The Granny Square Blanket is Done

The squares have been put together and an edge added and we have a baby blanket.

 Sewing the blocks is not really my favorite but it is a great way to use up scrap yarn.  I can never decide how to sew the blocks together.  On this blanket I used a mattress method which I find very time consuming but the stitches are hidden.

 The edge is another troublesome decision for me.  But, at last, I have found an edge that is not only super easy but quick.  Single crochet your initial stitch, ch 2 (this represents your first dc), sc in the next stitch, dc in next stitch, sc in the next stitch, dc in next stitch, etc., etc.  How easy is that.

Delivery to Cooper

For some reason, I always seem to be one day behind.  Yesterday morning, DH and I made the July 4th/Summer delivery to Cooper.  It is always for rewarding to make this delivery.

Babies are so precious and sick babies are beyond precious.  They are exceptionally helpless and depend on others.  The sad part is that there is so many of these precious babies.  On another note, I stopped for a few days from working on my squares but today I am starting up again.  Hopefully with a few days, I will be posted the finished blanket.

Yarn Scraps

I actually did this post a couple of days ago but I couldn't wait to show you my progress on my squares so I jumped that post ahead of his one.

What do you do with the yarn you have left over from a project especially the small pieces that you cannot possibly make anything even a preemie hat.  How about keeping the different yarn weights separate and tying the scrap pieces together to make a large ball.

 You can make a blanket with it or for a faster way to use it up is to make blanket edgings.  A quick baby blanket is to take a yard of fleece (60" wide) and cut it in half which will give you a 30" x 36" blanket, round the corners, make holes around the edge and crochet an edge.



  I do the edge with a single crochet in the hole and a sc between the holes using a size "H" hook.  I love making blankets like this.  It is so fast.  My method for making the holes is using a skip-stitch rotary blade.  http://www.skipstitch.com/products.htm

Another Way To Use Scrap Yarn

My DD had a picnic yesterday with her friends and a whole lot of kids.  Grammy is going to sit on the sidelines and watch.  Children have sooo much energy and not a care in the world.  While I am watching, I am sewing crochet squares.  Lizzy from the Caring For Cooper groups sent me squares. 

 So, here is two more ways to use left over yarn:  squares and yarn to sew them together. 

Don't forget you will need yarn for the finishing edge.  On the web, there are tons of sites for patterns for squares.  If anyone would like to share, I would be more than happy to post.

I finished half the basic blanket just by sitting at a party and watching the children play.  How easy is that....

Thanks, Lizzy.

What Happened to Feb, Mar, Apr and May?

It is very hard for me to believe that I have not posted since January.  The delivery for Valentine's Day and Spring have been made for Cooper Hospital.  I am getting ready for the Summer delivery.  Though I have not written, I have been busy knitting, crocheting and sewing. 

My dear friends from the Caring For Cooper group have been ill.  Ginnie had a stroke and Dianne is being treated for cancer.  The last time I heard from Dianne was after Ginnie had the stroke.  Ginnie was going to be transferred to a rehab center but Dianne didn't know when or where.  Dianne has had some bad reactions to her chemo therapy so I can only assume that she is not feeling up to writing.

I have joined the AC4C yahoo group.  Ginnie was a very active member in this group.  She was so active that the group has dedicated a month of crafts for Cooper Hospital.  I want to keep Ginnnie's legacy to that group and what a nice group they area.

In the meantime, my DH had a heart attack.  For almost a month, I was unable to craft anything since he required full attention.  He is on the mend and I have started this week getting back to my beloved creating for charity.

I have a few tidbits to share and will hopefully be able to post faithfully.

Patterns for Newborn or Preemie Clothes

Since I have switched from knitting to sewing, I have been searching for patterns.  I've been searching the internet, ebay, craigslist, etsy and other sites.  Just to go to the store and buy patterns can be very expensive.  I would rather invest my monies on fabric than patterns.  I also look for ease.  I want to sew as much as I can in the shortest period of time.  I feel the same with knitting.  I want to start a pattern and be done with it and go on to the next project. 

I found a great sewing pattern.  First of all, it is for preemies (rare) and newborns.  And then, each piece contains two - four pieces......how nice is that.  I bought it from an Etsy vendor and it is a new/old pattern.  I am very excited about this pattern.  The pattern is Simplicity #7418 and has a date of 1996.  This pattern even has a santa sleeper outfit.  How exciting is that?????

It's Off To Work

Even though it did snow in New Jersey, not so much at the shore.  I have a 60 mile commute to work.  When I started off today, it was raining.  By the time I got to work there was 2 -3 inches of snow but the commute was not bad.  So, no sewing today.

I was checking out the internet for fabric.  I never dreamt that finding cute cotton interlock would be so hard.  I discovered a nice selection of knits by an individual who has a shop on line.  Her shop is called "LilBaby Thangs" but the actual site is at http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&seller_id=22461&op=new&body=1  It is a tad confusing but check it out.  I had to order some fabric. LOL LOL  I keep forgetting my promise not to buy fabric.  LOL LOL LOL

Is Winter Ever Going To Be Over?

Weather forecasters are calling for more snow tonight.  The only thing I can hope for is that I don't go to work because I can sew all day.  Yeah!!!!!!  But there is a forecast for a really big snow storm on Monday night.  Yikes!!!!  I have all the bibs and burb cloths cut out.  St. Patrick's fabric hasn't arrived yet.  If it is waiting for me when I get home from work and I am off tomorrow.  I will just have to cut out more bibs and burp cloths.

Holiday Fabrics

Of course, after my sewing class on Saturday, I had to look and touch the new fabric for Valentine's Day.  Who cannot resist fabric?????

Aren't these gorgeous.  It is icy, snowy and rainy today in New Jersey.  I took a day off from work and all I can think about are these fabrics.  How cute will they look as burb cloths, bibs and isolette blankets.   Then I started thinking about St. Patrick's Day.  My fabric shop didn't have any.  I just had to have some so the internet search was on.  I found these cuties at Joanne's.  http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog/category.jsp;jsessionid=7949CAF9C44DE63A4142EEE63B3953D0.a2p1?_DARGS=/joann/catalog/narrowselection.jsp.narrowresults1

                   

I forgot to almost say what I made at my sewing class on Saturday.  It was a clean up day.  I had a lot of things cut out, close openings, do decorative top stitching and finish up loose ends.  I never sewed with interlocking knits or really any baby apparel fabrics.  This sleeper was started last June for the July 4th delivery and I never finished it.  The ribbing terrified me.  My teacher finally said enough, sat me down and taught me how to do the ribbing.  It isn't that hard.  I think she started a ribbing monster. LOL LOL LOL.  Here is the little sleeper and I have three more cut out.

Notice the snaps.  I love using my KAM snap press.

Knitting For Adults versus Babies

I can't believe how I am struggling with making adult hats.  The baby hats have long been in production so I can eyeball the size.  But adult hats to me are huge.  I am making a plain hat, 12 rows of 2x2 ribbing and I either take the ribbing all the way up or change to stockinette stitch.  When I think I am not going to have enough yarn, at the end of the ribbing, I add about 5 rows of a different color.  I like this look and I get to use up every piece of yarn.  With my first hat, after the different color band (approx 17 rows), I finished the hat with another 5 inches of knitting.  Holy Moley!!!  When DH tried it on, it barely covered his ears.  DH is a medium size man.  I was shocked because I thought it was huge.  I am now bringing the hat up 6 to 7 inches past my color band.  This fits DH perfectly and if it is too big, it can be folded up and still look good.  I am finally happy with the result and getting use to the size.  I am using Knitpicks, Wool of the Andes, Worsted.  I probably could use a little heavier weight but this is the yarn I have in my stash and it will keep someone's head warm.

Happy New Year

The holidays are over.  The largest delivery to Cooper has been made.  I am over my bad cold.  I have taken a couple of weeks off to get everything organized and figure out what needs to be made for who.  I have a Valentine's Hat on the knitting needles.  Flannel blankets are needed so the serger has been moved out of the closet.  Tomorrow I will be back to work.