Sorellina baby blanket.

This blanket has a story. The  original baby blanket in the first photo was the one I made for my youngest daughter: the Sorellina (little sister) for my two older children who were 18 and 14 when she was born! 
It was the one I used for her baptism. The height of my knitting skill at the time. Seemed to be the never-ending project but I did eventually finish it in time! 
Unfortunately years later I lent it to another baby and it was carelessly lost. Sad about that. 

Now I have finally made another one. Also in cotton exactly the same pattern. The stitch pattern is the Snowdrop design. A symbol of new life and hope.

This is the design!

Notions:

200 g Mondial cablè 5 cotton

Needles: US 2.5/ 3mm. 

Darning needle.

Difficulty:

Gauge: 3 pattern repeats by 5 pattern repeats = 4  inches.

Abbreviations:

Co: cast on.

Bo: bind off.

K: knit

P: purl

St-stitch: Sts- stitches

K2 tog: Knit two stitches together as one stitch.

Ssk: Slip, slip, knit, slip 2 stitches and knit them together.

Yo: yarn over

S1, k2tog, psso: Slip 1, knit 2sts together and pass slipped stitch over.

(Double decrease)

Cast on 195 sts.

Work 14 rows garter stitch. Slip first stitch on all rows.

1: (S1 k10) K1, *yo, s1, k2tog, psso, yo, k5. Repeat from * to last 4sts, yo,

s1, k2tog, psso, yo, k1. (k11)

2: (S1 k10) Purl. (k11)

3: As row 1.

4: (S1 k10) Purl. (k11)

5: (S1 k10) K1, *k3, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo. Repeat from * to last 4sts, k4. 

(k11)

6: (S1 k10) Purl. (k11)

7: (S1 k10) K1, *yo, s1, k2tog, psso, yo, k1. Repeat from * to last 4sts, yo, 

s1, k2tog, psso, yo, k1.(k11)

8: (S1 k10) Purl. (k11)

Repeat these 8 rows for 30 times or to the length you prefer.

Work 14 rows garter stitch. Bind off loosely.

Weave in yarn ends.

 Hope you like it!

Baby Things.

I have been knitting several baby things recently neglecting my doll knitting. 
I decided to create a new baby blanket design for my soon-to-arrive granddaughter who will be called Vittoria. 

I wanted a pattern which was easy to remember with purl rest rows. The traditional tilting blocks pattern I like but in the garter block version, not the stockinette one. However that has both knit and purl on the wrong side so I set to to work to change the garter stitch blocks to make them into purl garter stitch blocks! A little bit of math and it gave an easy-peasy shawl to make which looks pretty!

I have written my version down and published it as a free pattern on Ravelry: Vittoria. It seems to be quite popular so far.

At the moment all my babyblanket patterns are free. 


I also did some sewing. I found the cutest quited Teddy Bear design fabric and made a small quilt. I bound it in a matching fabric and also made a sheet and pillowcase. A bag to hold it all and I was pleased with the results. I managed to do the mitered corners and a nice well sewn binding on the quilt.

I have enough fabric left to make another one so I will make one sometime for someone who will appreciate it. It worked out quite expensive to make, the fabric wasn't cheap.

Handmade unfortunately doesn't equate cheapness as some people think it does!

Now I have a matching bolero to finish for my Granddaughter and some mitts for my youngest DD and then it will be back to my dolls and patterns once more!
My dolls are always happy to have new clothes and never protest no matter how many times they have to try things on! Lol!

Three blankets

Just three of her baby blankets.

Grandma's Darling

     Grandma's Darling!

     It seems almost impossible that my DGD will be one this week!  Last year at this time I was busy finishing a babyblanket for her, which had been a last minute decision. I finished it and rinsed it one evening and the baby was born the next day way before the due date!
     So many things have happened in a year and now she is a smiley toddler with a will of her own. Time flies!
     The blanket I designed especially for this first Grandchild was already waiting long before. I spent a lot of time looking through stitch directories and taking notes, calculating stitch counts and finally decided to make it based on the old traditional "Frozen leaves" stich pattern which can be traced back to the 18th century. Old things continuing into new life!
     If you would like to make your own version of this design you can find it in my Ravelry shop. It is a free pattern. It has both written and charted instructions and, as always, has been testknit. You do have to sign in to ravelry I think but that is well worth it for anyone who loves knitting. It is a completely free site.
     This blanket  is called "Grandma's Darling" I am sure all Grandmas will understand just how much love goes into planning and knitting something like this for a new baby!

     I am lucky to live near enough to my DGD to see her frequently as she grows. I was many miles from my own family when my kids were small.