I have been creating things for other people’s children for so long, years and years. All my nieces, all my friend’s children, all decked out in handmade clothes, crocheted creations, birthday and Christmas gifts all made by yours truly. Now I have my very own little person to shower with handmade creations – look out! Obviously, most of my crocheting hours were done pre-Eleanor when I was pregnant and had that precious thing called ‘time’ up my sleeve! Nowadays I’ll grab some time crocheting at night once she’s gone to sleep, or if I’m lucky during the day if she’s napping and I’ve miraculously done all the washing.
We’re enjoying using the pastel hexagon blanket I made when I was pregnant, my ‘if it’s a girl’ option. Well, turns out it was a girl, a little chubby munchkin who likes to kick and play on the blanket on the lounge room floor under her play gym. The blanket is quite heavy, not one for snuggling really, so is perfect as a floor rug for her rather than one we use as bedding. Plus, it makes for a most excellent photo backdrop…
Hats have also been on my hook, although my mum has been busily knitting Eleanor lots of hats and booties and cardigans so I haven’t had the chance to make much for her! She also has an enormous head circumference (off the charts, above 100th percentile) so we’ve had to make her 6-12 month sizes! She was missing a cream hat in her repertoire and I just love this colour purple on her…
This cardigan pattern is my all time favourite to make for babies, so Eleanor definitely needed one. I especially like making it without the sleeves for little girls. I used some Cascade 220 peachy-pink coloured yarn I had, along with Attic24’s rosette and leaf pattern. As the weather is warming up and I’m not dressing Eleanor in seventeen thousand layers this little shurg/cardi is perfect just over a long sleeved jumpsuit (and her favourite minty leggings of course)…
I wanted to crochet a special friend for Eleanor, a little comfort toy she might eventually go to bed with. She received so many beautiful toys from friends and family, but I wanted her to have something just from me, made especially for her. I found this cute pattern on Ravelry and again using Cascade 220 (left over grey, pink and white from the hexagon blanket) I made ‘Millie the Mouse’. I’m not a big one to crochet toys, or anything other than hats or blankets really, so I’m quite proud of Millie and pretty chuffed with how she turned out. I hope Eleanor eventually learns to love her, at the moment she’s quite ambivalent about her!
The beginnings of I’m sure a lifetime crocheting little creations for my girl, but for now the crochet hook might get a little breather as (hopefully!) the weather warms up and I don’t need to dress Eleanor in head to toe Winter woolies – although that has been quite cute while she’s been so little, we’re looking forward to shorts sleeves and bare pudgy feet!
Do you have any favourite crochet creations that I should be creating for Eleanor?
Or knitting for that matter? Grandi is quite the knitting demon for our blossom!
sharon says
I still haven’t taught myself to crochet….
Emma says
What are you waiting for?! Get to it…
Kathy says
You certainly are very busy with the crochet hook for your beautiful little girl. Regards Kathy A, Brisbane
Andrea Hall says
Hi Emma, such beautiful creations. I am a fellow new crocheter and can get lost on ravelry for hours. As I am a Brisbanite I am lucky enough to visit the beautiful Tangled Yarns store in New Farm. Kelly has so much fabulous yarn and beautiful ideas galore. She fills online orders for folks…wonderful if you live interstate! I think you would enjoy her newsletter every Friday where she talks patterns and displays finished pieces made by not only herself but other store followers. I wait for her newsletter every Friday afternoon…it’s quite the fix.
What a beautiful and happy baby you have.
Congratulations.
Andrea
Marly says
Love Millie the mouse 🙂 I might look the pattern up to make for my little one.
My mum and nan are the knitters, and they made gorgeous cardigans, hats and booties for my baby girl (she’s 3 weeks on Friday). Every time we kea be the house she is wearing one. I crochet, but haven’t had the chance.. I think next winter I will make a few things. I sew and smock, so the christening gown and smocked summer dresses are on my mind right now.
Eleanor is growing beautifully.. Love her smile 🙂 I am sure I got a smile from my baby yesterday, but perhaps it is wishful thinking this early 🙂
Emma says
Oh smocking! I’d love to know how to smock! My mum does so I might put her to work for some special summer dresses. Eleanor started smiling and even laughing at 3 weeks so don’t be surprised if your little one is giving you grins!
Marly says
I thought I wasn’t imagining it… I ran my hand across her cheek and neck as I went to pick her up and I got a big smile. Didn’t think it was wind!! Smocking is beautiful… It’s not hard to learn, get your mum to teach you 🙂
Prue says
I have to admit that it was seeing your crochet skills develop over the last few years that motivated me to learn to crochet myself. This post has re-motivated me to get cracking and a) finish the projects I have on my hook now, including a baby jacket for my sister’s little girl who arrived early, and b) start planning some delicious things for my own baby due next autumn. So many ideas…
Autumn/winter, what better time for a crocheter’s baby to arrive?!
Emma says
It’s been a steep learning curve! To begin with it takes such patience and perseverance, but I love that I stuck to it and learnt a new skill – good for the mind! I’m liking challenging myself with projects I wouldn’t normally do too, like Millie the mouse. I too have about seventy thousand projects all unfinished, don’t worry 😉
Emma says
Oh and congratulations on the impending bambino! I am quite partial to a colder months babe 🙂