip stitch (slst)

Using the crochet hook, poke another hole next to your first and pull the yarn through and single crochet (sc) being careful to keep the stitch along the outer edge of the blanket.

Continue sc along the edge of the blanket making sure to keep your stitches as even and uniform as possible (you could measure out your holes first using a ruler and a washable fabric maker, but I like to live on the edge!)  until you reach the beginning, join with a slst

Your next row (which I managed to miss photographing, sorry!) is a row of sc around, joined with a slst.

Then, ch 4, skip first 3 sc, join with a sc in 4th st, repeat around, join with a slst.

 

Final row: sc, hdc, 3dc, hdc, sc, in each ch 4 space around, join with a slst.

There you have it!  A beautifully edged blanket to give to a new mother as either wrapping for a gift, or as the gift itself because, let's face it, this blanket is a beautiful gift in itself!

Go ahead and give it a try, as always please let me know if you have any questions, I will try my best to help out!  

If you do try it out, please let me know!  I'd love to hear form you!

I've linked-up with Make It and Love It

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Thanks for stopping by!

- Jenn

A Showering of gifts

What's that you ask?  Oh just a tiny glimpse of a gift for a beautiful baby joining us soon :)

I was able to attend a baby shower today for a wonderful couple who are expecting a little girl in June and I just couldn't resist making a few things.

Isn't it a sweet little set?  A soft cuddly toy to chew on and cuddle, a dress to look adorable in, and a sun hat to lounge around in :)

                                                                                 

                                                                                  

                                                                                                                       

This little dress I think will fit to about 3 months, I'm sorry I didn't take the time to write down the pattern but I know I used Bernat Handicrafter Cotton so it would stay cool in the warm months, or if I completely misjudged the sizing, it would be nice over a long sleeved shirt in the fall (see, dual-purpose!!!!!)

I'm pretty pleased with how the little hat turned out!  I used a pattern from my favorite crocheter Sarah I used the 0-3 month size but with a 4.00mm hook.  After I completed the hat according to the pattern I added three increasing rows (row 1: 5 dc, 2 dc in next st. around.  row 2:  6 dc, 2 dc in next st. around.  row 3:  7 dc, 2 dc in next st. around) and then added a sc row to finish the edge.  

It has just a little brim to keep the sun off those new little ears and beautiful eyes.

This little bunny is even cuter in person.  I got the pattern from Bernat and I have a feeling I'll be making a few more as go to baby gifts!  It was quick to come together and I love the simplicity of this little "bun" as Claire-bear calls it :)

 So what did you think?  I'm still a little nervous little missy won't ever get to wear the dress because I didn't follow a pattern, but at least it looks good on display!!!

Thanks for stopping by!

- Jenn

Welcome Spring (free) Dress Pattern!!!

How has your Spring been treating you?  I know other parts of the world are still in a frozen state, but we have been having amazing weather!  It has been wonderful to be out enjoying that warm sunshine and getting a few things done around the yard while my kiddos ran around playing their games and riding bikes :)

I took a little longer than hoped to write up a pattern for my "Welcome Spring" dress, sorry for all those who were checking back :)  I've said before that I am new to sharing patterns, I usually make them up for the one or two things I need to make and then move on.  Or if I do write everything down, it only makes sense to me!  I've done my best to make the pattern understandable but please let me know if I've left something out or if it just doesn't make sense!

Welcome Spring Dress (Fits a Size 3)

Materials:
Bernat Handicrafter Cotton Yarn                             18"x42" Fabric (pre-shrunk)
5.00 mm hook                                                         Thread
4 buttons                                                                 Trim and Embellishments (if desired)
Tapestry Needle

Begin with 64 FHDC (This makes for a stretchy neckline), ch 1, turn
row 1:   64 sc across, ch 2, turn
row 2:   9 dc, ch 2, dc in last stitch, 17 dc, ch 2, dc in last stitch, 17 dc, ch 2, dc in last stitch, 17 dc, ch 2, dc in last stitch, 8 dc, ch 2, turn
row 3:   10 dc, ch 2, dc in last stitch, 19 dc, ch 2, dc in last stitch, 19 dc, ch 2, dc in last stitch, 19 dc, ch 2, dc in last stitch, 9 dc, ch 2, turn
row 4:   11 dc, ch 2, dc in last stitch, 21 dc, ch 2, dc in last stitch, 21 dc, ch 2, dc in last stitch, 21 dc, ch 2,   dc in last stitch, 10 dc, ch 2 turn
row 5:   12 dc, ch 2, dc in last stitch, 23 dc, ch 2, dc in last stitch, 23 dc, ch 2, dc in last stitch, 23 dc, ch 2,   dc in last stitch, 11 dc, ch 2, turn
row 6:   13 dc, ch 2, dc in last stitch, 25 dc, ch 2, dc in last stitch, 25 dc, ch 2, dc in last stitch, 25 dc, ch 2,   dc in last stitch, 12 dc, ch 2, turn
row 7:   14 dc, ch 2, dc in last stitch, 27 dc, ch 2, dc in last stitch, 27 dc, ch 2, dc in last stitch, 27 dc, ch 2,   dc in last stitch, 13 dc, ch 2, turn
row 8:   15 dc, ch 2, dc in last stitch, 29 dc, ch 2, dc in last stitch, 29 dc, ch 2, dc in last stitch, 29 dc, ch 2,   dc in last stitch, 14 dc, ch 2, turn
row 9:   16 dc, ch 2, dc in last stitch, 31 dc, ch 2, dc in last stitch, 31 dc, ch 2, dc in last stitch, 31 dc, ch 2,   dc in last stitch, 15 dc, ch 2, turn
row 10:  17 dc, ch 2, dc in last stitch, 33 dc, ch 2, dc in last stitch, 33 dc, ch 2, dc in last stitch, 33 dc, ch 2, dc in last stitch, 16 dc, ch 1, turn
row 11:  (worked on end of bodice) 20 sc across, ch 1, turn
row 12:  20 sc across, ch 1, turn
row 13:  2 sc, ch 2, skip 2 sc, 4 sc, ch 2, skip 2 sc, 4 sc, ch 2, skip 2 sc, 4 sc, ch 2, skip 2 sc, 1 sc, ch 1,     turn
row 14:  20 sc across, ch1, turn
row 15:  (worked on bottom of bodice)  18 sc, skip next 34 dc, sc in ch 2 space, 35 sc, skip next 34 dc, sc in ch 2 space, 17 sc, ch 1
row 16:  (worked on end of bodice)  20 sc across, ch 1, turn
row 17:  20 sc across, ch 1, turn
row 18:  20 sc across, ch 1, turn
row 19:  20 sc across
row 20:  join bodice with slst to 5th sc on opposite side (you need to skip the button hole strip so the dress will close) ch 1, sc around, join to ch with slst
row 21:  ch 1, sc around, join to ch with slst
row 22: ch 1, sc around, join with slst, fasten off

Weave in ends
Attach buttons to bodice using button holes as your guide

To make skirt:
*note* I use a 1/2" seam allowance
Add embellishments (rick-rack/ruffle) to skirt if desired
Sew short ends of fabric together
Fold over top 1/2", press, fold over 1/2" again, press and sew near top edge (If your seam is to low it will show   when the dress is finished)
Fold over bottom 1/2", press, fold over 1" again, press and sew hem
Sew a running stitch under top seam, pull threads to gather skirt to fit inside bodice
Pin skirt to inside of bodice, sew to attach

There you have it!  I hope you try it out for the little princess in your life.  If you have any questions or problems with the pattern please let me know and I'll try my best to sort them out for you!

Did you make a dress?  Let me know how it turned out with a comment!

Thanks for stopping by!
- Jenn