Baby Goodness

Ok, how cute is this?? I needed a project the other night, as if I don't have three other projects waiting to be finished, so my Mom showed me how to crochet this cute little baby beanie for a newborn. The pattern is here. It's just basic crochet and so, so easy. The pink edge is my creativity at work (not in the pattern) since I have crazy scalloped edge skills :)

Basic Crochet Edge

Here goes my attempt to teach you how to make a basic crochet edge around a hemstitched piece of fabric. What you will need to start:

1. hemstitched fabric

2. crochet thread - I generally use size 10 cotton thread. You can buy thread at any craft store or fabric store.

3. Crochet needle - I generally use a size 4 or 2.0MM crochet needle. Needles come in various sizes so you can choose your preference. You don't want too big of a needle or you won't be able to get it through the hemstitched holes.

Before you get started, you will want to trim around the edge of your fabric so it is about 1/4" raw edge.

Step 1: make a loop

Start by crossing the thread creating a short, loose end.

Then pull the short end of the thread through the loop to make a slip knot

Slip your needle through the loop and tug on the short end of the thread to give it a nice fit around the needle. You don't want the loop too loose or too tight...just right.

Insert the needle through a hemstitched hole

Loop the long end of the thread around the needle and pull the thread through the hole with your needle.

Pull the thread through the loop on your needle to create your first crocheted stitch! Congratulations. The hardest part is over.

Repeat these steps all the way around your hemstitched fabric. Here are a few more illustrations to guide you through.

Here is what your edge should look like after you get movin'. Crocheting does require a little hand/thread/needle coordination, but anyone can do it. You may just need to practice a few times. I've created this video so you can get an idea of what to do, in motion. I have to warn you: I am not a professional videographer and coordinating the video while trying to demonstrate proved more difficult than I imagined. Talk about amatuer hour with the camera, but I think you'll get the gist, hopefully without feeling motion sickness.

Happy crocheting!

Word Search

I just finished this cute little blanket to put on my Etsy site. The blue fabric is Michael Miller's Word Search fabric and the back is a coordinating brown & blue polk-a-dot flannel.

The ABCs are the same flannel fabric that I've sewn on and quilted around. As the blanket is washed, the edges around the letters will fray slightly to give the letters a little texture.

The blanket is quilted with the entire alphabet and bound with a silky ribbon. Who wouldn't want to cuddle with their little one with this cute blanket? Plus it's educational!

Cheer Me Up, Alex!

Here is my latest piece of fun. I love Alexander Henry's crazy collection of fabrics, right down to the skulls. When I saw the Mirabelle print, I couldn't resist its cheeriness. Here you get a peek at the project I'm working on, but I'm not going to show the whole thing until it's finished. I'm just waiting for my quilting foot for my sewing maching to get here so I can get started (ooh, the quilting foot debacle - a blog for another day).

Little Diva

Let me introduce you to my good friend, Singer 72w19. This, my friends, is no ordinary sewing machine. It's a hemstitch machine. Don't let her beauty and grace fool you. This little hummer is a DIVA! I learned early on that in order for the Singer to function properly, it needed to be treated like a lady. Give her lots of love and move at a moderate pace and every one's happy. Try to get tricky and this girl will turn on you. Tonight was one of those nights. As I was stitching some of my blankets to put on my Etsy site, this beast wanted none of it - coming unthreaded every five inches, running out of bobbin thread - TWICE - the wheel didn't want to turn, the bobbin didn't want to wind. Sheesh, where is the love? We were getting along so well. I cleaned out the flannel fuzz and doused in her oil. What more could she want? I finally had to put myself in time-out before things got nasty.

I was still able to crank out some new blanket sets. I love these fabrics. I wish I was a baby being wrapped up in the softest flannel ever, and too cute to boot!

Once Upon a Time in the Not-So-Distant Past

It all began one night as I was desperately searching for a fabric store open after 6 P.M. "Don't these people know some of us have to work?" I was on the hunt for a hemstitched receiving blanket and burp cloth set to crochet for my friend who was minutes away from having a baby. As usual I had procrastinated until the last minute and now there was a major sense of urgency. It was 6:52 P.M when I came across the one and only fabric store in the valley open until 7 P.M. Yes! They have blanket sets! Oh, but they aren't cute. I was sorely disappointed in my options, but I was desperate, so I bought what they had.

This scenario had happened to me more than once and I was tired of it. It was that night when I decided to take action. Hey, I know a cute fabric when I see it, and I can certainly put two coordinating fabrics together. Why not hemstitch them myself and while I'm at it, I'll offer my service to the rest of the world. With a lot of luck (having a dear friend who actually owns a hemstitch machine, circa 1932), a little time and plenty of effort, By-Low Baby was born.

Welcome to By-Low Baby!

Welcome to By-Low Baby's blog spot. By-Low Baby is the place for the softest, coziest blankets and gifts for your baby. This blog is dedicated to sharing with you my magical thinking. Most of what you see here will be available for you on my Etsy site http://www.bylowbabyblankets.etsy.com/! Come back and visit anytime and if you have some magical thinking you'd like to share, leave a comment!