Wednesday 15 May 2013

George's trousseau

The preparation for my second child's arrival was cut somewhat short by my waters breaking at 35 weeks..eeek! Needless to say, I hadn't quite prepared fully for life with baby number two. For starters, the nursery is still not in existence, as we're in the process of moving Albie into the large spare bedroom, along with all of his toys, clothes and some new textiles. This week his new curtains arrive from John Lewis, so all being well we should be able to move him into his new room next week. He turns three this weekend, and I am shocked how quickly the past three years have gone. 

 So here is what I DID have time to make before George's arrival!

 Cardigan from 'Cute and Easy Crocheted Baby Clothes' by Nicki Trench, worked in Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino. I think all these colours are discontinued now, but there are plenty of similar ones available. The buttons came from my late grandparents' sewing box, and I like the think my Nana had my cousin and I in mind with these little duck buttons. There was five in the box- perfect for this cute little cardi! I struggled with the pattern (as always) so went off-piste as usual!
I had some yarns left over from the cardigan so hooked up these cute hats in the hospital. George and I stayed there for four days, so I had time to make these teeny premature baby hats. The cream hat is the Yvestown pattern, and the blue is my own. Again the yarn is Debbie Bliss, the cream is Sublime Baby Cashmere Merino in Vanilla.

This lovely jumper is for when George is a bit (ok, MUCH) bigger! The pattern is the Noah sweater from the most beautiful book What to Knit When You're Expecting by Nikki Van de Car. It's knitted in Rowan Cashsoft DK. I got the yarn in the sale at John Lewis back in January and the project was lovely and easy and relatively quick to knit. I had to learn how to pick up stitches, ssk and set in raglan sleeves! I didn't do too badly though for a novice eh? I want to make so much from this book, but need to increase my knitting skills a LOT first! 

 This blanket is a real beaut. The pattern is a Sara Sinaguglia pattern from Inside Crochet issue 38, and it's just a dream to crochet. I rarely follow crochet patterns, and it's very rare for me to make the same pattern more than once, but I'm considering what colour to make this in next! The yarn is Jeanette Sloan Baby Alpaca DK- recommended in the pattern. I adore the chartreuse colour, and the yarn is probably the softest, most divine dreamy yarn I've ever worked with. I'm thinking up some patterns to use it again!

Lastly, I made this simple granny square blanket using the leftover yarns from all the above projects. I had some Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino in aqua, mustard and red leftover from the cardi, hats and a couple of other makes, whilst the teal was left from the jumper and there was a small amount of chartreuse left from the star lap blanket. For the cream, I frogged a plain stool cover to make the hat, and had two extra balls of Sublime baby in Vanilla left so joined the four-round granny squares on the go, then added five rows of granny edging. For the edge itself, I made a loopy edge, making 4ch, then ss into the next ch sp for round 1. For round 2 I slip stitched along to middle of the loop, then made 4ch, ss into middle of next loop along. It's simple, pretty and effective I think. 
So that's all I managed anyway! George was the very lucky recipient of a tiramisu blanket from the lovely Erin, and a lovely mobile from my dear dear friend Hannah. The lucky little man also has a fabulous retro/vintage patchwork blanket I purchased from Jane over at the Little Teawagon, so the little chap is positively surrounded by handmade goodness. And that's the way it should be!

Here is a little sneak preview of a new baby blanket I'm working on for someone else...

I will update you with more handmade tales soon!

Happy hooking
xxx

7 comments:

  1. Glad it all went okay in the end. Motherhood kindof takes over from crafting at times!!!!

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  2. Cath you make me tired just reading all the things you have time to do even whilst you're in hospital! You make the most gorgeous things I have ever seen and I love reading your blog. Congratulations on the arrival of George. Nicole x

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  3. So many gorgeous makes for Gorgeous George. Love them all. Lucky George. Look forward to see what else you make. X

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  4. Congrats, he looks sweet and all of those lovely things are so beautiful, you're right surround him in handmade- gorgeous!

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  5. Pretty things! What a lucky little guy! Hx

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  6. Gosh you have been busy....in more ways than one, but what a lovely little surprise! :) x

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  7. Just stumbled across your blog and its lovely to meet another crochet fan. Firstly congratulations on the arrival of your new baby boy, George, he looks gorgeous!! I am in awe with the beautiful things you have made for him. They are gorgeous!!!

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