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[talldarkeyes]

I would love to make something for baby but I am at a loss! I knit but summer isn't my favorite time for knits so anything I would make would have to be for winter. I also embroider and sew a bit.

The only thing I have come up with is to buy some white gerber onesies and embroider them. What are you making for your babies or have had made for you? I need ideas!

[zeeohee]

I'm focusing a lot of my energy on cloth diapers because they're cute, fast, and I don't know yet what other people are giving/handing down to us! I have also made a couple tiny lap tees. 

I'm knitting a blanket -- super quick, just 7 think bands of different colors in garter stitch, so it's squishy and bold-looking (I get so tired of pastels for babies...) and I plan to make a quilt as soon as the right pattern calls to me. I am also eyeing a knitting pattern called the "manly vest" (though I think it looks pretty neutral...) that could be good all year in a lightweight yarn.

In the August DDC it looks like a lot of mamas are knitting baby cocoons for their newbies -- seems like in a light enough yarn that might be fine for summer, depending on where you live! Then again, I live in New Hampshire, where even *I* need a sweater at some point during most months of the year....

Other things I plan to make soon are some upcycled sweater longies/wool covers, a couple of t-shirt baby gowns, and maybe another style of carrier (I have an Ergo already that I found at a thrift store for $10 when I was nannying - love that thing!). When we get a changing pad I will definitely make a cover for it because, again, don't love pastels. 

Oh! I made one pretty frivolous thing -- there is a tutorial floating around Pinterest for a stuffed whale made of blue jeans, which I just could not get out of my head. So I sewed that up and am stuffing it with the scraps of all the other things I've been making ^__^

I do like the idea of decorating onesies. Embroidery or stamping or applique could all be fun :) I've also seen neat things done with a bleach pen on black onesies, though I would love to know where to get black onesies easily!

[Mavis]

I like your ideas zeeohee !  

I plan to make a boppy-esque pillow, maybe 2 with covers. I also need a diaper bag/tote bag and some diaper changing pads.  I plan to knit some stuff too.

Not sure where to get black onesies but maybe you could dye some, then bleach?

[wrenmoon]

Dharma trading has lots of blank shirts and onesies etc for babies. I have never seen a black onesie though. My grandmother would be turning in her grave at the thought of a baby in black!

I'm trying to whittle my list down some, this is the first time I've had a baby coming and a sewing machine but no toddler to chase and I am so. so. so. over ambitious about what I want to make. I hadn't even considered a sleep sack until this thread, and now it's on the list too.

Diapers for newborn and small sizes
Diaper covers- wool for newborn and small (three done)
A few light blankets
Silk and flannel blanket
A quilt? Knitted blanket?
Longies- 3 pair for 3-6 month sizes
Some shorts soakers for fall
Sweater for same size
Leg warmers

Do you think that will be enough??
Luckily I had a yarn buying problem and I have taken apart many wool goodwill sweaters and dyed that yarn so my stash is, well, absurd. A little embarrassing actually.

[Eilis]

I'm not really into baby showers (especially not the thought of my own - blech!) but it occurs to me that onsie-decorating would be a fun baby shower activity! You could order a bunch of blank ones in various sizes and have people decorate them at the shower. I'm not too into idea of fabric paint pens and such though since their inks on the shirt would be close to the baby's skin. Any thoughts about non-toxic/organic-type decorating options for onsies that could be done by anyone at a baby shower?
 

[talldarkeyes]

Originally Posted by Eilis 

I'm not really into baby showers (especially not the thought of my own - blech!) but it occurs to me that onsie-decorating would be a fun baby shower activity! You could order a bunch of blank ones in various sizes and have people decorate them at the shower. I'm not too into idea of fabric paint pens and such though since their inks on the shirt would be close to the baby's skin. Any thoughts about non-toxic/organic-type decorating options for onsies that could be done by anyone at a baby shower?

 

A friend of mine did tie dye onesies at her shower. That way you could chose the dyes to suit your personal preferences. You could buy felt and people could cut them out and applique/embroider? This would be great if you have lots of craft friends. Kind of like a quilting bee!

Wrenmoon, are you starting from scratch or renewing? Since I am having another girl I feel set with pretty much everything except cloth diapers (which need to be replaced). I don't have any wool items though since I didn't learn to knit until my daughter was 2. What are the essential wool items? I guess I could also knit up baby socks with my remnant sock yarn? I don't have much of a stash. I do have a bunch of fisherman's wool...what can I do with that?

Sleep sack? Again for winter?

[zeeohee]

Wrenmoon, haa, I'm sure my grandparents would be horrified as well. But I've nannied a bunch of babies who had black onesies in their wardrobes -- I think they come as part of a Gap or Old Navy multipack or something? Anyway, I always thought babies in black looked super cute, like mini poets or artists or something. And my partner and I both have skin tones that look good with black....

I'm loving your ambitious plans!

As soon as we find out the baby's sex my former bosses have a ton of stuff to hand down, so that will help me refine/expand my list. 

Also yes to dyeing onesies! I have a friend who is super into natural plant dyes, so she and I might have a onesie-dyeing date sometime in the spring.

[wrenmoon]

Originally Posted by talldarkeyes 


Wrenmoon, are you starting from scratch or renewing? Since I am having another girl I feel set with pretty much everything except cloth diapers (which need to be replaced). I don't have any wool items though since I didn't learn to knit until my daughter was 2. What are the essential wool items? I guess I could also knit up baby socks with my remnant sock yarn? I don't have much of a stash. I do have a bunch of fisherman's wool...what can I do with that?

Sleep sack? Again for winter?

Im starting from scratch- I had passed on all my knitted and baby items and got very little back for wee sizes. We had been gifted diaper service for the first few months with my other children but they can't deliver here- we live too far out...I still have medium/large pre folds and covers which need elastic and the prefolds are pretty worn out too. So, I need to start over. With everything clothing, carseats, carriers, diaper bag, etc. etc.
I like to knit a wool blanket for winter because of the cold/wet diaper combo, also longies for that reason. I have used fishermans wool for both. I think longies are "essential" for winter. You can make longies as pants out of sock yarn and just not use them as soakers... I've done that too. It will definitely use up your old sock yarn.
The sleep sack could replace a blanket if it was wool. I've made one with shoulder straps for a friends baby, like a sleep sack with the bottom button-able, I might do that this time.
Wool covers are essential.
Leg warmers are pretty darn useful, as is a light wool sweater. Both are really fast knits.

If you have financial constraints for buying yarn I highly recommend buying a wool sweater at goodwill and taking it apart and using the yarn, it can be dyed with koolaid for super cheap, there are lots of tutorials online how to pick the sweater and dye yarn with koolaid. A man's sweater will give you almost 2000 yards of yarn. For three dollars, maybe five? And a lot of sitting there unwinding.

I just found out that my best friend is making a silk blanket already. Makes me feel warm and fuzzy the thought of other people making things for my wee babe.

[here we are]

I I'm trying to figure out what I can do with used wool sweaters, my special collection. I don't really know how to make anything. I can shrink. I've seen people cutting off the legs and adding other parts to make the pants, is anyone doing that? I'm afraid to try it because I've never done it before I think it needs to be done a certain way maybe I just need to felt it , which I have also never done. but I have tons of sweaters!

[talldarkeyes]

Here we are: Felting is pretty simple unless you are working with a HE machine, then it takes forever. I would just google the instructions. If you are planning on making diaper covers you could probably get away with hand sewing and a drawstring but if you have a friend with a sewing machine it will be stronger. I would just google "felted sweater baby clothes" and see what you come up with.

[g&a]

We decorated onesies for one of my babies, I can't remember which one though!

We set out fabric paints and just let people go for it.  Not everyone is that much of a painter, though, and some people had trouble getting their heads around it. 

I am making baby blocks out of felted wool.  Embroidering the pieces then sewing them together and stuffing them.  Pretty simple and easy.  I would love to sew a baby gown - alabama chanin style - hopefully there is time between when I am off work and when the baby gets here.  I love the idea OP brought up of embroidering a onesie - good results for effort ratio.  I am also hoping to make some change table pads for when we're out and about (at least 2 so one can be in the wash).  Jersey layers on one side and PUL on the other because putting baby directly on the change tables in public restrooms gives me the willies. 

[InLove2009]

I wish I could make something for the baby! I don't know how to knit, crochet, sew, or anything like that though..... I am kind of bummed! 

[talldarkeyes]

InLove2009, I have a beginners knitting book that teaches you how to knit using baby projects. You could do something like that. I really love knitting and it can be a pretty inexpensive hobby. Embroidery is even less expensive to start.

[lolliegee]

I've always wanted to learn how to knit. I can crochet (but have never followed a pattern) and can sew pretty well, just don't know how to knit. What's the name of that book? Sounds perfect for me.

[InLove2009]

What is the name of the book? I know how to knit a scarf. Thats all. I would really like to crochet a baby blanket. The local Michaels offers classes, but they are all during the day while I am at work....

[heyitskalista]

I learned to knit from youtube! lol 

I picked a simple looking pattern and watched youtube videos for each step!  I also love the book Stitch n' Bitch! 

I have a list a mile long of things I need to make for this babe.  So of course, my sewing machine broke.  Sigh. 
 

[talldarkeyes]

Here it is: http://www.amazon.com/Knitting-Baby-How---Knit-Instructions/dp/1584796804/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1361762611&sr=8-1&keywords=knitting+for+baby

I can let someone have it for the price of shipping as I am done with it. I dislike crocheting which is why I never recommend it.

[rainbownurse]

I am with heyitskalista on this one. Youtube taught me how to crochet and how to read patterns. Mikeys mail has really great crochet tutorials on you tube. 

[wrenmoon]

If you're going to go online I would start cruising free patterns, there are zillions out there. Knitty.com, Ravelry etc. just google free knitting patterns, get a cup of tea and warm up your printer. They even have stitch dictionaries. The library is a great place to start too.

I used to teach knitting at Michaels and I used to have people start with washcloths. There's little time commitment and material involved and you can practice different stitches.

More advice for the beginning knitter, get thee to your nearest little yarn shop and ask for help there. I used to drop in when I hit a part of a pattern I didnt understand and there was always someone to talk me through it...you can then browse the patterns and pat the nice little yarn piles. They probably have a knitting group that meets at night. Ravelry also has a listing of local groups that meet.

Good luck everyone! I wish I could just host a class!

Edited to correct pregnancy brain mistakes.

[Mavis]

I learned to knit with the Stitch n' Bitch book when my son was a toddler.

Last night I made the mistake of going to the Drops free knitting pattern website. So many adorable things.