Premature Baby Jackets

I enjoyed making these cute little premature baby jackets.

 

Mayflower's Sunday Best Jacket

the pattern can be found on the Loving Hands website

 

This version is my own adaptation ..... I wanted to keep the original design but alter it a little. I get bored if I knit the same thing over and over !

 

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/marianna-mel/mayflowers-sunday-best-jacket

 

 

 

 

I have knitted and donated loads of premature baby items over the past couple of years.

Today I joined in with a new group ~ Guardian Grandmas. I am not a Grandma but that's OK ...... honorary Grandmas are allowed !!!

 

 

 

  'The guardian grandmas' are a group of caring ladies who crochet hats, blankies and cocoons for babies. 

Both preemie and regular sized baby items are accepted.

more information at - http://hooksandyarns.blogspot.co.uk/p/guardian-grandmas.html

 

 

August is almost over already. Two thirds of the year is already gone.

And I have so many projects still at the planning stage.

There are just not enough crafting hours in the day .........

 

 

 

I was featured at ~

 

 

 

 

Garter Stitch Ridge Baby Mittens

I really love these cute little baby mittens.



These are made for charity - but they would make a great little baby shower gift. They are fast to make, and look great in a wide variety of colour combinations.

What a great way to use up small amounts of yarn left over from other projects.



http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/easy-knit-baby-mittens

Garter Stitch Ridge Baby Mittens

Requirements:

DK yarn in two colours which look good together

4mm knitting needles

Size

Length:  4.5", 11.5cm
Width:    5", 13cm all around 

Pattern:

Make 2 mittens.

Using 4mm needles and main colour cast on 29sts.

Work  18 rows in k1, p1 rib

Add in second colour

(do not cut off the first colour, simply carry it loosely up the side and use as required)

*  Using second colour work 4 rows in stocking stitch (1 row knit, 1 row purl)

Using first colour  knit 2 rows *

Repeat from * to * twice more

Using second colour work 2 rows in stocking stitch

Shape top

Next Row:  K1, s1, K1, psso, k9, k2 tog, k1, s1, k1, psso, k9, k2tog, k1   (25sts)

Next Row:  Purl across row

Continue in first colour only

Next Row:  K1, s1, k1, psso, k7, k2 tog, k1, s1, k1, psso, k7, k2tog, k1

Knit 3 rows

Next Row:  K1, s1, k1, psso, k5, k2 tog, k1, s1, k1, psso, k5, k2 tog, k1    (17sts)

Cast off.

Join top and side seam.  Darn away ends.

Decorate with a little ribbon bow or a pretty flower if desired.

You might also like to make a matching hat and bootees ........

instructions here ~ 

http://mariannaslazydaisydays.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/garter-stitch-ridge-baby-set.html

Sweet Little Purse Bag

This cute little purse bag is a quick and easy gift idea – perfect for a little girl.  Why not put some sweets or chocolate inside?

sweet little purse bag

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sweet-little-purse-bag 

 

Little Purse Bag

Requirements:

 

DK yarn in two colours which look good together

 

4mm and 6mm needles

 

 Pattern:

 

The main part of the bag is made from 2 strands of DK yarn knitted together.

Using 6mm needles cast on 20sts.

Work  20 rows in stocking stitch ( 1row knit, 1 row purl).

Knit 2 rows.

Work 20 rows in stocking stitch (1row knit, 1 row purl).

Cast off.

Sew both side seams.

For the handle use one strand of DK yarn.

Using 4mm needles cast on 3sts.

Knit 90 rows in garter stitch (every row knit).

Cast off

Sew the handle on to the bag securely. Darn away ends.

Add a pretty flower.

 

 

 

I designed this little crochet flower a few days ago - and I love making them!

The instructions are on an earlier post http://mariannaslazydaisydays.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/mariannas-little-crochet-flower.html

 

Crochet Doily

Today I made a pretty little doily.



I was having a tidy up in the attic and I discovered a box of crochet cottons in a variety of colours and thicknesses. It took me right back into my past.

I lived in Portugal and Spain for about 7 years and I used to love to sit in the sun and crochet the afternoons away. I bought lots of pattern design books and magazines and, as most of the instructions were in chart form, I seemed to have unlimited inspiration.

 

I made no end of doilies, runners, small tablecloths, even edgings for towels and bedding. How I wish I had photographs of my work. I gave most of it away as gifts. I have made so many things and I am sure I have forgotten most of them! These days I take photos of all my creations. Digital cameras have allowed us all to be able to have a collection of pictures at minimal cost. I really appreciate that.

 

 

 

I craft mainly in thicker yarn these days and haven't made anything in such fine thread for ages. I discovered that I still enjoy it - though I have to wear glasses now!

I am getting older - but I am still a fine hooker!

 

 

Marianna's Little Crochet Flower

This pretty little flower is easy to make ~ and would be a cute adornment for many projects - tops, baby jackets, bags, purses, headbands ….. or it would make a pretty brooch with the addition of a pin.

Marianna's Little Crochet Flower

I think it looks cute on this little baby top

 

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/mariannas-little-crochet-flower

 

 

Marianna’s Little Crochet Flower

The flower is made in three parts – the inner petals, outer petals and the centre.

The instructions  are written with UK terms.            tc = treble crochet

I used DK yarn and a 3.5mm crochet hook. 

Inner Petals

Chain 3 and join with a slip stitch to make a ring.

Round 1:      Chain 2,  2tc, slip stitch into ring then  [3tc, slip stitch into ring] 5 times. Fasten off. (This makes 6 little petals).

Outer Petals

Chain 3 and join with a slip stitch to make a ring.

Round 1:      Chain 2,  11tc  into ring then  join with a slip stitch.

Round 2:    Chain 2, then 2tc into the same stitch, slip stitch into next stitch,  [slip stitch, chain 2, then 2tc into the same stitch, slip stitch into next stitch ] 5 times. Fasten off. (This makes 6 petals).

Centre

Chain 30. Fasten off. 

Tie a knot in the middle of the chain, then tie a knot again on top.

Assembly

To assemble the flower - push both ends of the chain into the hole in the centre ring of the inner and outer petals, leaving the knot on the outside.

Leave the two ends hanging down or catch the ends together to make a loop.

Darn away loose ends.

 

Feel  free to use this little flower for your projects ……. but the idea is mine,  so please link back to me.  

 

Vintage Pattern

I love vintage patterns ~ I have a little collection ~ and I add more when I find them. As long as they are in reasonable condition, and can still be read and followed, then I give them a new home! Some of them I will probably never knit - but I love the heritage, and feel that if I don't 'save' them, then they will end up unloved and in landfill. Here is my latest addition .......

vintage design

vintage knitting pattern

The pattern is from the Scotch Wool Shop - Greenock Wool # 717.

I guess that the pattern might be from the 1940s or 1950s.

 

As the tension is similar to DK (8ply) I used Baby DK and 4mm needles.

 

As I was knitting I wondered who had used the pattern last ..... and did she love knitting as much as I do? Was the pattern bought by a new mum looking forward to her new baby .... or perhaps by a grandma, an auntie or a sister to make something pretty for a special new addition to the family?

 

 

There is a pretty trellis stitch that I have never come across before.

Who wrote the instructions?  Was the stitch one that was passed down from older generations of knitters?

 

 

And will anyone in the future ever use this pattern leaflet again?

 

I do hope so.

 

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/marianna-mel/vintage-knitting-pattern-baby-matinee-jacket

 

 



Crochet Baby Mitts

I have seen some cute crochet baby mitts lately, and wanted to make some for a new baby ~  but I worry that tiny fingers might get caught in open crochet stitches. I wanted the mitts to look pretty but to be practical too. So I designed a pattern in half treble crochet which gives a denser fabric.

crochet baby mitts

 

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cute-crochet-newborn-baby-mitts

Baby Mitts

Requirements:

 

DK yarn

 

4mm crochet hook

 

 Pattern:

 

This pattern is written in UK terminology.       tc = treble crochet     . htc = half treble crochet       

 

The first round and the last round are worked in treble crochet, all other rounds are worked in half trebles.

Worked in the round.     Make 2

 

Chain 3,  join with a slip stitch into a ring.

 

Round 1:   ch3, make 9tc into ring, slip stitch to join. (10sts)

 

Round 2:   ch2 then 1htc in same stitch as ch2, 2htc in each stitch all around, join with slip stitch. (20sts)

 

Rounds 3 - 9:   ch2, 1htc in each stitch all around, join with slip stitch. (20sts)

 

Rounds 10:   ch4, 1htr in second stitch, * ch2, 1htc in second stitch, repeat from * to end of round. Join with a slip stitch.

 

Rounds  11:   ch3, 1tc in each each stitch all around. Join with a slip stitch.

Thread a pretty ribbon through and tie in a bow.

 

 

 

This pattern has been featured on ~