(Left: Finger puppet toys from Crochet from the Heart by Kristin Spurkland)
The last few years for me have been full of weddings. I’ve been able to see friends, cousins, college roommates, and coworkers walk down the aisle—and I tied the knot myself just over a year ago. It’s been an exciting time in my life, full of joyful tears and celebration as I watched those close to me fall in love and begin a new chapter. But this year, I can sense a change in the seasons. With just a handful of weddings to attend this year (including my own sister’s in June), dates on my calendar are quickly filling up with new, equally exciting events: baby showers!
I enjoy living vicariously through those friends now sporting the adorable baby bump. I’ve spent more time searching Google for baby shower party ideas and gifts than I’d like to admit. And being the knitter that I am, I often end up searching for baby bib patterns or a pair of knitted baby booties. I know first-hand how wonderful a handmade baby gift can be, because my mother kept some of the baby gifts from my infanthood. So if you’re gearing up for baby-shower season and looking for ideas, you’ll love this roundup of baby blankets, booties, clothes, and bibs that you can crochet or knit for baby—perfect inspiration for a heartfelt, handmade gift that will be cherished for a lifetime.
Are you planning to take a handmade gift to a baby shower this year? Tell us in the comments what you’re planning to make!
Our family are really looking forward to welcoming our third grandchild in August (and first child for our son.) I knitted a circular shawl for our son and daughter many years ago. This was handed down to our first grandson. So my project for this year is another circular shawl for this little blessing. Love and prayers will go into every stitch.
—Suzanne on February 1, 2013I have an adorable crochet "ripple" pattern for sweater, hat, and round blanket. Since the baby is due in early Fall, I can give the blanket at the shower, then the sweater and hat (with matching booties) at Christmas.
—Lynne on February 1, 2013I’m busily crocheting and knitting blankets, booties and sweaters for my goddaughter, her mother and a friends daughter, all of whom are pregnant. Two are due within the next few weeks and one is due in August, and that’s only the ones I know about right now. My needles and hooks are always busy.
—Ellen on February 1, 2013I made sets of baby burp cloths (sewn) and knitted baby wash cloths this past year. I also made baby quilts and knitted a baby blanket. I knit preemie hats for a local hospital, and other places. I expect to make more of all of the above this year!
—Sarah H. on February 1, 2013A baby quilt that I hand quilted, machine quilted and also machine embroidered on. It was really fun to make.
—Share on February 1, 2013I have been making a layette set, crocheted blanket, cape,booties with quilted pram cover, sewn muslin squares – as you never have too many of those. pram quilts and cot bumbpers.
All my friends just simply love the set.
—Viv on February 6, 2013We are expecting our first grand baby the end of May and being a practical sort, want to make a blanket totally washable or an heirloom type. I’ve been hesitant to knit too early and as the baby is getting closer, I’ve knitted two different sized baby hats and I’m finishing crocheting a zig zag afghan that I started 34 years ago for the baby’s father. (Yup, never finished because he was second born and received blankets from his grandmother and I had a year-old running around.) I’m knitting an alpaca, cable and moss stitch blanket, impractical, and making a washable quilt in a chevron pattern, practical (the baby Mama’s likes chevrons.) I’ll make a sweater and hat and booties gender friendly when our grand baby is born. I can’t wait.
—Joan Trautwein on February 8, 2013It would be the quilt I made for our first grandchild. I was so excited to get started on it, but I wasn’t sure of the colors or theme until I found out that our grandchild was going to be a little girl. So, with some inspiration from a few baby books and my daughter-in-law, I made a purple and pink quilt with six window boxes of different-colored embroidered giraffes. It will always be my favorite piece since it was made with lots of love for our Liana who was born on Valentine’s Day!
—Sylvia Zwick on February 13, 2013