Finding the perfect gift for new parents can often be a challenge.  Many times new parents have either already shopped for their babies, or they have other children and have many of the things they will need already in their homes.  One perfect gift option in this case is the gift of a handmade crocheted baby blanket. 

With the recent popularity resurgence in knitting and crocheting, there are limitless options available for yarns and fibers which you can quickly and easily crochet into an heirloom baby blanket.  And, the best thing is that many of today’s yarns and fibers are dyed colors which lend themselves well to making a baby blanket.  With the soft pinks, light blues and mellow yellow yarns, you can be sure to match any nursery decorations the new parents may have done. 

A handcrafted gift is one which can be passed down through generations and appreciated by everyone. The Amish are very well known for being very good at handcrafting things for others.  It shows the receiver that you spent a lot of time and effort to make just the right gift for them.  And, because of the time you have invested in the gift, it will be one of the best received. 

When you are going to make a blanket for a baby, there are a few important things which you need to keep in consideration as you find your pattern and buy your supplies.  A few of them are:

Pattern Selection – You should choose a pattern which is tightly woven if the blanket will be used by a very young baby.  Often designs with any open-work allow for the baby’s fingers or toes to get caught up in the blanket and cause discomfort.  This is both a health and a safety risk. 

Yarn Selection – When you are making an item for a baby, you want to find a yarn or fiber which is both soft and machine washable.  New parents are often too tired and over-extended to spend time hand washing items.  And, because babies can be very messy, it is essential that anything they come into contact with can be successfully washed. 

Blanket Color – If you know the color scheme of the nursery, or even the sex of the baby, you can better match your blanket colors to them.  If not, use your imagination and create a wonderful unisex blanket. 

Blanket Size – When you are crocheting for a baby, your first inclination might be to make a very small blanket.  However, babies quickly grow into toddlers.  And, babies move around a lot and require decently sized blankets to keep them covered up and warm.  Your blanket will get much more use if you make it a bit larger than your first inclination.

No Beadwork – While beadwork is popular in today’s knitting and crocheting patterns, beads are never appropriate for a baby item.  A baby can loosen them and they can become a choking hazard. 

By keeping these simple considerations in mind, you can be well on your way to creating a keepsake baby blanket which will be cherished for years to come.  As with any baby gift, you want to insure that your blanket is safe and secure for the baby who will be using it.  However, by using your imagination and creativity you can come up with the perfect and safe design for the new bundle of joy. 

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The art of crochet has been around for thousands of years. People in earlier times who had means would purchase hand crocheted and knitted laces and fabrics for their opulent garments and décor. Having these items showed others that you were a person of means and you led an opulent lifestyle.

Over the years, through industrialization and mass production of lace and fabrics, items made with crochet and knitting have gained popularity in the lower to middle classes and the upper classes started showing their wealth in other, more material, ways.

Today, crochet and knitting are the craft art of choice for many people all over the world. They are both handicrafts which are challenging to learn yet affordable for nearly everyone. Supplies are easy to find to create some very amazing hand crafted items with the emergence of new yarns and colorful fibers.

As a beginner to the art of crochet, there are some simple things to learn to be successful. Here are ten steps to get you started on your road to crochet success:

Step #1 – Gather Up Your Supplies – To crochet you will need a crochet hook, yarn, scissors and a large-eye needle.

Step #2 – Holding Your Crochet Hook – You will want to hold your crochet hook in your dominant hand. Create a slip-knot and place it over the end of your hook.

Step #3 – Create a Continuous Stitch – Slide the hooked yarn to the slip-knot on the hook. This will create a chain of stitches. Continue to make this chain by brining your yarn to the top of the hook and pulling it through the slip-knot.

Step #4 – Move Up The Chain – Move up the chain allowing the first chain stitch to knot on the hook. This allows the yarn to stay in place and not loosen. It is generally a good idea to make this first knot tight rather than loose.

Step #5 – Creating Two Loops – Next, insert your crochet hook into the hole of the next chain stitch and slide the passing yarn through its center.

Step #6 – Bring Your Yarn Back – Bring your yarn back on the hook from back to front and slide your knot in the center of the loops which you have already created on the crochet hook.

Step #7 – Making Rows – From your second yarn loop, create another single chain stitch and make a counter-clockwise loop. Start again and create the same loops as the previous stitches.

Step #8 – Crochet Until Done – Continue this basic crochet technique until you have a swatch of fabric.

Step #8 – Cut your Project Off – Once you have completed a swatch of fabric, it is time to remove it from your ball of yarn. Cut it with about a 6” tail left at the end.

Step #9 – Fasten Your Project so it won’t Unravel - Bring your tail of yarn back through the last stitch to fasten it.

Step #10 – Cut the Excess – At this point you are finished and can cut off the excess tail of yarn.

Using these simple ten steps you can learn to successfully complete a basic crochet fabric. Like any new skill, crochet takes time. You will want to practice a lot at first and see what techniques and hand holds are the most comfortable for you.

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