New Baby in the Family!

As seen on:

A couple of days before Christmas, my cousin and his wife welcomed their first child! He was born on the night of the winter solstice and the lunar eclipse, a very auspicious birthday, don't you think? He is an absolutely beautiful, healthy baby, adding to our family's brood of boys here on the island!

I wanted to make something special for this baby - he is the first one born to my close relations here since I was re-ignited with the crochet bug a couple of years ago (my great-aunt taught me when I was 5, and I crocheted regularly until high school or university - it was a trip to Cuba that got me "hooked" again - there was crochet everywhere!).... so, I designed this little blanket:

I had seen a similar square used on a pillow in a magazine, and liked the way it created a diamond pattern when joined:

In my version, I also crocheted little circlets where the corners of the squares meet. I love how the design confuses the eye as to where the individual squares are. I chose to do the squares in a variegated green-white-blue yarn, and picked up the blue in a solid yarn for the trim. As luck should have it, the baby's room is a blueish-aqua, so the green & blue in this fits right in! If you would like to make this blanket yourself, see directions at the bottom of this post.

The card I cased from an idea a friend had - the baby's room also has a jungle animal theme to it, so I thought this little monkey in his plane would be a fun way to say hi to the new little fella!

Congrats again Cuz! And welcome baby!

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Directions for Blanket
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hook = size F/5 (3 3/4mm)
yarn = size 4/medium (not sure brand or colour name that I used)  
Each square measures about 4"x4"when done, and the finished blanket is roughly 26"x30". 

Granny Squares:  Make 42.
First Ch3 of ea. round counts as a dc
With colour A:
Round 1 - Make adjustable ring; ch 3, 2 dc in ring, ch 3, (3 dc in ring, ch 3) 2 more times, join with sl st to top of first chain 3 (Ea. side has 3 dc)
Round 2 - Ch 3 - dc in ea. of next 2 dc; 2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc in  next ch 3 space; (dc in ea. of next 3 dc; 2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc  in next ch 3 space) around; join with sl st to top of first chain 3 (Ea. side has 7dc)
Round 3 - Ch 3 - dc in ea. next 4 dc; 2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc in  next ch 3 space; (dc in ea. of next 7 dc; 2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc  in next ch 3 space) around; dc in ea. next 2 dc; join with sl st to top of first chain 3 (Ea. side has 11 dc)
Round 4 - Ch 3, dc in ea. next 6 dc, 2 dc in  next ch 3 space; (dc in ea. of next 11 dc; 2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc  in next ch 3 space) around; dc in ea. next  4 dc; join with sl st to top of first chain 3 (Ea. side has 15 dc). Fasten off, weave in ends.

Assembly:
With right sides together, and colour A:
Using only the 15 dc on each outer side,  join squares with single crochet. Do not join chain 3 spaces. (Width = 6 squares; Length = 7 squares). You will see the diamond pattern emerge, and will have gaps where the corners of the squares meet. Fasten off, weave in ends
Using colour B: 
In ea of the gaps left where 4 squares meet (do not do this on outer edges of 6 X 7 square blanket, where only 2 squares meet):  join with sl st. in any ch 3 sp; ch1, 3 sc in same ch 3 sp (3 sc in ea. ch 3 sp) around; join with sl st in first ch. Fasten off, weave in ends. 


Trim:
Using colour B:
Round 1 - Join with sl st in any dc, ch 2 (sc in ea. dc and ch sp; 1 sc ch1 1sc in ea. corner) around. Join with sl st in top of ch 2.
Round 2 - Ch 3; (dc in ea sc; 1 dc ch1, 1 dc in ea. ch1 sp) around. Join with sl st in top of ch 3.
Round 3 - Ch2, (sc in ea. dc; 3 sc in ea. ch 1 sp) around. Join with sl st in top of ch2. Fasten off, weave in ends. 

Done! Good Luck :-) 


Posted by St. John's Mom at Tuesday, December 28, 2010 


PS: A pillow similar to the one I used for inspiration here can be found in First Crochet by L. Stanfield.  Looks like a good book :-)