Crochet Baby Elephant and Blanket

When I heard our niece was expecting a baby in April of 2021, I was excited. Baby gifts are my absolute favourite things to crochet. As soon as I finished the sweater for our daughter, I started on a baby blanket and elephant ... such fun.

I was happy to finish this elephant on the very day our niece's son was born - April 23, 2021.

I took a few photos to show you this Crochet Baby Elephant and Blanket. I especially love the last photo showing our niece's baby posed with his gift. This photo was a perfect birthday gift for me!

I picked a new-to-me pattern called "Crochet Modern Moss Stitch Blanket" by Daisy Farm Crafts. I used worsted weight 100% acrylic yarn in white and arctic (blue) Craft Smart Value yarn to make this blanket. With a 6 mm hook plus a starting chain of 150 and a two row border, the baby blanket measured 40"x53".

I made the baby elephant in arctic (blue) to match the blanket with a bit of contrasting red on its frilly white bonnet. If you'd like to make one too, you can find the free pattern here.

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Heart Baby Blanket

I finished the Heart Baby Blanket just one week before our niece gave birth. Baby Boy Wheeler arrived three days ahead of schedule Monday afternoon. His birth announcement was posted on Facebook for all to see yesterday. Baby Boy Wheeler looks adorable in the photos, much like our niece when she was a baby. I can hardly wait to meet him. 

As promised I took a few photos to show how this blanket turned out. I love how the teal heart pops against the light grey. I also love the soft fluffy feel of all those rows upon rows of little puff stitches. This is a blanket full of crochet love made especially for Baby Boy Wheeler. 

Technical details are listed below for the crocheters out there who might like to make one too. Give it a try, you won't be disappointed if you do.

Heart Baby Blanket

Follow instructions for Heart Baby Blanket found here.

Lightweight fingering yarn

Four hanks of Berroco Ultra Alpacca in grey 

One hank of Gems 100% Merino Wool in teal

Hook size = 3.75 mm

Starting chain 156

Total number of rows 130 

Finished size - 30" x 35"

Gauge - 4x4 inches = 11 puff sts in a row and 18 rows

Each row on blanket ~12 mins

Each round on border ~40 mins

Plus time to weave in ends
Total Time to Complete ~40 hrs

Washing Instructions
Machine wash in cool water. Lay flat to dry.

Note: I used different yarn than the pattern suggested because I could not find Loops and Threads Cambria Big Lightweight Fingering Yarn in Canada. To make a baby size blanket, I started with a chain of 156 instead of 148. I also added 40 rows to the length. With these changes, I worried about running out of yarn. A valid concern as I ended up running out of yarn on the final round 8. Luckily I was able to finish with a small amount of yarn left over by ripping out 3 rounds and working only 4 instead of 5 rounds of single crochet on the border.

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Stash-Buster Ripple Baby Blanket

I made another Ripple Blanket. I really liked the Teal Dreams Ripple Blanket finished over a week ago, but I absolutely adore this crazy colourful Stash-Buster Ripple Baby Blanket. 

When it comes to crochet, I love bright bold colours. This blanket is both bright and bold. As an added bonus, it was made using yarn from my stash. It didn't cost anything more than my time. How practical is that?

To make this blanket, I followed free instructions covering Ripple Blanket Know How posted by blogger Lucy at Attic24. Her brilliant colour combinations continue to inspire me.

Technical details for this Stash-Buster Baby Ripple Blanket are listed below for the crocheters out there who might like to make one too. 

Starting Chain - 129 (14x9+3)

Finished Size - 39"x51"

2 rows per stripe 

42 stripes

Time to Complete - Approximately 25 hours (30 mins per stripe + border

Worsted weight 100% acrylic yarn from my stash  

 

I still have a basket full of worsted weight yarn. It's good for making toys.

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Teal Dreams Ripple Blanket

This year, I intended to crochet using yarn from my stash. Instead, when my daughter suggested her sister-in-law who is due to have a baby any day might like a ripple blanket and praised the Sweet Summer Ripple Blanket I made for her two years ago, I couldn't resist. I rushed out to buy yarn in colours to match the nursery - teal, grey and white. I bought three shades of teal, three shades of grey and two shades of white for a total of eight different colours. I committed to making another Ripple Blanket.

This blanket took about two weeks to make. It was finished a couple days ago. I waited for a sunny day to take photos. 

I was considering calling it "Shades of Grey and Teal", but decided Teal Dreams Ripple Blanket was more appropriate. This combination of colours looks so calm and soothing. I love it.

Changing colours for each stripe creates a lot of ends to weave in and cut.

I love how mesmerizing stripey ripples look. I used approximately 1.5 balls of each colour, adding the rest to my stash. 

 

The blanket is folded and ready to go, although it will probably be months before it gets to California. We will take it with us when we visit our daughter in Boulder this summer. Our daughter and her husband travel to California regularly. Hopefully it will get there by next winter.

To make this blanket, I followed free instructions covering Ripple Blanket Know How posted by blogger Lucy at Attic24. I love all of Lucy's colourful crochet ripple blankets. Her brilliant colour combinations inspire me.

Technical details for this Teal Dreams Ripple Blanket are listed below for the crocheters out there who might like to make one too. 

Starting Chain - 157 (14x11+3)

Finished Size - 44"x62"

2 rows per stripe 

54 stripes

8 colours

Time to Complete - Approximately 30 hours (30 mins per stripe + border)

Patons Canadiana 100% worsted weight acrylic yarn:

2 balls (100 g/3.5 oz) of each colour

• Pale Teal 
• Medium Teal 
• Dark Teal 
• Pale Grey Mix
• Medium Grey Mix 
• Toasty Grey
• Winter White
• White

Hook size - 5 mm

Stripe Colours in this Teal Dreams Ripple Blanket:

1. Pale Teal
2. White
3. Pale Grey Mix
4. Dark Teal
5. Medium Grey Mix
6. Medium Teal
7. Toasty Grey
8. Winter White
9. Toasty Grey
10. Pale Teal
11. Medium Teal
12. Dark Teal
13. Pale Grey Mix
14. Winter White
15. Medium Grey Mix
16. White
17. Medium Grey Mix
18. Pale Teal
19. Dark Teal
20. Medium Teal
21. Pale Grey Mix
22. Toasty Grey
23. Winter White
24. White
25. Toasty Grey
26. Pale Grey Mix
27. Medium Teal
28. Dark Teal
29. Pale Teal
30. Medium Grey Mix
31. Winter White
32. White
33. Medium Grey Mix
34. Winter White
35. Pale Grey Mix
36. Dark Teal
37. Medium Teal
38. Pale Teal
39. Toasty Grey
40. Winter White
41. Toasty Grey
42. Medium Teal
43. Medium Grey Mix
44. Dark Teal
45. Pale Grey Mix
46. White
47. Pale Grey Mix
48. Dark Teal
49. Medium Grey Mix
50. Winter White
51. Medium Teal
52. Pale Grey MIx
53. White
54. Pale Teal

Border Colours:

Round 1: Pale Teal

Round 2: White

Round 3: Medium Teal

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Wonderful Weekend Away

This weekend my husband and I enjoyed a Wonderful Weekend Away in Ellicottville, one of our favourite US destinations just a short 3 to 4 hours drive from London. 

We decided to drive the Z4 for our weekend away and the weather cooperated beautifully. We headed out early with the top up as it was damp and cool. By the time we were waiting in line at the border, it was sunny and warm, perfect for top down driving. 

I wasn't sure how I would like highway driving in a convertible but it wasn't bad. I will admit there is a lot of noise from all the various motors on the road. To me it sounds like a speedway, although not my favourite thing, definitely something my husband loves. I couldn't resist taking a photo of him enjoying speeding down the highway with the wind in his hair.

We arrived in town in time for lunch so headed to Katy's Cafe and Cake Creations for cappucinos and tasty panini sandwiches. I liked the messages on their mugs.

My husband was suffering with a nasty headache so he hoped the caffeine and/or food would help ease the pain. It did a bit but what he really needed was a nap.

So after lunch we headed to the ILEX INN. We stayed there last year and loved it. The owners are very hospitable and helpful plus the rooms are nicely decorated and comfortable. This chair was perfect for my needs.

We unpacked and I settled down to crochet while my husband had a much needed nap. When he awoke, we had coffee on the porch outside our room. I timed how long it takes to complete each row on this baby ripple blanket and was surprised to discover it takes about 15 minutes. I am working two rows for each colour; 30 mins per colour means only two colours completed per hour - meo my that's slow.

By the middle of the afternoon, we were ready to head to the hills for our much anticipated hike. Usually we bike these hills but couldn't manage to fit more than hiking shoes, crochet and luggage in the Z4.

On route to the hills, we stopped to admire baby alpacas at Sugartown Farms and check out their store. I think alpacas are adorable and oh so soft. I also love the yarn, sweaters and scarves sold at the store but I resisted. I will admit, I was totally tempted by one sweater in particular and some lace weight scarves made from baby alpaca yarn. They feel amazingly soft and warm. Oh well, maybe next time.

After Sugartown Farms we headed to the ski hills for our hike. We were surprised to discover a huge adventure park on the hillside at Holiday Valley Ski Resort. 

We carried on hiking to the top of the hill. It was a long steep climb involving lots of huffing and puffing and sweating. I wished I had worn lighter clothes as it was sunny and hot climbing uphill. We enjoyed a bit of a rest at the top where we admired the view.

I love the fall colours and the view was spectacular. We wound our way up the hill getting hot and out of breath and the walk straight down was equally challenging. Although we could breath easier, our legs got quite shaky and tired. Hiking ski hills is a great workout.

Back in town, we made two stops - our favourite cheese shop plus our favourite wine store where we gathered essentials for our after hike dinner and refreshments. Two bottles of rosé wine chilling on ice, prosciutto, two kinds of salami, two kinds of cheese, crackers and chocolate fudge made for a delicious dinner on the patio by the pool.

We brought everything we might need including my crochet which is always close at hand.

We cooled off in the pool before settling down to dinner. I changed into comfy clothes to relax over dinner with wine and crochet.

Lee relaxed in the hot tub with his tablet. He assured me it was very hot and very relaxing. I preferred to stay cool with my crochet, although my simple pattern involving three different four counts soon became too challenging for my wine addled brain. We thoroughly enjoyed our day in Ellicottville and turned in early for some well earned rest.

The next morning, we were the first to arrive for a delicious home-made breakfast.

After breakfast, I happily sat outside our room to crochet and enjoy the misty view. 

The morning mist hides the view of the hills across the road but it was still pretty and peaceful sitting on the porch.

As the sun burned off the mist, the hillside magically reappeared. I never get tired of this view.

Yesterday, we hiked to the top of this ski hill. Trust me it's even higher than it looks. 

Today we decide to take it easy and walk into town to check out the shops. Shopping done, we relax outside with cappuccinos at Coffee Culture. We love the fire pit running all year round on their patio but can't sit too close on such a warm day. We finish our cappucinos then head out early to drive the scenic route home. We've enjoyed our short stay in Ellicottville but we would like to be home in time to share birthday cake with our parents.

Our plan worked well. I picked up a cake while my husband called our parents and we all got together to celebrate his birthday.

It's just not a birthday without family and cake. Happy Birthday wishes to my dear husband who is away in Toronto for work most of this week. It was a Wonderful Weekend Away to celebrate. 

Would you like to see the progress I made on the baby ripple blanket this week? Fourteen stripes so far and many more to go. I also bought two more colours (light blue and antique white) at Walmart on the way home. I like to roll the yarn into balls to make them easier to use so I might spend time doing that before I crochet more stripes. 

I'm hoping to finish this before my daughter visits in two weeks for Thanksgiving. I'm not sure it's possible with everything else we must do before then. Wish me luck. 

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Creamsicle Banana Pop Baby Blanket

I finished another crochet baby bobble blanket. It is one of my favourite free patterns called Ruffles and Dots Baby Blanket by blogger Maybe Matilda found here. I started two weeks ago as mentioned in this post and am happy to report all leftover Bernat Handicrafter cotton yarn shown below got used up plus I did NOT have to buy more. YiPpEe Mission Accomplished!! 

I decided to finish the blanket in creamsicle once I ran out of pale yellow then I worked a row of bright orange single crochet around the outside which coordinated nicely with the frilly creamsicle border. As I was working the last row of the border, I wasn't sure if there would be enough yarn to complete the round. Check out that teeny tiny bit of leftover yarn in the photo. I couldn't have planned it any better. 

I love how the bobble bumps make a fun and tactile blanket for babies.

I even love the look of the blanket finished with 6 bobble rows in creamsicle. It was a necessary colour change to avoid buying more yarn as my intent was to use what I had on hand for this project. The bright cheery colours inspired me to name it "Creamsicle Banana Pop Baby Blanket". A delicious baby blanket for summer.

Our poodle loves posing on this baby blanket. It's a perfect fit for both poodles AND babies. 

I've included stats and instructions in case you might like to make one too. I promise you won't be disappointed if you do.

Stats/Instructions for this blanket:
34" x 34" outside edges
Yarn - Bernat Handicrafter Cotton (Worsted Weight)
Hook size - 5.0 mm
13 bobbles across
29 bobble rows (26 bobble rows of pale yellow + 6 bobble rows of creamsicle)
1 row of single crochet (sc) around outside with 3 sc in the corners (bright orange)
1 row of 2 double crochet (dc) per sc with 7 dc in the corners (creamsicle)
1 row of alternating 2 dc then 1 dc in each dc around with 5 dc in the corners (creamsicle)

Math for starting chain: 8 x # of bobbles in first row = 104 for 13 bobbles across
3 rows of sc before first bobble row, between bobble rows and after last bobble row
First and last bobble row: 3 sc before first bobble, 7 sc between bobbles and 3 sc after last bobble
Alternate bobble rows: 7 sc before first bobble, 7 sc between bobbles and 7 sc after last Note: only 12 bobbles on alternate bobble rows

I hope that all makes sense. Do comment if you have any questions or need clarification. I would be happy to help.

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