Here, finally, is Noelle’s Blanket pattern. If you’re a regular reader, you know that I finished this in the Challenge last month. What you don’t know is that I also finally finished writing the pattern. You can now make your own Noelle’s Blanket. Which is great! It is so much fun to see this blanket coming together as you make it.
I may actually reach all of my goals for completing unfinished projects and I am super happy! Hubs is happy about all the projects completed, too!
The “WIPs-to-do” stack is definitely smaller and the yarn is being used in a very visible way.
I’d like to show you the two newest completions, and also a recap of my list of to-do’s which I posted at the beginning of the Challenge last month.
Continue reading Recap of Projects Completed During the Challenge So Far
Another day, another project in the Use Your Stash Challenge 2017! This one I have been putting off for at least two years–maybe more, considering the baby I made the first one for is now four-years-old. This is such a beautiful baby blanket, I couldn’t resist starting another one–but that was years ago. If you’re like me and find that staying on track isn’t always easy, this post will be an encouragement to you.
Continue reading Staying on Track: Use Your Stash Challenge 2017
I seem to be on a roll these days crocheting baby blankets. I started this blue and white one before Christmas and then moved on to this grey one. They are both beautiful but I have to admit that I prefer the blue and white one. I have no idea why, well, it might be because I was using a new pattern with the grey one and had to frog it back 9 rows a couple of times.
I do like the almost houndstooth print of the this grey blanket. I also like that it could work with either a boy baby or a girl baby. This makes it a perfect gift for someone that doesn’t know which gender they are having. Â They are both crocheted out of soft acrylic yarn and will wash well. You will be able to find them at ChocolatesBabyShop on Friday of this week!
These are also crocheted out of my stash and will make items 16 and 17 for the Use Your Stash Challenge. So I did make progress last week and things are marching on with the challenge. I also spent some time carefully cutting out some quilt projects. I was being careful of my back so I didn’t get much sewing done but I am working on other projects.
I started a new baby blanket yesterday and I have made good progress. I hope to get it finished this week as well. It is in shades of purple. If you are following me on Instagram you have seen that it looks like this.
The colors are a bit off as I took this photo with my cell phone after dark. Which really changes how the colors look.
Talk to you later,
Karen
Here are a few more gift ideas for baby showers!
Aren’t they fun bib and  blanket sets! You can see them at www.chocolatesbabyshop.etsy.com I am listing the blankets this week so keep dropping in to the shop!
The weather here has been great and the family has been helping me get our flower beds back into order. The yard has been sadly neglected for the past several years. Over the past couple of weekends the front flower bed has gone from this
After they pulled all of the grass and raked it all out. You can see the rose bush, 2 crepe myrtles and then the sage that my daughter planted. There were no other plants in this flower bed at all. We stuck some iris bulbs and then also hope to grow some Russian sage near the corner. The Russian sage seems to survive very well in our very hot weather that we have. The bees love it. So I think it will be great to transplant some of the Russian sage we have growing in the front raised bed to this flower bed. It seems very hardy for our gardening abilities and neglect.
Then they added some dirt.
Last they added the mulch and it looks so much better than it did. Now to take this beautiful work on around the corner of the house.
Here is the soon to be High School graduate on his way to the Senior recognition day at our church. He chose to wear the jacket and tie. Â You can see how much better the flower bed looks. I hope to have a better photo soon. I have also been working on some new crochet things for the chocolatedogstudio shop. Here is a sneak peak at one of them.
talk to you later,
Karen
I have long wanted to add cute little hats to my crochet baby blankets. These baby afghans are just calling out for some cute newborn hats. I recently opened the baby shop. While I was getting it online and started, I had a couple of days where having baby hats was a great idea. I just ran with it. Here they are, the blankets and the hats on the same page.
They are beautiful and I will be adding more crochet baby hats with matching baby afghans as I get the time. You can find these in my shop at www.chocolatesbabyshop.etsy.com. I am off to get some things completed for graduation.
Talk to you later,
Karen
I love flannel blankets for babies. They are so warm, cuddly and comforting. These three were made for baby boys with their bright colors and woven plaids.
My favorite a Stewart plaid. #61
This beautiful blue, black and white plaid. #62
#63
I love the black in this plaid. These are pre-washed for softness and hemmed for durability. They are woven with the different colors so both sides are exactly the same print. Â The shop has bibs to match and would make a great baby shower gift set.
Talk to you later,
Karen
I promised some new things today and I just have time to do a quick photo listing. It is Monday with a vengeance today. Here we go.
Ok, must run. See you all later,
Karen
Who needs anymore stress on Monday? So here are some beautiful photos of a blue baby blanket that I just finished and shipped off on Saturday!
I simply love the beautiful colors and it is wonderfully soft. It is 36″ square. It was a custom order and started from these beautiful yarns. It was a super quick crochet job as I started it on Sunday and shipped on Saturday!
I am working on another custom order now and it is huge. I believe it is going to take 150 crocheted granny squares. Yes, 150! Yikes, I have a plan though and it is happening pretty quickly. I have about 80 centers worked now. I will show you more at a later this week.
See you on Tuesday!
Karen
I just had to show my newest creation Noelle’s baby blanket. It is a custom order baby blanket and I just love the colors. They are a bit daring and different for this part of the country. It completely updates the granny square afghan and in beautiful modern colors. The yarn  is soft, cuddly and completely washable. Pop it in the washer and the dryer and have it out clean and ready to go in no time. Perfect for new babies.
Check out the bright and beautiful granny stripes.
Completely bordered with granny circles. This beautiful baby afghan is finished with beautiful scalloped edging and a ChocolateDogStudio tag. There is a teeny tiny baby bonnet with flower to go with it. I am so excited that it turned out so well. It was tricky to get it finished while moving from one state to another. So finishing it on time was the icing on the cake. This one won’t be in the Chocolate Dog Studio shop but I sure hope to make another in a similar style also complete with bonnet! So keep checking back and I hope to have the next one up quickly.
You can find the pattern here.
talk to you later,
Karen