Something needed & more for Charity

A very short-notice make for me recently! When I picked Jack up from my mum's on Thursday, she told me that Jack had to go to nursery on Friday, either in fancy-dress or wearing something spotty.

We had neither! And no time (or money) to go out and buy something, so I raided my stash adn came up with this:


A spotty waistcoat!

I've also been knitting and crocheting more stuff for Lisa's Stars. Heres a few of the crocheted bonnets I've done:



~Jenny~

Eyelet Hat Pattern

And another!

Eyelet Hat



This pattern is knitted in the round on DPNs and if you're comfortable using them, the hat is a fast knit (with no seams to sew at the end!)

There's no need to worry about gauge as premature babies are all different, whatever your gauge, your finished hat will fit an angel.

Materials:

Baby DK yarn (in your choice of colour)
1 set 4mm DPNs
Yarn needle


Directions:

Cast on 36 sts, place 12sts on each needle.

Join the round, being careful not to twist the stitches as you do. You can, if you wish, place a stitch marker at the beginning of the round but I just the tail from casting on as a marker.


Round 1: (K1, P1) around

Repeat this pattern until piece measures just over 1cm (1/2")

Next 3 rounds: Knit all stitches

Next Round (K2, yo, K2tog) around

Next 2 rounds: Knit all stitches

Next round: (yo, K2tog, K2) around

Next 2 rounds: Knit all stitches

Next Round (K2, yo, K2tog) around

Next rounds: Knit all stitches until piece measures 5cm (2")

Next round: (K2, K2tog) around

Next round: Knit all stitches

Next round: (K1, K2tog) around

Next round: (K2tog) around

Next round: K1, K2tog around

Cut yarn leaving a 15cm tail. Thread tail through yarn needle, slip remaining stitches onto it, then pull tightly. Weave in ends.

Pattern for Plain Hat with Ribbed edge

Finally got around to writing another pattern up!

Plain Hat

Plain Hat with Ribbed Cuff

This pattern is knitted in the round on DPNs and if you're comfortable using them, the hat is a fast knit (with no seams to

sew at the end!)

There's no need to worry about gauge as premature babies are all different, whatever your gauge, your finished hat will fit

an angel.

Materials:

Baby DK yarn (in your choice of colour)
1 set 4mm DPNs
Yarn needle


Directions:

Cast on 36 sts, place 12sts on each needle.

Join the round, being careful not to twist the stitches as you do. You can, if you wish, place a stitch marker at the beginning of the round but I just the tail from casting on as a marker.


Round 1: (K2, P2) around

Repeat this pattern until piece measures just over 1cm (1/2")

Next round: Knit all stitches

Repeat this pattern until piece measures 5cm (2")

Next round: (K2, K2tog) around

Next round: Knit all stitches

Next round: (K1, K2tog) around

Next round: (K2tog) around

Next round: K1, K2tog around

Cut yarn leaving a 15cm tail. Thread tail through yarn needle, slip remaining stitches onto it, then pull tightly. Weave in ends.

Ribbed Hat Pattern

This is the first pattern I've ever written, so I hope it's ok and reads easily.

Ribbed Hat



This pattern is knitted in the round on DPNs and if you're comfortable using them, the hat is a fast knit (with no seams to sew at the end!)

There's no need to worry about gauge as premature babies are all different, whatever your gauge, your finished hat will fit.

Materials:
Baby DK yarn (in your choice of colour)
1 set 4mm DPNs
Yarn needle

Directions:
Cast on 36 sts, place 12sts on each needle.

Join the round, being careful not to twist the stitches as you do. You can, if you wish, place a stitch marker at the beginning of the round but I just the tail from casting on as a marker.

Round 1: (K2, P1) around

Repeat this pattern until piece measures 5cm (2")

Next round: (K2, K2tog) around

Next round: Knit all stitches

Next round: (K1, K2tog) around

Next round: (K2tog) around

Next round: K1, K2tog around

Cut yarn leaving a 15cm tail. Thread tail through yarn needle, slip remaining stitches onto it, then pull tightly. Weave in ends.

A Good Cause

Well, recently I've been spending most of my time knitting or crocheting for a wonderful cause; Lisa's Stars.

It's a group which has been set up to make a difference to all the mummys and daddys out there who have lost a baby too early.

Here's the group description:

"A group of caring, clever ladies making hats, blankets etc for tiny premature babies who are born asleep. We want to supply a local hospital with a stock of basics so no baby is left naked or in very ill fitting clothes. Every baby deserves dignity and every parent should be able to remember their angel baby dressed and warm and cosy."

And here's a link to the Facebook group:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_104899266243050&ref=notif&notif_t=group_activity#!/pages/Lisas-Stars/159738440713941

It really is an incredible campaign and one very worthy of support.

So far, I have made 3 blankets (2 crocheted & 1 knitted):

And 10 hats (all knitted):

I struggle coming to terms with new patterns so I decided it would be quicker to create my own (particulary for the hats) so no worries about tension then either! I'll be posting my patterns as soon as I've written them up, so that more people can use them if they so wish.

~Jenny~

2 things finished

I've started lots of new projects recently (I just keep seeing things I have to make!) but I've got a couple of things finished.

A unisex taggie square:

And a crocheted moses basket blanket:

I've got so many other things on the go, I don't know which to work on first!

~Jenny~

I'm Back, woohoo!

Over 2 months without a single post! Eek!

I'll blame the fact that we've moved house though...it's been totally chaotic and we're only just getting on top of things.

I've not actually finished much stuff recently (again, the new house's fault) but I'm just getting started again.

The only thing I have done in the gap is make some cupcakes...yum!


~Jenny~

Transferring things over

Well the first few posts on this blog will simply be my old posts from Cherry Tree Baby...I know I could have just changed the name of the old blog but I wanted to make the URL match too and just couldn't figure out if you could even do it!

Sleeping Bag!

I got fed up of trying to find a lightweight sleeping bag for Charlie and if he doesn't wear one at night he gets his legs stuck in the cot bars :o(

So....I made one! And here it is:I just used another sleeping bag as a template and used resin snaps for fastening (might try one with a zip next!)

~Jenny~

Bunting

Well, I've finished the bunting for Charlie's new room (really anxious to get a moving date now!) and here it is:
Close-up:

I think it'll look better on the cream walls in his new room, but you get the idea...

~Jenny~

Seed Beading

Now I know it's not baby-related in the slightest but I've been having a go at seed beading! I went to a craft workshop with a couple of friends and learnt all about it.

I wasn't very good to start with, in fact I had to frog it completely when I attempted my first flower but I eventually got the hang of it and here are the results:



And a close-up of the detail:



I really enjoyed the workshop and would recommend them to anyone wanting to try a new craft!


~Jenny~

Appliqué Cushion

I've just finished a cushion for Charlie, I'm really pleased with how it's turned out as it's my first attempt at appliqué.
It should go nicely with the bunting I'm working on...

~Jenny~

Going Well!

Well, I guess my sister's friend really liked her nappy cake as she's just asked me to make one exactly the same but in blue for one of her friends!

Just need to buy some blue booties and I can get it finished!

I've also been working on some bunting for Charlie's new room (we're moving house soon...just waiting for a completion date!) I'll post a picture when it's finished!

~Jenny~

New Nappy Cake

Well, here's the 'medium-sized' nappy cake that I made for my sister (well, for her friend iykwim)
I've not made this size before, it contains:

• Size 1 nappies
• Hat
• Booties
• Johnson's Baby Lotion
• Johnson's Talc
• Winne-the-Pooh Brush & Comb set
• 1 pair of scratch mitts
• Cuddly toy

I really like how this one turned out, especially the use of an oversized base (it actually looks like it's a cake on a plate!)

I'm currently working on some Bandana Bibs, so will post a picture when I'm done.

~Jenny~

Back on Track

Well, after the disappointment of the craft fair I've been feeling a bit down about my crafts (thinking nobody likes them etc.) but I'm feeling more optimistic again!

My sister has already bought 2 nappy cakes from me (a large and a small) and wants me to make a medium-sized one this week too!

I've also found loads of new things I want to try...

~Jenny~

Disappointed :o(

So the craft fair didn't go too well :o(

I only sold 2 items...a crocheted hat and a mini-nappycake...and one of those was to a friend!! I didn't even make enough profit to cover the cost of the table.

Oh well, hopefully I'll be able to to sell them online (really need to make my money back now!)

Here's a picture of the stall (which I think looks ok):


And here are some pictures of the big nappy cakes:

I really do hope someone buys them!

~Jenny~

Progress...with pictures!

I've got a few things finished recently...had a bit of spare time so decided to do some finishing, rather than starting something new!

This is Billy Bunny...

These are a couple of the 'mini' nappy cakes for the craft fair...






Some knitted booties...



And a crocheted hat...

I'm particularly pleased with the hat as I came up with the pattern myself and I've never crocheted a flower before!

I have a few more nappy cakes and hats that I've not taken photos of yet. Oh, and 1 bandana bib...it's a little on the small side though, so I'm going to adjust the sizing before making any more!

Still to do:

• Finish remainder of mini nappy cakes
• Finish 3-tier nappy cakes (3 of these to do!)
• Finish knitting blue booties
• Knit at least 2 more pairs of booties!
• Attach flowers to 2 crocheted hats
• Crochet at least 5 more hats (thankfully these are the quickest things I make)
• Make some bandana bibs
• Make some taggies

Phew! And all that to be done in time for the craft fair (24th Arpil...eek!!)

~Jenny~

New Signature

Just want to test out my new signature!

Oh, and I've almost finished a toy bunny

Bandana Bibs

I've decided to try making some Bandana Style Bibs...

The first one has been handsewn (not quite got the hang of my sewing machine yet!) and looks very cute, although it's a little on the small side. I'm going to add velcro to this one (should be good for small babies) and then I'll take a picture of it to put on here.

I've decided for any future ones, I'm going to make them a little bit bigger and use poopers as a fastener (to stop little munchkins pulling them off midway through dinner!)

~Jenny~

A New Blog for a New Start

Well, I thought I'd start a blog for, what I'm hoping, will be the start of something new for me :o)

I've been asked to run a craft stall at a fair that my friend has organised and I'm going to be selling "baby stuff" - great description, I know!

Here's a couple of examples of the things I make:


I'm hoping this could be a great start to making "baby stuff"


~Jenny~