Baby Craft Bonanza!

Good morning F&F! Amanda here ... reporting from frigid NE Oklahoma where the temperature plummeted to -27 degrees F overnight (yes, you read that right: negative twenty-seven degrees). I hope everyone in our area remembered to drip their faucets overnight, or else they'll likely be dealing with frozen pipes this morning! So thanks to the terrible temperatures and piles of snow, I'm cooped up and suffering from cabin fever. The only prescription is more cowbell crafts.

So, I don't have any kids, but I love all things baby! Therefore, when one of my friends is expecting, I go crazy making cute, teeny-tiny, colorful baby goodies! Today's post: fun baby crafts for gifting, aka Baby Craft Bonanza.

Craft #1: Carry-Along Cuddling Blankies

Years ago I came across some cute cuddling blankies at a specialty gift store. Instead of paying big bucks for one, I made my own:


With input from my friends who have babies, I decided that 13" x 13" is the perfect size blankie for carrying along in the car or stroller. Babies love the texture of the satin ribbon loops, which are also great for attaching the blankie to a stroller or diaper bag so it doesn't end up on the floor. Recently I found this Sleepy Owls fleece at Hobby Lobby and knew it was the start of another blankie. I used solid bright green on the opposite side and polka dot ribbon. I think the end product is great for a little boy or girl!

Craft #2: Fancy Baby Burp Cloths

Inspired by a post a few months back at How Does She?, I recently made these burp cloths as a baby shower gift!


I bought a package of coordinating pre-cut fabrics meant for quilting. They were the perfect size at 12" x 18". I used pink chenille as the backing. I thought this project was going to be super easy, but quickly became frustrated because the chenille was stretching as I stitched, but the cotton quilting fabric was not. I did a quick google search on "sewing with chenille" and learned that I needed to adjust my presser foot pressure. I set my presser foot to "0" (zero) and the problem was solved!

Craft #3: Ruffle Butt Onesies

I can't remember now where I got this idea, but I've seen it all over the blogging world many times. Basic concept: embellish a simple baby onesie! When I found a package of onesies on clearance at Walmart, I decided to give it a try.


I don't have a ruffle foot for my sewing machine, so I did it the manual way: sew a long basting stitch and pull! I used grosgrain ribbon so I wouldn't have to finish the upper and lower edges. I can't wait to see these ruffles on a little diapered baby butt!

Craft #4: Crocheted Baby Booties

With new found crocheting confidence, I downloaded a crochet pattern for these adorable baby booties! You can purchase the pattern on Little Birdie Secret's Etsy page. It took a few tries but I figured out how to make them! Here's how they turned out:


The pattern uses three basic stitches: Slip Stitch, Single Crochet, and Half Double Crochet. I learned these three stitches by watching tutorial videos by theknitwitch on YouTube. Once you're there, click on "Uploads" and use the search box on the right to find the stitch with which you need help.

In conclusion, baby crafts are small, which makes them do-able. They don't require a huge amount of material or time, so if they don't turn out, you haven't wasted much of either! These crafts make great gifts, because they are handmade and handmade=heartfelt! And, making baby crafts inside sure beats shoveling snow outside!

Amanda