Another Baby Blanket (with updated pattern)

A co-worker's daughter is having a baby girl and her theme was "pink/gray" color scheme. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to find anything to match but after a bit of searching, I found the perfect yarn! 

Bernat Softee Baby Yarn

(Not the chunky version) 

Pink Flannel

(4.25 oz/120 g/310 yards)

It's a more delicate yarn than the thicker blanket yarn I'm used to using but it was just perfect for this project.  It is so soft, has a wonderful sheen and it's the perfect thickness for a spring blanket! 

I based this baby blanket pattern, Sugar and Shine Baby Blanket done by Mike @ the Crochet Crowd. I watched all of his videos when I was learning how to crochet. Check out his video for this blanket ~ it's excellent!

This blanket takes about 2 skeins of the Bernat softee baby yarn which made the blanket about 28 - 30 inches across, depending on the size crochet needle you use.  (I used a 4.0 cm crochet hook but next time I'm going to try out the 4.5 cm hook.) You will also need extra yarn for whatever type of border you wish to use. 

I followed Mike's pattern using a single color for the granny square till I reached the blanket width I wanted, then I veered off on my own for the border (instructions below). 

 Pink Flannel Baby Blanket 

Blanket folded in half for the picture.

I was really pleased at how it turned out and hope the mother-to-be likes it!

{The Border}

Row 1:  Crochet an initial row of single crochet stitches  (using two sc for the open chain spaces and 3 sc for each corner of the blanket). I ended the row with a single slip stitch to join the ends with a ch2. 

Row 2: Crochet this row using the half double crochet stitch; end row with slip stitch and Ch2.


Rows 3 and 4: Repeat row 2. When you are ending the 4th row, slip stitch and draw the yarn through and pull it closed. Weave in the tail with a yarn needle and secure the end.

Cool Breeze Baby Afghan!

I just started crocheting a few months ago and have mostly been doing small projects. At the beginning of July, I took the plunge and started checking out patterns to make a baby blanket for a friend who is expecting. 

I saw this pattern ~ Cool Breeze Baby Afghan ~ on Red Heart's website and knew it was the one I wanted to make! 

 (Click the picture to get a better view)

I use Red Heart Baby Soft yarn ~ this yarn is SO  soft and has a sheen that is just gorgeous. The colors I chose to use were Baby Green, Deep Sky, Light Grape, Strawberry, Aqua, and White.

Red Heart also has an instructional video that really helped make the pattern easy to understand (newbie that I am!) and visualize each step of the pattern. 

There are two basic stitches ~ double crochet and treble crochet. The pattern creates a "fan" ...

that crests into a wave ...

To complete the blanket and bring it all together, I finished the edging in white ...

The colors blended together just beautifully!  

I can't wait to start making more afghans! :)