Another Gift For Baby Olive

The thing about crocheting for a baby is that the projects are so quick and cute. I decided to make Baby Olive a hat to go along with her booties; figuring that she'd get more use out of a hat in the fall. I found this shell-stitch beanie for free online and thought it'd be a good hat for early fall. I made it in the 3-6 month size and it fits Parker perfectly now at almost 5 months. I like the pattern so much that I'm planning to make one for Parker. The best part of the whole thing is that I was able to crochet the hat while the girls napped, in less than 2 hours. I added the double flower for an easy embellishment. The center button is something I hadn't done before, but I really like the added touch it gives. It may be a new trademark for me, especially if I can find some cute, unique buttons. So, this pink one is for Baby Olive, and I'll make another one for Parker and add more photos of that later.

Booties for Baby Olive

I have never crocheted a pair of booties before. I saw this free pattern for "Simple Baby Booties" and thought they were so cute. The pattern was written in a way that I had never crocheted before, so it took some reading and trial and error to get the soles just right. I also had difficulty following the portion of the pattern to create the toe, so I just ended up adapting it to my needs. The first bootie, the left one, is a bit larger than the second one but not enough to make me want to re-work it. Although this particular pair is being gifted to Baby Olive, upon her arrival, I am going to be working up a pair for Parker. I tried them on her feet and loved the way they looked. Parker manages to kick all socks and most moccasins off of her feet, but these little booties stayed on pretty well. I can hardly wait to meet Baby Olive and see her in these booties!

Brynn's Bunny Boo

There's just something about Easter that makes me want to crochet amigurumi bunnies. This year I found a great, free pattern by Roxycraft: Bunny Boo

I was able to work up the pattern in less than two hours. The most difficult part for me is sewing on the ears and tail. I never know the proper way to do it, so hopefully they won't fall off in a couple of months. I am pretty happy with the end product. I used Lion Brand Organic Cotton, which was a medium weight, rather than bulky like the pattern called for. It is the perfect size for little hands to grab hold of.

This little Bunny Boo will be in Brynn's Easter basket on Sunday morning!

Something Just for Me

It's been quite a while since I've sat down to crochet something for myself. I came across the Five Spice Hat pattern in the Interweave Crochet magazine. I loved the textured look of the slip stitch, so I decided to pick up some bulky weight yarn and work one up before the snow comes. The first hat that I made came out way too small, but was perfect for our little 18 month old neighbor. The second hat I made fits just right. I do wish it were a bit longer/deeper; as is, it only covers the very tips of my ears, so I may not be the most warm winter hat. Nevertheless, I am pleased with the way it turned out.

Halloween

My 2.5 year old daughter wanted to be Baloo from The Jungle Book for Halloween this year. So, with the help of my mother-in-law, I made a costume for her. Luckily once the costume was finished, she was excited to try it on at home, because she sure did not want to wear it on Halloween night. Maybe next year will be a more positive experience with trick-or-treating.