Sew up a cute reversible baby skirt or crochet a little argyle hat with tutorials by Bethany at “Whistle and Ivy.”
Tell us about “Whistle & Ivy”, yourself, and your family! What can readers find on your blog?
Hi Mommypage readers! My name is Bethany Dearden. I am a wife to a helicopter pilot and a mom to one rambunctious and adorable 18-months-old boy. I have a blog named “Whistle & Ivy”. I originally started my blog about 9 months ago as a family blog to keep others up-to-date with our life, but it quickly turned into a place where I could share my crafts, projects, and recipes. As a stay-at-home mom, I found myself getting some postpartum depression after my son was born, so I knew I needed to find a creative outlet, and for me, blogging has fit the bill perfectly! At “Whistle and Ivy”, I post recipes that I love, finished projects, tutorials, crochet patterns, and fun posts about our life.
“Whistle & Ivy” features craft projects that make great items for babies! Which project you have featured is your favorite and why? Were there any projects you found particularly challenging?
I absolutely love making baby things. One of my favorite things to make is my reversible baby skirt. It’s so much fun to make, and so easy. Picking out cute girlie fabrics is probably my favorite part! The pattern is basically a simple circle skirt, so when I cut it out, I am left with a small circle, which I always make into a pinwheel and attach it to a headband. It matches the skirt and is so cute! Here is a link to my tutorial for this easy and versatile baby skirt.
Most of the projects I post on my blog are very easy! Currently, I am working on a fun quiet book for my son. Although, it is not necessarily difficult to do, I have found it a challenge to keep up motivation to finish it. It has proven to be a very time-consuming project. When it is done, I think he will have a lot of fun with it!
Where do you get your craft ideas for items for babies? What do you like about making crafts for babies?
Mostly, an idea just hits me. I take special care to write everything down, and then figure out later if it’s doable. For instance, a few months ago, I had an idea for a crochet argyle hat. I am fairly new to crochet, and since it is different than knitting, I had to figure out a way to make it work. I decided to use an applique on the front of the hat that looked like argyle. It ended up pretty cute, and it works up fairly quickly.
Something about making things for babies is just so much fun. Everything is miniature; maybe that is why it is appealing. It also is a way to give a special gift. I can always buy a cute outfit, but when I spend a few hours making something special, I can show how much I care about the baby and his/her parents, and I find it very rewarding.
What is your favorite type of craft to do and why (sewing, knitting, crocheting, etc.)? Do you have any tips for our readers who would want to begin learning this type of craft?
I love to do it all! But if I had to pick a favorite, I would have to say crochet. I just started crocheting when I was pregnant with my son, but it’s an easy craft to get good at quickly. I have started writing my own patterns, and I absolutely love it! A lot of patterns out there are the same old thing, especially baby crochet patterns, so it’s fun to create my own cute items, and I love sharing it with anyone who wants it. I am currently working on two cute baby patterns; one hat pattern and one shoe pattern. I really hope my readers will enjoy them.
I have heard people say that crochet looks intimidating, and I must say that a few years ago I thought the same thing, but it is incredibly easy. Many people have put their teaching talents on Youtube.com for free, so I definitely recommend checking out some videos. In a matter of a few hours, I went from knowing hardly anything about crochet to having a baby hat made for my son!
What are your top 5 tips for making craft items for babies?
Have a baby in mind. I understand having things ready-made and on hand is easier, but you want something that the parents will enjoy too. If they don’t like it, they probably won’t use it!
Make sure you are using proper materials, especially when making clothing. Newborns have sensitive skin, so I always use the softest yarn, or soft cottons when making newborn things. It also must be something that can be thrown in the wash easily.
Don’t be afraid to get away from baby blue and soft pink! Cute baby things don’t have to be the “normal” colors.
Be familiar with the baby’s size and needs. Not all babies are the same size, so it would be shame to work hard on an item and have it not fit! Also, a baby might not need a newborn size for a very warm hat, if they are born in Las Vegas in the middle of the summer.
Make sure you are doing quality work! I tried to make a taggie toy for a friend of mine, and kind of cut corners to get it finished quicker. I ended up not giving it to her because I knew it couldn’t hold up to the wear and tear and being played with by a baby and thrown in the wash. It ended up being a waste.
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