Jane's Hooked on Crochet

A place to write about my crocheting, things I'm learning, book reviews, ideas, projects in mind, works in progress, patterns, photos, fair entries, whatever...

Wednesday, November 24, 2004

Layette news

Well, the sweater is almost finished. Just one sleeve, the edging and some ribbons. The bonnet and booties are finished, just need the ribbons. And in today's mail I got my latest eBay purchase, little mittens. I'll make a pair and add them to the set. Last I want to adapt the basic pattern to Tunisian and create a blanket.
It'll soon be time to finish that last full size afghan. And then I have ribbon yarn to make several scarves for Christmas presents. The baby sweater without sleeves gave me an idea for a new project, a sleeveless sweater vest. I think I can even adapt the pattern to Tunisian crochet while enlarging it to adult size :-)
Jane

Tuesday, November 23, 2004

Baby layette

We had a family funeral, so I spent the weekend with my in-laws. Took my crocheting along for the first time in years, I have a lot of projects to finish before Christmas. We are having a baby shower for a fellow teacher in 3 weeks, along with the crocheted layette that I want to give, I have been asked to bake and decorate the cake for the shower.
I have been searched my stacks of pattern books and loose pattern, and the web, trying to find the perfect set for a newborn girl. Couldn't find a complete set; sweater, bonnet, booties, blanket. I started with the "Cutie Bootie" from http://www.geocities.com/mooncat48/Patterns/BabysandChildren/CutieBootie/Cutie_Bootie_Revised.htm Made this in a variegated baby yarn, with a pink cuff. Had to go from the recommended E hook down to a C hook. I didn't like the proportions, daughter Jen said I had made a Hobbit child bootie. Will try the pattern again later with a fingering yarn to see how it works.
Also tried the Easy Newborn Socks http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Ranch/4054/newbornsocks.htm
These are very easy to make, and adorable. I used Lion Brand Baby Soft in pastel pink.
Then I used the same yarn and started in the layette set I chose, Crochet Sacque, Cap and Booties D-124 from Coats & Clark's Baby Book No. 251. It is a combination of cross stitches and shells. I finished the booties, and the bonnet, except for the ribbon; and started on the sweater. While working this morning I thought of trying to create this pattern using an afghan hook and Tunisian crochet stitches. I love the cross stitch in Tunisian; alternating with rows of Simple stitch should work. I'll let you know how this works.

Homespun Shawl

Well, the shawl is still in the thinking stages. I love the crocheted part, it would be great as the point of a triangular shawl. I'm having problems getting the shawl shaped right. I "frogged" back to the point and saved that. Then moved to other projects that have a deadline. Will get back to the shawl in the future, the Homespun yarn is just so soft!