A.C.Moore and Caron have introduced the Naturally Baby Contest that will have benefit Project Linus.  Let all your fellow knit and crochet enthusiasts know about it and have fun!

The entry deadline is December 1, 2008 and the contest will be judged by you and fellow knitters and crocheters.  Voting begins on December 5, 2008.

To enter you have to knit or crochet a baby blanket in any color or mix of colors, using Naturally Caron Spa or Country yarn, purchased at A.C.Moore. 

Check out NaturallyCaron.com or ACMoore.com for details.

In a previous post, I included instructions that I found for converting crochet patterns to knit and here are the instructions for converting knit patterns to crochet from eHow.com.  You can use these instructions to convert those “too cute” baby blanket patterns that you may not have been able to make before.

Most knitting instructions are easy to convert. You only need to know a few basic stitch conversions to change your favorite knitting pattern into your favorite crochet pattern.

Things You’ll Need:

Crochet Patterns

Knitting Gauge Rulers

Knitting Patterns

Crochet Hooks

Crochet Thread

Step1

Use a crochet hook to make a gauged sample. Change the size of hook until you reach the needed gauge to complete the project.

Step2

Change the knit gauge to the crochet gauge by exchanging the stitches listed in the following steps.

Step3

Make a copy of your pattern and pencil in the crochet stitches to use above the knitting ones.

Step4

Chain stitch the number of cast-on stitches or the number needed to reach the needed gauge.

Step5

Convert one row of knit and one row of purl (or two rows of knit) to one row of single crochet.

Step6

Substitute one row of half-double crochet for three rows of knitting (or for k1, p1, k1).

Step7

Crochet one row of double crochet to replace one row of knit, one row of purl, one row of knit, and one row of purl.

Step8

Change six rows of stockinette to one row of treble crochet.

Step9

Periodically check the gauge to make sure you are staying in the correct measurement.

Technorati Tags: baby blanket patterns

As someone who knits, how many times have you come across baby blanket patterns or any other crochet patterns that were simply adorable?  I know I have, and it seemed to be such a waste to have such a lovely pattern but not be able to use it.  That is not the case anymore!  I came across these instructions on how to convert a crochet pattern into a knit pattern from eHow.com.

When converting your crochet pattern to a knitting pattern, remember to measure the gauge before you begin so the finished project will be the correct size or shape.

Things You’ll Need:

Knitting Gauge Rulers

Knitting Patterns

Crochet Thread

Knitting Needles

Pencils

Pencils

Pencils

Step1

Use a pair of knitting needles to make a gauged sample. Convert your crochet pattern to a knitting pattern by substituting the stitches listed in the following steps.

Step2

Change the size of needles, if necessary, to achieve the size of gauge needed to complete the pattern.

Step3

Pencil in the knitting stitches above the crochet stitches. Make a copy of your pattern if you do not wish to write on the original.

Step4

Cast yarn onto the needles in place of the beginning crochet chain stitch. You will need to use your gauge to get the correct number of stitches.

Step5

Convert one row of single crochet to one row of knit and one row of purl (k1, p1); or two rows of knit; or two rows of garter stitch.

Step6

Substitute three rows of knitting (or knit one row, purl one row, then knit one row - k1, p1, k1) for one row of half-double crochet.

Step7

Knit a row of each (k1, p1, k1, p1) for a total of four rows to replace one row of double crochet.

Step8

Change one row of treble crochet into six rows of stockinette (or knit one row, purl one row, knit one row, purl one row, knit one row, purl one row - k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1).

Step9

Periodically check the gauge to make sure you are staying in the correct measurement.

Technorati Tags: baby blanket patterns

As I venture into the world of knitting and crochet, I realize that great people do great things with this craft, simply by using basic baby blanket patterns.  I have come across many articles that relate the stories of groups and individuals who create baby blankets for donation purposes.  All of the stories have really touched and inspired me, but none pulled at my heart strings more than the baby blanket story from chicken soup for the soul by Winona Smith. 

The story tells of a woman who, three years earlier, had learned to crochet basic baby blanket patterns along with her church group, “which would be donated to a local crisis pregnancy center at Christmas.”  That year she felt inspired to make quite a few blankets for donation never realizing how much her handmade gifts would mean to the recipients.  Until she learned that one of her blankets had saved a young mother in turmoil, a young mother who unbeknown to her, happened to be her good friend’s daughter.

This story is truly touching and will inspire anyone interested in this craft to realize that even the simplest baby blanket patterns can help you create something beautiful that will inspire others.  To read the full baby blanket story click here.

Technorati Tags: baby blanket patterns