Knitting for the New Baby - Page 2 « Back to Group Discussions

[Jackies]

That's too cute. Is the pattern on Ravelry?

[Mother Rising]

I crochet, but nothing too technical.  Right now I'm crocheting a vibrant green baby blanket.  I'm hoping I have a red headed kiddo... the green will go perfectly. :)

[purposefuldoula]

Jackies, yes! And it's free! It also comes with the raglan onsie pattern, too.  Here's the link:

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/raglan-onesie-or-romper

Mother rising- I love that color! You're totally right, that would go wonderfully with red hair :)

I think I'm going to make another soaker out of the green wool I used for the trim. 

[craft_media_hero]

Oh my gosh, I want to get in on this!

You mamas are so inspiring I am a novice knitter and beginner crochet-er; I need some seriously foundational patterns to get started on.

I think I can do the mattress pad! I want to make a moses basket for baby I've kinda got it in my head. Good thing I have a while to figure out weaving before I tackle that!

[travelmumma]

 Well I just finished my FIRST EVER KNITTING project!! This was the first time that I actually knitted! I learnt how to do it from YouTube lol!

And all in one very determined sitting I made a baby hat!! Baby will be born in summer here, but too bad!

I am very proud of myself lol!

I will post a photo when I can!

[purposefuldoula]

travelmumma! YAY!! I guess we should have stuck a warning on here to let you know that knitting is super addictive!! I can't wait to see your pictures. I taught myself how to knit during my second pregnancy, in July! 

[travelmumma]

Oh there're DEFINATELY should be a warning at the top exclaiming that knitting is addictive!!
I'm onto my second hat now! DH wants a bigger version of baby's hat so they can match nawwwww haha

[keylimecutie]

Love all the knitting!  I am knitting for a friend's baby now but will start for my cherub soon!

[chicajones]

These are so wonderful! I had finished the Aviatrix baby hat (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/aviatrix-baby-hat) but had a shower and needed a gift at the last minute, so I gave it away. I'll be making another one soon though. I'm also making a knit bunny (which is what I've been giving to friends for showers for a long time), booties, and hopefully lots more! I love to knit and I'm so happy to finally have my own little one to knit for. 

[travelmumma]

Ooooh Chica I did not even think of knitted toys!!!! Lol thats what I will be doing tonight!!! :)

[Millie Ivy]

I'm an avid knitter, spinner, etc.  Soon to be weaving as well!

I waited til 14 weeks to start baby knitting, as I lost my last baby at 14 weeks and honestly I don't have the heart to fold up and store away another baby item if this one didn't stick.

So in the last week I've made a baby hat (Gros Norwegian baby hat), and have started a Puerperium sweater.  Both in light and dark grey sock yarn, my hand dyed.  No pics on Rav yet, but I'm StoneAndString on ravelry, and you all should friend me!

[purposefuldoula]

Millie Ivy, I'm so glad that this baby is sticking for you and that you can now start crafting it up for this LO. I spin too, and am asking for my Christmas/pushing baby out present for a spinning wheel. I've only done drop spinning with a bottom whirl spindle and cannot wait to move up to a big wheel. How do you spin you fiber?

I'm going to head over there right now and add you on rav. I'm gentledoulamama over there. You all should add me, too!! Then we can totally droll over what everyone is making. 

I just finished another soaker for this babe, this time in avocado green complete with an icord to tie it. What's everyone working on this week? Monday, I CO a chevron baby blanket. It's going really fast. I can't wait to show you all! 

[Millie Ivy]

Hi Natalie!  I'll add you too. :-)

I spin mostly on an older Ashford Traditional.  She's 40 years old but does the trick, and she was my first wheel.  I also have owned and spun on Babe's, Louet, and majacraft (the little gem).  I liked them all for different reasons (except the Louet, it didn't agree with me), but always go back to the Traddy.

I'm on the waiting list for a Sequoia.  http://www.sequoiaspinningwheel.com/Home.aspx#__ which are handmade in the States and a really nice design, solid heavy hardwoods, etc.  Great price for the whole shebang. On the homepage, the top left pic of the bobbin of blue is my friends and I've spun on hers.  Very nice wheel. 

I just have to save up some money for it!  (When my friend got hers he was fairly unknown, very small business.  Then she took it too fiber festivals and everyone mooned over it and now he has a two year waiting list. lol

I'd recommend trying some wheels if you can.  Even if it means a day trip and you drive a couple hours to a store/guild to do it.  There is just no way of finding out if a wheel is going to be a match without doing that.  Also, ravelry has a huge list of wheel reviews that are helpful.  And lots of people buy wheels sight unseen, but I just highly recommend getting your hands on a couple first if you can at all manage it.

In my experience, Ashford is lovely.  Great prices, solid work.   The initial price is good, but then the accessory prices are great too.  That's one reason why I stuck with my Traddy when I had to get rid of a wheel, I can stock up on bobbins for way less than other brands.

Another one I'd try is Lendrum DT Complete, if money is at all a consideration.  Great rep for being a solid workhorse for the money

wow.  I ramble.

So, yeah, i also spin on spindles, but rarely, and normally just for a 2-4 ounce project not for any larger production. I bow to those that spin for a sweater or big shawl on a spindle but it would take me too long.  I really love toting a spindle and a bright piece of fluff around for portability though

my friend Laurel makes Spinatude spindles, on etsy, and she's Twinzmama on Rav.  They are awesome, and do have several. I use them when I do demos

(As an aside, I was a yarnie for a couple years.  I had a dyeing business that I just gave up this year as we were TTC, and I'm close to finishing yoga teacher training, etc.)

I am loving that 4 ounces of worsted spun, worsted weight bright happy yarn is plenty for any baby project right now!

[purposefuldoula]

Shelley, when the time comes, we will totally have to talk about which wheel would be the best one for me. Thank you for your post! I could talk about all things fiber all day! 

So, here is what I've been up to lately. This baby is going to be STOCKED with hand knits from me. I just can't stop. That's a good thing though. And I might just start making a bootie a day and see how many I can come up with. I had forgotten how fast they knit up until I saw that Shelley was making some over on rav and decided to give it a go again. 

The owl at the bottom is getting gifted for a dear friend that is due Sunday with a baby girl. And the blanket is no where near finished, I just really like the pattern and thought I'd share. It's the Chevron baby blanket from the Purl bee. Their baby stuff is so great! 

[Jackies]

Which bootie pattern is that?

[AlaskAnne]

purposefuldoula - I love the soakers and booties!  I'm still a novice knitter so I usually stick to easy projects or short projects.  But I think those booties might just be doable...

Usually I sent all the cool ideas to my mom - she's a knitting whiz, and retired so she has tons of time.  By the time December comes the baby will literally have an arsenal of sweaters.  By the time I was 10 weeks I'd already received two sweaters!

Mostly I've been sewing for the baby, but I do have one knitting project - a baby blanket that I started knitting for a friend who had a baby in May.  I got halfway through it (which took MONTHS) and then gave up and just sewed her a blanket in a weekend.  I think that my own little one will be enough motivation for me to actually finish the knitted blanket! 

What do you ladies find are the most useful knitted items to have for baby?  

[Jackies]

If you're going to cloth diaper, wool soakers are great. It's such a deal to make your own. You can get a skein of Fisherman's wool and make 3 soakers from it.

[purposefuldoula]

Originally Posted by AlaskAnne 

purposefuldoula - I love the soakers and booties!  I'm still a novice knitter so I usually stick to easy projects or short projects.  But I think those booties might just be doable...

Usually I sent all the cool ideas to my mom - she's a knitting whiz, and retired so she has tons of time.  By the time December comes the baby will literally have an arsenal of sweaters.  By the time I was 10 weeks I'd already received two sweaters!

Mostly I've been sewing for the baby, but I do have one knitting project - a baby blanket that I started knitting for a friend who had a baby in May.  I got halfway through it (which took MONTHS) and then gave up and just sewed her a blanket in a weekend.  I think that my own little one will be enough motivation for me to actually finish the knitted blanket! 

What do you ladies find are the most useful knitted items to have for baby?  

Those booties would be a totally easy project for you. They are knitted flat with one seam each.  As for most useful, that's a toughy, as everything I'm making is functional, especially for December, (and in AL for you!)  Soakers are very cost effective and you can't go wrong with booties, longies, blankets, sweaters, gowns, and at least a few hats. I'll be continually knitting until this baby comes. I just CO a little pixie hat for this babe today :)

Originally Posted by Jackies 

Which bootie pattern is that?

This one! And it's free! ---> http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/babys-booties-knit

I just cast off another pair today in alpaca! yum!! 

[Jackies]

For those of you in the US, Joann's is having a half-off sale on wool through tomorrow. Great to stock up for soakers and goodies.

[Jackies]

Just finished a Rhino romper. I'm hoping I have enough left over to make matching booties, but we'll see.

The funniest part is I mentioned I would need 5 buttons and DD goes into her room and brings out 5 matching purple buttons in the perfect size. I'd forgotten she had buttons, but when we go to fiber festivals she'll get a bag of mismatched buttons from a big bin for $2 or so, and sometimes there's sets in there too.