Babies Everywhere!

There are an impressive number of new additions coming to my extended family this summer and fall. I'm first - due in early June with my second boy, and then we've got another boy coming in June, 2 boys in July, a baby in August, twins in September (if she can keep them in that long!), baby in October, and two in November. Wow! So, all this babiness warrants some off Etsy projects for my cousins and sister in laws! Of course, should you fall in love, I'll be happy to make something and put it on Etsy for you. :o)

First up are big brother, little brother Raiders inspired hats for my cousin.
The black one is for a 7 year old and the grey for a 6 month old.

Next, my sister's best friend (and cousin's wife!) lives just 5 minutes away and is just 4 weeks behind me. We even go to the same clinics and have our appoinments usually a half hour apart. Its been fun to be pregnant at the same time. She choose the colors for her sweater.

Its a 6 month size and very warm and chunky, as its pretty tough still to find chocolate baby yarn. Even though it is SO CUTE!

The caterpillar hat was a surprise extra. I LOVE caterpillar hats.

Custom Sweater Set

I am one lucky crafter! A sweet fellow Etsian asked me to make a sweater set for her one year old, similar to the one in my shop. We choose a pink and lavender theme with white accents. It turned out so precious!
The set includes a matching sweater and hat with a rose that can button onto either piece. I really like the fan stitch I use in the girl version of the sweater.

The back of the sweater . . .

The sweater with the rose on it from the front . . .

And the cute hat with the rose on it!

Thanks for having me make this! I really enjoyed doing it and can't wait for it to get to you! Be sure to check out HER cute shop at http://tutubugs.etsy.com .

Pattern for my Striped Baby and Toddler Cardigans

I just wanted to share the pattern I re-did for my boy's sweaters! Hope you have fun trying it out! If you find mistakes, don't hesitate to let me know. Thanks!

Striped Crochet Baby or Toddler Cardigan

This is a raglan sweater that you work from the top down.

Materials: 2 (3) balls (180 yrds ea) of A, 1 ball of yarn B (I used a baby yarn - labeled 3. I think you could use something heavier or lighter. I'd just go down or up a hook size.)
Hook: F
Sizes: 3-9 months, 9-18 mo (in parentheses), 18- 24 months (in parentheses)
Dc decrease: YO, pullup a loop, draw through 2 loops, YO, draw up a loop in the next st, YO, draw through 2 loops, YO, draw through all three loops.
Gauge: 4 dc = 1”

Yoke:
1. With A, ch 45 (45, 51), turn.
Dc in 3rd ch from hook and next 4 (4, 5) ch, [2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc] in next chain [corner made], dc in next 7 (7, 8) ch, corner in next ch, dc in next 13 (13, 15) ch, corner in next ch, dc in next 7 (7, 8) ch, corner in next ch, dc in next 6 (6, 7) ch.
2. Ch 2 [always counts as dc], turn. *Dc in next dc and all dc’s to corner chs. 2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc in corner space.* Repeat between * 3 times more, dc in each dc to end of row. Draw B through last 2 loops of the last dc. Stop here for 3-9 month size.
For 9-18 mo size, repeat 2 once morebefore changing color. For 24 month size - Repeat step 2 twice more before changing color.
3. With B, ch 1, turn. Sc in first dc, ch 1, *[skip 1 dc, sc in next dc, ch 1] to corner space, ch 3, sc in next dc, ch 1.* Repeat between * 3 times more. [Skip next dc, sc in next dc, ch 1] to last dc. Sc in last dc. Fasten off B, do not turn.
4. Return to beginning of row just completed. Join A with sl st to first sc. Ch 1, sc in first sc. *[sc in ch 1 space, ch 1] to corner, [2 sc, ch 1, 2 sc] in 3 ch corner space, ch 1.* Repeat between * 3 times more. [sc in ch 1 space, ch 1] to end of row. Fasten off A, do not turn.
5. Return to beginning of row just completed. Join B with sl st to first sc. Ch 1, sc in first sc. *[ch 1, sc in ch 1 space] to corner, sc in first sc of corner, ch 3, sc in last sc of corner.* Repeat between * 3 times more. [ch 1, sc in ch 1 space] to end of row. Fasten off B, do not turn.
6. Return to beginning of row just completed. Join A with sl st to first sc, ch 2 [counts as dc]. *Dc in each ch 1 space and sc to corner 3 ch space. [2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc] in corner space.* Repeat between * 3 times more. Dc in each ch 1 space and sc to end of row.
7. Ch 2, turn. Dc in each dc, [2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc] in each 2 ch corner space to end of row.
Repeat rows 3 through 6.

Sleeves: (Do both alike.)
Fold yoke in half the long way (ends to long back) with right sides facing. Corner spaces should match – these are the armpits! Join A with slip st through both corner ch 2 spaces.
1. Ch 2, dc in corner space. Dc in each dc around sleeve to where you started. 2 dc in the corner space. Join with a sl stitch to 2nd ch.
2. Ch 2, turn. Dc in next dc, dc decrease across next next 2 dc, dc in each dc to last 4 dc, dc decrease across next 2 dc, dc in each of last 2 dc. Join with sl stitch to first dc.
Repeat row 2 6 (8, 10) times. Ch 2, turn. Dc in ea dc around. Repeat until the sleeve measures 7” (8.5", 10"). Fasten off.

Body:
With right side facing you and the cardigan upside down, join A to the top of first dc on the left front.
1. Ch 2, dc in each dc to corner at underarm. 2 dc in corner space, skip sleeve stitches, 2 dc in next corner space, dc in each dc to corner at underarm. 2 dc in corner space, skip sleeve stitches, 2 dc in next corner space, dc in each dc to end of row.
For 9 month size, ch 2, turn, and dc in each dc around. For 24 month size, ch 2, turn and dc in ea dc twice around.
2. Ch 1, turn. Sc in first dc, *ch 2, skip 2 dc, sc in next dc* to end of row.
3. Ch 2, turn. Dc in first sc. 3 dc in each ch 2 space across row. Dc in last sc, drawing other yarn color through last 2 loops.
Repeat rows 2 and 3, alternating A and B until the piece measures 7” (10”) from underarm.

Front Borders:
*NOTE: There will button holes on both the right and left side of the piece. This allows for either boy or girl placement and makes it really easy to tell where to place the buttons!
With right side facing, join B with sl stitch to top right of neck. Ch 1, sc in same place and down front edge, working 1 sc under bar of each dc and end of each sc row. Ch 1, turn. Sc in each sc to end of row. Ch 1, turn. Sc in first 2 sc, *ch 2, skip next 2 sc, sc in next 6 sc*. Repeat between * 3 (4) times. Sc to end of row. Ch 1, turn. Sc in each sc, 2 sc in each ch 2 space to end of row. Ch 1, turn. Sc in each sc to end of row. Fasten off.
Do the left side the same way, but don’t fasten off!

Neck Border:
Ch 1, turn and sc in each stitch across the front border, around the neck, and across the other front border. Ch 1, turn, and sc in each sc around. Fasten off.
Sleeve Borders:
Join B with a sl stitch to the top of last dc on the sleeve. Looking at the inside of the sleeve, sc in each dc around. Join to first sc with a sl stitch. Ch 1, turn. Sc in each sc around. Join to first sc with sl stitch. Fasten off. Repeat on other sleeve.

Buttons:
I used 1” buttons on my sweaters and found they were a good size.

Underground Crochet - a project NOT headed to Etsy!

Here they are! The sweaters I made for my baby boys! This one is Marshall's. It is a 2T size. I like that you don't have to stitch the pieces together - no scratchy seams!

These are the pictures I like best - the big brother and baby brother sweaters together!
I made Malcom's sweater a 3-6 month size. The arms may be a little long (Marshall has monkey arms like grandpa!), but it looks really cute with the sleeves cuffed, so I don't mind that.

Malcom's baby boy sweater. I made it a 3-6 month size because I'm due in June and summers are too hot for sweaters in Utah. Hopefully I sized everything so the boys can wear their sweaters together in October/November. :)

As I've mentioned before, I used a pattern I found for free from Bunny Hop yarn - but the pattern was pretty bad. Lots of mistakes and if I'd followed it, I would have gotten some strange pieces! If you want the pattern, let me know. I'll write you a revised version. I'm considering adding a few patterns to my Etsy shop and this would be good practice! I'm also considering messing with the pattern some more (so as not to cause copyright issues and increase the cuteness) and listing a couple in the shop. Do you think people would like it? I have some girl yarn that would be cute and the other baby I'm making one for is a boy! Thanks for taking a look! I'll post pictures of my monsters in them in the fall!

Ultrasound Announcement and Current Project

I'm having a baby . . . . BOY!
My hubby really wanted a girl, but I thought a brother would be more fun for Marshall (not that I don't want a girl . . . definately have the fingers crossed for #3!). Well, we're going to have a Malcom sometime between June 6 and 13th! (Our Dr. gave us a range instead of a date . . . I love him!)

SO, lately, while I have been putting items in the shop, I've mostly been working on a pair of matching sweaters for my little guys. I made Marshall's a 2T size and Malcom's will hopefully be about 3-6 month size. If all goes as planned, they'll be able to wear them at the same time in the fall. I got the pattern off Ravelry, and its a freebie from yarn, but its TERRIBLY written. I really had to tweak it to make it turn out like I wanted, so if you want the pattern, let me know and I'll try to write up an "improved" version for you. :) I'll post pictures as soon as Malcom's is done.