A shrug can be described as a cropped jacket of sorts, without buttons or other means of fastening. You can wear shrugs year-round – from lightweight shrugs over tank tops in spring to heavier styles that will keep you warm in the colder months. Shrugs have exploded onto the fashion scene in the past couple of years, and continue to be a wardrobe staple for many of the trend conscious. If you have shopped for a shrug recently, you will probably find that the price tag reflects the popularity of the item. (In other words, they are both rather high!)

But why spend a bundle on a shrug when you can easily make one yourself for a fraction of the cost? Crochet shrug patterns are abounding, and the materials to make up your own shrug are equally plentiful. Crocheted shrug patterns have become popular because they do not require that much yarn to complete and many of the patterns are simple enough for even a beginner at crochet to master. So what are you waiting for? A beautiful handmade shrug can be yours with just a little bit of yarn and effort on your part!
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Every new little bundle deserves a customized blanket created just for him. These crochet baby blankets are found in cribs and strollers everywhere you look, and they absolutely never seem to go out of style. The truth is that a new mom and her precious babe never seem to have enough blankets to go around, so the need never ends!

What’s more, a beautiful handmade crochet baby blanket will become a heirloom that will be handed down through generations. There is simply no more special and practical gift that you can choose to give to a little one. The big advantage to a crochet baby blanket, instead of a sweater or bunting, is that the maker does not have to fret about proper sizing and fit. With a crochet baby blanket, one size fits all!

Finding the Perfect Materials

Because crochet baby blankets are one of the first things one will think of when thoughts turn to the craft, there is a seemingly endless supply of patterns and materials to create those patterns. Two things to keep in mind when creating a gift for a new born are washability and safety. Those precious little bundles spend much of their time during the first few months of life spitting up formula and blowing out diapers.

Because messiness is a serious factor, everything for a baby should be able to hold up to the washing machine and dryer. Fortunately, there are many beautiful baby yarns of various fibers that are completely machine-washable. If you are in doubt, check the wrap around your yarn skein for washing instructions. It is also a good idea to enclose those instructions with your gift, so Mom has the scoop on the safest way to care for your crochet baby blanket.

Another concern with a crochet baby blanket is safety. A lacy pattern that is full of openings can catch little fingers and toes. Embellishments, such as ribbons, bows and buttons, are potential choking hazards if they come off easily and end up in a baby’s mouth.

Look for patterns of a crochet baby blanket that are fairly solid in design to avoid openings that can hurt small fingers and toes. If you decide to sew bows or buttons to your blanket, make extra sure that the items are secure. Finally, any fringe that is used as edging can get chewed on and become a choking hazard as well, so skip the fringe in favor of a scalloped or picot edging instead.

A handmade crochet baby blanket is always a good choice for a special little someone. With the nearly infinite number of patterns to choose from, you will find something for every single tot on your gift list.