Victorian Baby Cape

This might have been one of the easiest baby gifts I've ever made... well, aside from caps. It's definitely one of the most unique. There was originally supposed to be two of these beauties for a set of twins on the way, but tragedy struck and I had to find a new home for the one I had completed. I don't know if any of you have ever been in the situation of making a gift and the recipient dying before receiving it, but it was really touchy there for a while and it was decided that finishing the other cape and sending the gift anyway was just not the best idea for the mother, who, by the way, is doing fine and is busy planning her next pregnancy.

The cape is made in two parts, the hood and the blanket/body, and then sewn together. It's a fantastically simple shell pattern.

My daughter's Duckie was the only model I could find that was remotely baby-sized.

The drawstring is made last and finished with pretty roses.

The pattern I used was from here and I used 2 skeins of Lavender Red Heart Super Saver acrylic.

Campus Crime Has Met Its Match

A while back, I idly posted on Facebook with a wish for small, fast crochet projects because I had just finished The Baby Blanket and was looking for little things to keep my hands busy without bogging me down. One fine young man and a dear friend of mine suggested I make him a "Teddy bear... Blue with yellow accents :)," so I set to work. The result was Captain Hilly: Action Bear, complete with super crime-fighting accessories.

The mask and cape are removable (just in case he needs that secret identity to blend in) and were made off the cuff with no pattern whatsoever (so don't ask). This project was another first for me, since this is my first crocheted teddy bear ever. I had a lot of fun making it, but the best part was that I was able to finish it and send it off as a graduation present for that wonderful and talented young man who suggested it and I've heard a rumor that Captain Hilly: Action Bear will be patrolling the campus of NYU this fall.

The pattern I used is here: http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/70704AD.html
the yarns I used were: Red Heart Super Saver Economy in Delft Blue (1 skein) & Lemon (1 skein)