Crocheting for the New Baby Boy

When SDP told me she was expecting a little boy, I couldn’t wait to get started on my next crochet project. After reviving my love for crocheting with the set I made for Baby Olivia, I was excited to try more complex patterns, create new items and work with a fresh palette.

As expected, after SDP broke the news, we immediately began obsessing over nursery decor and the baby shower. After a few weeks of facebook chatting and pinterest stalking, I saw that SDP was gravitating towards modern motifs of primarily neutral grays, blues and whites. I used the following two photos as inspiration for all the pieces I created.

With limited time before the baby shower, I got focused and immediately began dreaming up patterns, researching new stitches and perusing the yarn aisle at Michael’s. The goal was to create something that felt organic and baby-appropriate, but sophisticated and modern.

Blue, White and Gray Baby Afghan

Knowing that the baby afghan would be the largest and most time consuming item to make, I began with drawing a pattern for the blanket and from there, chose the appropriate balance of colors and finally, the yarn.

Yarn: To create a design that would compliment the decor of the nursery, I used pale blue, white and medium gray yarn. Generally, you will need four balls of standard yarn to complete a blanket, including any trim (because my design required more blue, I used 2 balls of blue, 1 ball of white, and 1 ball of medium gray). To keep everything super soft, I used a blend of my two favorite yarn brands (which are both readily available at your general craft store).

Bernat Softee Baby Yarn or Bernat Baby Yarn
Lion’s Brand Babysoft Yarn or Lion’s Brand Baby’s First Yarn

Tip: Bernat yarns tend to be MUCH softer, but it is a lighter yarn overall and therefore, not as warm. I mixed both brands in my project even though the gauge/weight is slightly different, and it still worked out just fine.

Tools & Crochet Hooks: I used a 5mm crochet hook, which I have found to be perfect to keep the blanket soft and flexible. I then used a 3.5mm hook for the trim. You will also need a yarn needle to sew in the edges, and a good pair of scissors.

Crochet Stitches: To create this baby blanket or one that looks like it, you will need to know the following stitches. I also added a sweet scalloped border. If you’re a beginner, you can make an easy version by using one simple stitch, like the single or double crochet, and creating stripes of color.

Baby Afghan Size Guideline: My finished blanket was a 50″x50″ square, but here are some other typical sizes for baby afghans:

Crib blanket 45″x60″
Crib quilt 36″x50″
Knit throw 32″x39″
Stroller blanket 22″x30″

Blue, White and Gray Pillow Case

After finishing the blanket, I moved onto my next project. Knowing that SDP would be getting a glider, I wanted to make a matching decorative pillow. I improvised to create a slightly different but complimentary pattern to fit a pillow insert I found at Jo-ann Fabric and Craft Store. Rather than crochet two separate pieces of fabric and sew them together to create a pillow case, I created one continuous piece of fabric that I could overlap to create an opening for the insert (this way the case could be easily removed for washing or replacement). For finishing touches, I added the same scalloped border around the entire perimeter of the pillow, added a ribbing to the end of the fabric, and sewed a wooden button that was not only decorative but functional (now I could securely close the pillow case).

Blue, White and Gray Newborn Aviator Hat

SDP and I had been bouncing around baby shower ideas for weeks and she mentioned the possibility of a “world traveler” theme and I thought, “what could be cuter and more theme appropriate than a little aviator hat?” To create the hat, I used the same yarns and crochet hook. I then added a finishing touch with the same wooden buttons as the one I used for the pillow.

Pattern: To create this hat, I incorporated two different patterns and improvised slightly. First, I crocheted a simple beanie. Then I added ear flaps and a front flap. Last, I added braids. Here are some helpful videos.