Baby Announcements

I love so much the printed word--fine press books, cards, letter press... I took a letterpress class in college and it was perhaps the best thing I did there. I wish I had time to do it myself--make some books, cards, even posters.


In any event, because I love all things printed, it is difficult to make a decision about birth announcements. I want them to be perfect, classic and beautiful, like my newborn baby girl. I had a great local press make these for me, Mandate Press.

This was the announcement they created for Audrey (with photo taken by her father.)



(Audrey is wearing a dress crocheted for my mother, by my grandmother--how great is that?!)





My good friend and talented creative director, Brian Deaver, designed Scarlett's announcement for me. I didn't want to combine Scarlett's announcement with a Christmas greeting but I decided to do a combined mailing of separate cards because it just made sense. So Brian designed and Mandate printed a Christmas card in the same font and size.

So here is Scarlett's announcement:


And, her beautiful announcement photo taken by her father (I crocheted her layette a few months ago).

Crochet: Accessories for Baby Blessing Gown

Scarlett was blessed in church today, and wore the beautiful smocked blessing dress my friend, Margie, made for us when we blessed Scarlett. She also wore an upsized version of the bonnet I made her for her announcement layette. And, she was wrapped in this beautiful matching blanket our good friend, and nanny, Sue, crocheted for her. So nice to have this little one surrounded by the love of so many people.

Knitting: Dusty Lavender Sweater Set for Scarlett

I had enough yarn left over from the sweater I made for Audrey that I could make a matching one for Scarlet, and so I had planned to do it, but the project ended up being fast and furious due to a last minute family photo shoot! My in-laws came in town for Scarlett's blessing and earlier this week my mother-in-law called to see what I thought about doing an extended family photo--we haven't had one since I married into the family and I had mentioned something a while back but wasn't planning to have it so soon after having a baby! I decided to set aside my vanity and instead focus on what the girls could wear. Much more fun.

Because of the cooler weather, not only did I need to finish this sweater but I also thought Scarlett needed a matching hat...

...and booties. The sweater is from the Debbie Bliss Special Knits book. The booties are the "Slip Ons" pattern from Zoe Mellor's 50 Baby Bootees to Knit (so many darling patterns in this book!). The hat is from the Bernat Organic Cotton Mommy and Me Book.

And look how beautiful my girls look in their matching outfits! I had to make Audrey a dress too. This is from a pattern I have from my mother's collection. It's Butterick 4676--darling bishop's yoke dresses with or without ruffles.

These gorgeous photos of the girls are by a local photographer, Jennifer Fauset.

Crochet: Earflap Hat and Scarf for Audrey

I have been crocheting up a storm for Christmas gifts, but I had to sneak one in for my cute toddler--in pinks and purples of course because purple is Audrey's favorite color. She helped me pick out this yarn--so fun. I can't wait to do more of that with her as she gets older.

The hat pattern is based on this free Lion Brand pattern but I used a worsted weight yarn instead, Vanna's Choice, and altered the pattern to make it work. I made the scarf using the same stitch and sized it to fit Audrey. She loves it! She looks darling in it and it's warm too. Just in time for making a snow man.

UPDATE: Still loving this hat and scarf! I've got a pattern for these hats for babies to adults in my shop!

Knitting: Lace Yoked Sweaters in Dusty Rose

These sweaters are my favorite knitting project so far! I love the old fashioned lace yokes. I found the pattern for Audrey's toddler sweater at Lionbrand but I used this beautiful cotton/merino wool Dusty Rose "MainLine" yarn from KnitPicks.

Turns out I really enjoy following a more complicated pattern and yarn overs are really not so difficult. It keeps it more interesting so it seems to go more quickly than sticking with stockinette. I think the result is beautiful! I want to do this sweater again in a larger size. Would be gorgeous in a dark color--KnitPicks has a "Red Velvet Cake" that looks fabulous.

I love the seed (moss) stitch around the neck and in the placket. Though the pattern for Scarlett's sweater didn't call for it I decided to duplicate it because...

...Scarlett's sweater is from an entirely different pattern--more popcorn than lace--but I like it too. I used Lorraine Major's 5HBS (five hour baby sweater). I went out on a limb with this one because the pattern called for a bulky yarn but I wanted to use the same worsted weight yarn. It worked, but barely. It definitely could have been a bit bigger.

I didn't do the popcorn on the bottom of the sweater as per the pattern so that Scarlett's sweater would be more similar to Audrey's.

So fun to have the matching set.