Blessing Blanket

I told myself I would only do 30 minutes computer time specifically for blogging, encouraging me to actually work on blogging and not get distracted by other things (*ahem* Pinterest). I actually did SO good that I used all of my 30 minutes just updating my normal blog. I now give myself an hour from the starting point, meaning I have 20 minutes to write these two posts.

But oh, what good posts they are!!

Baby Girl Blessing Blanket

(Yes, I crochet at work a lot!)

This is when I decided to finish off and make it a square. Border/edging is added but ends haven't been woven in yet.

Close up of a corner.

Hailey needed to test it out to see if it was big enough. I think it passed the test!

Finished!

Finished with scissors showing scale (say that 5 times fast!).

Corner detail.

Showing border and corner.

As you know, I have been working diligently on a blessing blanket for my good friend Whitney, who is due with Baby Girl in June. I was so excited to start in back in April that I went straight to the store, found the first beautiful white Weight 3 yarn I could find, and got to work! I also used one of the lace patterns found all over Pinterest (it's the 262 lace crochet patterns or something like that). Here's a pretty good link. I did Pattern #160. It was very simple and very easy to calculate. I used a size G hook and I think I chained about 120 for my starting point. The work up was very fast and every easy. My only qualm was that the particular yarn I chose, although very pretty, had a small shiny piece that was woven throughout the yarn and many many times I got my hook caught on that. Other than that, though, it was a very nice blanket to do! I then finished off with my own border of holes for the ribbon, and then used Pattern #225 for the edging! I actually had to make the blanket a square because I had started the foundation chain so long, but it still turned out very, very nice. I used a light pink ribbon, 1/4" width. The cost was very minimum and the beauty was great. It reminds me of a soft fluffy sheep! And Whitney loved it, so I am happy!

One very important thing to remember is when you are using ribbons in your borders, to always, ALWAYS stitch the bow to the blanket. This will secure the bow itself (there's is going to be a lot of handling and you don't want that bow to come undone!) and attaches the bow to the blanket so it doesn't slide around all over the place. I am very glad I learned this at the last minute or I just know the blanket would have been a disaster later down the road!

Again, I am very pleased with the way this blanket turned out and I would make another one in a heartbeat. Oh! Plus! This blanket did not use nearly as much yarn as I thought it would, so I am actually left with almost a whole skein! Yes!

I would be excited to see this blanket done with a light blue ribbon, or maybe even green or purple. Other things I would change would be to make it rectangular like I originally planned and make a thicker boarder. All the fun possibilities!

I Did It You Guys!!!

I did it! My first completed ever afghan blanket project ever! I almost forgot to take a picture of it before it was forever gone into the hands of this new mommy-to-be, so I had to ask her if I could take a picture of it at the baby shower, haha! Sorry if it's not the best picture - I had to snap really quick! Everyone was really impressed. One even said, "If I pretend to be a baby again, will you make me one?" and another said "That really looks professional!" I am not trying to praise myself or anything, but it sure did feel good to have people say that about my work!! My first completed blanket and already getting good reviews. I'm really happy and pleased about it!

So what I did was I crocheted a simple shell-stitch baby afghan that I found online atwww.lionbrand.com (they are a yarn company that gives free patterns on their website!). I used I Love This Yarn! brand (put out by Hobby Lobby) color Ivory. I really do LOVE this yarn because it is SUPER soft, unlike the itchy, scratchy worsted weight yarn of the typical cheap Red Heart yarn. I Love This Yarn was about $3.99, but I LOVE Hobby Lobby for their AMAZING 40% off coupons - I was able to get my skeins for $2.55!! I used a size-I hook and it took me about 4 days to complete. I could have been done sooner, but I didn't realize that it would take more than one skein of yarn (durr, really??) so I had to wait until the next day AFTER work to be able to get more yarn. And then I ran out again, and had to wait another day to get even more yarn. Yeah. Next time, I will definitely do better research and plan more accurately!

I decided to do a solid color for this pattern. The original pattern called for 4 different colors of tan/brown and it actually looks REALLY beautiful, but for a baby, I just wanted to keep it soft and pure. I chose the Ivory because I wanted the off-white look to be more fitting for a boy. To finish it off, I added a brown ribbon with blue stitching down the center (her colors for the baby) tied in a bow in the bottom right-hand corner. I think I might make that my signature. Not really sure yet, and besides, I've only made one blanket! It's not like I have a whole line out or anything!

We'll work on my photography skills next!

Sorry it's not the best picture! Brown ribbon with blue stitches.

The original picture on www.lionbrand.com

I've convinced my husband to let me make another one. With money a little tight right now, we can't really just spend our money willy nilly on crafts (because crafting is expensive!) but since I want to make a white one for my dear friend up in Logan for her baby girl, I think it can be counted as gift money and THAT is A-OK. :D I am really excited to make another blanket. Especially because this yarn is so soft - I love working with it! Hooray for making fun blankets!