A little Baby Bunting

I've mentioned before that I love to crochet.  I learned in a girl's group as a kid...probably around 10 or 11 years old.  The women in the group showed us very basic stitches and I was so excited.  My mom helped me learn how to correctly hold the yarn and hook and off I went......  I made potholders and pillows and shawls and ....  The skill was especially handy when I was in my Little House on the Prairie stage.  It felt like something Laura would do. 

I love the process of crocheting...however....I need the project to grow quickly or I get "sidetracked".  (as evidenced by the totes of partially finished projects and left over balls of yarn in my craft room)  Every single time someone I know announces a pregnancy, I have grand ideas and plans for baby afgans....and I have 

made a bunch.  My new love, though, is the baby bunting:

A cozy little cocoon of crocheted goodness....all the love of a blanket with a much faster progression.  I've used patterns.  I've made my own.  It is a sack...in the very brass tacks of construction and one can use any number of stitches to create said sack.  Enter:  my next new favorite thing.

 To say that I love this book would be a gross misrepresentation.  I LOVE THIS BOOK.  I checked it out at the library, somewhat half-heartedly as I have something similar tucked away somewhere in my crafting storage.  Then....I fell DEEPLY in love.  I love the stitches, I love the way the book is set up, I love the diagrams.....I LOVE THIS BOOK so much that I renewed it several times and then just broke down and bought it.

And I have not once, regretted this purchase!!!  Excuse me....I need to go swoon!

I wear my heart on my sleeve.....

Yep, I told you so!

I bet you are wondering what this is all about?  Well, I am gaining a brand new niece in November and of course that means I've been attempting to create some baby goodies.  This is a gown my two kiddos colored and drew on with fabric markers and crayons....you should have seen their faces.... 

 "You WANT us to write on the fabric? 

 Is this a trick?

  Will we get in trouble for this?

  Are you SURE? 

 Mom??"

The hot pink sleeves and ribbing are from an old shirt of mine.  The kids created the custom fabric for the gown and ...... instant fashion sensation!  I am thankful that my sister in law will totally LOVE that my kids made this for their new baby E.

This next one is made with eyelet and pink flannel.  Soft and cuddly.  The eyelet spent a former life as a curtain....I imagine she will see more love as a baby gown!

I cut out four gowns from this pattern.  I had never used it before and I learned a valuable lesson that kinda seems like a no-brainer but nonetheless: always sew the pattern at least once before cutting out a stack.  I found that I am not really fond of this pattern...so you will see that no two gowns are alike.  I tried a couple different techniques to see if I can salvage the pattern.....jury is still out on that!  But at least it gave me a jumping off point...right?

This next little gown was cut from a blouse of mine that I loved but it not longer fits.  I love pin tucks and insertion lace and all the goodness known as "heirloom" sewing.  So I held on to the blouse for a couple of years.  Now, I am so glad I did.  This is a quick way to make an adorable gown!

I really love giving hand made gifts. And I love crocheted baby blankets.  And I love to crochet.....just not so much, baby blankets.  You see....unless the project is something that grows quickly, crocheting looses my attention quickly.  I am an instant-gratification-kind-a-girl, I guess.  Welcome to my new favorite crochet project: a baby bunting!  All the fun and coziness of a baby blanket and the quickness necessary to keep me plugging away at it!

 I hope Baby E feels a hug and kiss from her Aunt Kellie when she is snuggled in, warm and cozy.  Oh, I so wish I lived close enough to hold that little sweetie when she arrives.......