RAINBOWS n SUNSHINE BABY BALL BLANKET
This project
was shared by a friend recently, and of course, I knew this was on my “to-do”
list.. just didn’t know I’d get to make it so soon
“The stork”
just visited a family member .. so guess who is going to be filled with love
wrapped in a blanket ;)
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Materials used : Today I’ve used some of our lovely Indian Oswal 4-ply yarn with a 3.5 mm crochet hook ; a little embroidery thread ; embroidery needle
For Indians : You could use Anchor , Red rose , 4-ply knitting cotton , or unbranded knitting cotton or White Rose or bamboo knitting cotton , Milk cotton ; Silk yarns as well as Vardhaman acrylic yarns ; Baby soft acrylic yarn , Ganga Spectrum as well
General yarn info : The yarn used today is not specific to this pattern.
You can use any yarn with a suitable hook to make this project to any size.
International yarns : Among the international yarns I have used in this thickness, I’d suggest Aunt Lydia Cotton 10, Aunt Lydia Bamboo-Viscose 10, DMC Petra, Sullivans knitting cotton (Australia), Milford Soft, Hilaza Rustica Eclat , Alize cotton yarn and Alize bamboo yarn , Lily Sugar n' Cream cotton yarn, Caron Simply Soft , Bernat Softee chunky.
Skill level :
Intermediate.
Stitches used :
How to hold your yarn in crochet : https://youtu.be/FwOlCbGdbqY
Starting slip knot : https://youtu.be/lJcqsVcs8cw
Starting slip knot 1 or the Sloppy Slip knot : https://youtu.be/YfC7KmGpifs
What is a chain stitch ? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXx5ukBjKkY
What is a slip stitch : https://youtu.be/weB3QNbA8Iw
Whipstitch to join : https://youtu.be/wZ-9LNzftMA
Invisible join : https://youtu.be/a6XZQ6VzJFM
Single crochet to join : https://youtu.be/6FXoW_47_dI
Magic circle : https://youtu.be/ISC39yOqWro
Single Crochet : Sc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (2 lps on hk); yo, draw through both lps. One sc made. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/ghACqBpA-3k
First stitch for Single Crochet : This is how I like to start my row of sc. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/6pVYRfsf4_M
How to change colors seamlessly : https://youtu.be/fRzSBja9jno
How to carry your yarn when using two colors : https://youtu.be/NuascBU3pxQ
Here is a sizing chart for general head sizing :
Sizing chart for blankets : https://in.pinterest.com/pin/470063279839582572/
Abbreviations used : (Using
U.S terminology)
lp(s) : Loop(s) sc : Single crochet
dc : Double crochet ch
: Chain
sp : Space sl-st
: Slip stitch
hk : Hook yo
: Yarn Over
st(s) : Stitch(es)
Instructions : (Using U.S terminology)
Please note that I start all my rows with a ch 1, turning chain for ease.
Please check the top of this blog for easy video tutorials on all stitches used in today's pattern.
Please read through all my notes before you pick up your hook, so you know just where we're heading in our pattern.
For this lovely project, I’ve used the inspiration
from this free pattern at http://cre8tioncrochet.com/2014/04/you-are-my-sunshine/
This pattern is available in Dutch as
well, so do mosey along and check it out.
After I finished making the lovey, I have decided to do something
different and funky. Usually a lovey has
a cute little toy in the centre and a smallish blanket around it, right? So
this lovey satisfies all of that – the small little sunshine face, and the
multi-coloured rainbow blanket.
Now
for a twist, I thought of making a bag, and attaching it to one side of the
lovey, such that if you neatly stuff the lovey into it, you get a ready-made
ball – a cute, huggable ball!
I
know some kids are allergic to poly-fill, so with this idea you get a soft
huggable toy and a blanket as well.. lets see how this works out.
For the little sun, I made a stocking net ball. For this, you stuff a bit of poly fill stuffing into a stocking net and then sew up the top. This way the stuffing stays inside an enclosed space, does not seep out through the gaps in your work and ensures its even more allergy safe.
Here is my stocking net ball. Ensure that you try to use the same color net as the yarn so that the colors don't clash.
OK
first things first. Go off to that
pattern link above and make the lovey.
Attach on that small sun where ever you want it. I attached mine to one corner, such that when
I stuff the lovey into the ball (big sun), the little sun is popping out from
one side.
Big Sun Pattern (a.k.a The Big Ball)
So
what are we doing here? We are going to
make 2 big rounds in the same pattern as we have for the little sun (for the
lovey).
The
only difference is that we will be working the pattern for a much larger
circle.
The
pattern for the little sun goes till Round 4, increasing till you have 40
stitches. We get 10 spikes as the last
round of pattern is worked every 4th stitch.
So
all you now need to do to get this pattern to work for a larger sun, is
to end your last round in multiples of 4. So just continue working the pattern, and end
when you have multiples of 4 and the size you need for your big sun.
So
here’s what you need to do in short :
a)
You
need to see how large a sun you need to stuff your lovey. It all depends on how large your lovey is. Check sizing chart at the top of this blog.
b)
To
figure out how large you want it, fold your lovey (or scrunch it up) and
measure how wide it is approximately.
That’s how large a diameter (side to side) you’d need for your circles.
c)
As
we are working the same pattern as for the little sun, all you will do is
increase the number of rounds till you have the diameter you need. Remember to check that you have multiples of
4 when you end.
d)
Once
you have the last round in multiples of 4 (so say 40 , 60, 80 sts), go back to
the pattern sheet and work Round 5 and you will have spikes.
e)
Keep
a note of how many stitches / rounds you have worked and work the 2nd
piece in the same way.
f)
Attach
the two halves of your ball using one of the joining methods at the top of this
blog. Read Finishing instructions below.
Finishing
: Once you have two pieces of the large sun, join them
together, leaving one opening where you can stuff your blanket in. What I did was attach the small sun at one
corner, and attach this big sun in another corner – so when you fold the
blanket and stuff it into the bag, the little sun can still stay popped
out. It does not really matter where you
attach the little sun, so go ahead, create and have fun.
You will , however, attach one half of the sun under the blanket in one corner. The other open half will stay open so that
you can stuff the blanket in.
Did this work for you?
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I have a few toy patterns for you ...
