For me, springtime also happens to coordinate with an inordinate number of baby showers. If, like me, you also are inundated with pending bundles of joy, you may be having a bit of a time brainstorming what to make for your sundry of friends, while also maintaining your stitching sanity. (That’s a thing, right?)
Not to fear. We have done that brainstorming for you. Just select from our ideas below – you can thank us later.
- Pair a copy of Freddie’s Blanket by Joanna Johnson, available in space, with the actual blanket.
Yarn suggestions: Newly arrived Berroco Indigo would be great for this project. It is made of recycled materials and wool free! You could also use Berroco Vintage, if you are looking for a wool based option.
- Create a perfect little sheepy package with a copy of Russell the Sheep by Rob Scotton (which you can find at Hooray for Books) and match it up with a Cozy Plush sheep (by Intelex) that heats up in the microwave (Pink & Brown carries it) and a striped hat – try the Debbie Bliss Pixie hat – that matches the one Russell wears.
Yarn suggestion: Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino has the perfect colors to replicate Russell’s hat! It is also super soft and machine washable.
- Match the Sly Fox Cowl with a Hazel Village Fox toy (which is organic), available at Pink & Brown.
Yarn suggestion: Berroco Vintage Chunky would be warm, soft and machine washable!
- Another sweet book-and-knitted-gift pairing would be Little Pea by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and whipping up a little pea using this free ball pattern. You also can find this book at Hooray for Books. (This would be a very quick knit if you are working at the last minute.)
Yarn suggestion: Spud and Chloe Sweater is a wonderful yarn for toys! It is organic cotton and Merino, machine washable and comes in several bright wonderful shades of green.
- Trudy suggests a classic blanket with a classic book: Either the Pine Forest Baby Blanket or the Baby Chalice Blanket (both are free!), using one skein of Yowza, and either could be paired with Goodnight Moon (Hooray for Books has assorted version of this title).
Yarn suggestions: Miss Babs Yowza is a great yarn for babies! We also love Sweet Georgia Superwash Worsted.
- Are baby’s parents music lovers? Knit up a Baby Beluga and match it with a favorite kids’ music CD (or iTunes gift card, even). For a whale-paired option, check out “Baby Beluga” by Raffi. If that’s too “kids music” for you, we also like the options from They Might Be Giants, including, “No!” and “Here Come the ABCs” and “Here come the 123s.”
Yarn suggestions: Spud and Chloe Sweater, Berroco Vintage or the new Stonehedge Fiber Mill Superwash!
- Jillian says her go-to baby gift is a Wee Liesl by Ysolda Teague and she likes to pair her baby sweaters with a Sophie the Giraffe Teether (available at Pink & Brown). (Note: For a boy or a more gender-neutral pattern, check out Ysolda’s Wee Envelope sweater.)
Yarn suggestions: Wee Liesl uses a fingering weight. For a nice machine washable yarn, check out Spud and Chloe Fine, which comes in amazingly bright colors for spring! Wee Envelope uses a sport weight and would be lovely and baby friendly in Debbie Bliss Eco Baby – an entirely organic cotton.
- For “Star Wars” fans, whip up a Yoda hat (a freebie) or Princess Leia hat and gift it with one of Jeffrey Brown’s books: “Goodnight Darth Vader,” “Vader’s Little Princess” or “Darth Vader and Son.” I can vouch for parental amusement.
Yarn Suggestions: for the Yoda Hat, try Berroco Vintage Chunky. the Princess Leia Hat would work up perfectly in any worsted weight. I recommend Spud and Chloe Sweater or Rowan Pure Wool Worsted.