crochet show & tell: baby blankets

When I was born my Nana crocheted me a beautiful yellow blanket (they didn't know if I was a boy or girl) I grew up with that blanket. It wrapped me in the love of my family. Comforted me when I was sad. Protected me in the middle of the night when I was scared. It was a cape, a tent, even a Christmas tree skirt a few years and so many other things. I kept it on my bed most of the time and it never really left the house. That blanket survived 25 years and many repairs till it was just too far gone. I got rid of it only a few months before I got married.

I loved my blanket. It was very special to me and even though I don't have it anymore I have wonderful memories of it. That is what I want to give when I make a baby blanket for someone I love. Something special they can hold onto for years and make memories like I did. I can just picture Little L running around the house with his blanket cape flapping in the wind. Or Little Z building a tent and crawling under with his books and a flashlight. I make all the blankets about 3' by 4' a good toddler size so they can grow with it.

Making a baby blanket for someone I love makes me so extremely happy. It is also extremely emotionally draining for me. I put my heart and soul and usually some tears into them. It is difficult because I can't wait to make a blanket for my own child. Have them experience the comfort and all the fun things I remember.


The first baby blanket I made was back in May for my Best Cousin T's baby shower. She is like me. We really appreciate hand made things and even more if they were made by someone we cared about. She had said to me once that she wished Momma could still crochet so I knew she would love a blanket for her baby. I chose a pastel blue because she was going with blue and green for Little L's nursery. She was so surprised! I think what made it even more special is that I made my first blanket for my Godson. He uses it all the time.

Piggies in a blanket! I just love when they stretch their toes out all funny!

The second blanket I made was in July for my Bestie N. Her and her Hubby lovingly call it the "Blanket of Epic Deceit". I didn't tell N that I was crocheting again and she had no idea I already made a blanket for T. While N and I were out shopping I asked her to stop by the craft store with me. I told her I decided to surprise T with a blanket for newborn Little L and I needed help picking out yarn. N was having a blast putting together colors she loved and thought T would like too. Little did she know she picked out the yarn for her own blanket LOL! Over the next month I crocheted the blanket right in front of N. She kept telling me how beautiful it was and how T was going to love it! Boy was she surprised when she opened it at her shower! She couldn't stop crying. They have wrapped Little Z in the blanket since the day he came home from the hospital. It is so great getting text pics of him and his blanket every once in a while.

Do you see the pink and other specks in the white? N loved it even for a boy. I think it is cool too!

The most recent blanket I made for my Cousin V. I love her and wanted to make her a blanket, but I was in a pretty bad place and was still kinda upset from our August visit. To make it easier on me I kinda separated myself from the blanket. I didn't pick the colors and it wasn't a surprise. In October when we visited again I told V how I wanted to make her one and it would be a great help if she could pick out the colors. I don't know why, but doing that helped me a ton. I was able to make the blanket and not get as upset. I didn't actually make it till December. Her shower was 2 weeks ago. She loved it and was still surprised even thought she knew she was getting it. I can't wait to get a pic of her baby boy and the blanket.

V likes a more modern look and she actually painted the nursery gray. For the blanket she chose Gray, Navy blue (looks black in the pic), Green and Orange. Sorry for the bad camera phone pic. I forgot to take a pic before I left so she texted me this pic.

After I take a little break I will be starting another blanket to give away to my friend B. This will be #4. I'm still a little upset, but I am excited at the same time. I don't think B has any idea I still crochet so she will be very surprised to get a blanket. I just have to wait and see if they find out the sex and see what colors they are picking for the nursery before I start.