Infant Newsboy Ensemble - a free pattern

I love making baby clothes. Next to full-size afghans (which take forever, but are so rewarding), baby clothes are my favorite things to make. I love making little girl dresses, and little girl or boy sweaters, but I was getting tired of those, and so I went hunting around the web (mainly via Pinterest, 'natch) to get some inspiration.

And boy, did I get inspired.


This set is fairly simple to make, works up quickly, and makes an absolutely darling outfit. I made a few, and as I did so, and using and adapting a few patterns I found here and there, I wrote down my process, mainly so that I could do it again at some point when I'm in the mood. So, as long as I did it for myself, I thought you might appreciate then instructions as well.

Right?

I thought so.



Infant Newsboy Set
Adapted with gratitude from the following sites:
-Little Sprinkles of Fun
-Peachy Knits
-Creative Me!
-Repeat Crafter Me 
-Crochet a Flower


Newsboy Cap
Hook size G&H

Start with size G hook
Round 1: Ch 5 and join with slip stitch to create circle. Ch 2
Round 2: Dc 10 in the circle.
Round 3: 2 dc in each stitch around (20 dc)
Round 4: Dc in next stitch, 2 dc in next stitch around (30 dc)
Round 5: Dc in next two stitches, 2 dc in next stitch around (40 dc)
Round 6: Dc in next three stitches, 3 dc in next stitch around (50 dc)
Round 7: Dc in each stitch around (50 dc)
Round 8-10 repeat round 7 (50 dc)
Round 11: Ch 1, sc in each stitch around (50 dc)
start brim here
Brim Row 1: turn, ch 1, skip first sc, sc in each of next 4 sc, 2 sc in next stitch, sc in each of next 12 st, 2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 4 sc, dec 1, ch 2, turn (24 sc, 1 dec)
Brim Row 2: Skip first sc, sc across, dec over last two stitches, ch 2, turn (22 sc, 1 dec)
Brim Row 3: Skip first sc, sc in each of next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc around until there are only 7 stitches left. 2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 4 st, dec. ch 2, turn (21 sc, 1 dec)
Brim Row 4: Skip first sc and sc across, dec over last two st. (19 sc, 1 dec) Do not ch2 or turn.
Brim Row 5: Switch to H hook, continuing from brim, sc down the edge of brim and then sc in each sc around the hat. Sc up the other side of the brim. Sl stitch to close.
To Make Newsboy Band 
Ch 30, dc in 3rd ch from hook and to end. 29 dc. Ch 2 and sc around top, sides, and bottom of band, placing 2 sc in each corner. Fasten off.

Sew band onto hat just above the brim by securing it with two buttons on either side as shown. Then tack brim down using coordinating yarn.



Diaper Cover
Hook size H

Ch 47
Row 1: sc in second ch from hook and in each st across. Ch 3, turn
Row 2: dc across, ch 2 turn (47 dc)
Row 3: sc in st across, fasten off. (47 sc)
Row 4: Turn work and count in 11 stitches from the right, attach yarn. Ch 3, dc in next 24 stitches, ch 1, turn. (24 dc)
Row 5: sc across, ch 3, turn. (24 sc)
Row 6-9: repeat rows 4-5 twice
Row 10: dec dc, dc in next 20 st, dec, ch 2, turn (22 dc)
Row 11: dec sc, sc in next 18 st, dec, ch 3, turn (20 sc)
Row 12: dec dc, dc in next 16 st, dec, ch 2, turn (18 dc)
Row 13: dec sc, sc in next 14 st, dec, ch 3, turn (16 sc)
Row 14: dec dc, dc in next 12 st, dec, ch 2, turn (14 dc)
Row 15: sc in each st across, ch 3, turn (14 sc)
Row 16: dc in each st across, ch 2, turn (14 st)
Row 17-20: repeat rows 15-16 twice
Row 21: sc in each st across, ch 3, turn (14 st)
Row 22: dc twice in first st, then one in every stitch across, ch 2, turn (15 st)
Row 23: sc twice in first st, then one in every stitch across, ch 3, turn (16 st)
Row 24: dc in every st across, ch 2, turn (16 st)
Row 25: sc in every st across, ch 3, turn (16 st)
Row 26: dc in every st across, fasten off (16 st)

Join yarn in any dc, make a sc border all around cover, using 2 sc on the turns of each corner. Sew buttons on front as shown.




Bow Tie
Hook Size H

Chain 35 loosely, leaving a long beginning tail. Being careful not to twist chain, join to first ch, ch 2, do not turn.
Row 1: Hdc in each chain around. Join, Ch 2
Row 2: Hdc in each st around, join, ch 2
Row 3: Hdc in each st around, join, ch 2
Row 4: Hdc in each st around, join, finish off.

Wind an amount of free yarn around the center, making the "knot" in the tie. Thread through and finish off.

For the strap: Join yarn with sl st in 2nd row, just left of bow "knot". Chain 20 loosely.
Row 1: Hdc in second ch from hook and across, 18 dc. Sl st to back of bow, leave a tail.

Repeat on other side of bow for second side of the strap.

Attach button as shown in picture.



Suspender Straps
Hook Size H

MAKE TWO

Chain 48 loosely, working in the bottom "bumps" of chain, dc in third ch from hook, and in each ch to end. Finish off, (46 dc)

Gloves, Avatars and Cocoons

So, remember how on my WIP list, I've determined that I need to go through this tote that I have and organize it?  In my mind I call it "the tote of forgotten projects".  Well, I finally went through it a week or so ago, and found a half-finished pair of creme fingerless gloves there, just waiting to be completed.

So, since I don't really like to just make one of anything, once I'd finished that pair, I made four more just like it.  Then I moved on, and made more black gloves.  Then I decided to make some brown gloves.  Next I think I'm going to venture into a rainbow pair, probably along the lines of the slippers here.   Then I'll probably be tired of fingerless gloves, and it will be time to go back to the tote and see what other mysterious forgotten unfinished beauties are lying there.

Oh, and when I was taking pictures of the brown gloves to list in the etsy shop, I went ahead and snapped a few like these, for a new avatar for the shop.  I was getting tired of the previous shot of me with the sun hat.  I know that I don't have to have my mug in the avatar, but I like being able to see the faces of the other etsy shop owners, so I guess it only makes sense that I like to have a representation of myself as well as my work in my own.  

In other news, a photograpic genius neighbor and friend of mine recently asked me to make her a baby cocoon for a photo shoot she had coming up.  Having never made one before, and wanting something new, I was happy to comply.  I used this pattern from illbeyarned, and about half-a skein of Lion Homespun.  It worked up quickly and turned out quite nicely I think.  There are better pictures on Aubrey's photo blog here.

(I'd post the pictures here, but I'm not sure whether or not the baby's mother is okay with pictures of her son being used on the blog of someone she doesn't even know, and heaven knows I don't want to do anything that would make a new mother uncomfortable.  So, until I'm able to find that out, you'll just have to either take my word for how cute it is, or you'll have to take the time to make one extra click over to AHPhotography to see for yourself.)

Here's a shot sans newborn that I took in my backyard photo studio (a/k/a the top of my deep freeze.)



UPDATE:  Permission received!  Check these out!

And that's what's up with me on the crocheting front.  On the life front I've been putting together birthday parties for my little girl (one family party followed by her first ever friend party), and doing some pretty time-intensive work with my church, and trying to squeeze out as much happiness as I can out of these end of summer/beginning of fall days.  Life is good.