Deluxe sweater knitting machine

With the recent popularity resurgence in knitting and crocheting, there are limitless options available for yarns and fibers which you can quickly and easily crochet into an heirloom baby blanket. And, the best thing is that many of today's yarns and fibers are dyed colors which lend themselves well to making a baby blanket. With the soft pinks, light blues and mellow yellow yarns, you can be sure to match any nursery decorations the new parents may have done.

Some considerations when making a baby blanket

Yarn Selection - When you are making an item for a baby you want to find a yarn or fiber which is both soft and machine washable. New parents are often too tired and over-extended to spend time hand washing items. And, because babies can be very messy, it is essential that anything they come into contact with can be successfully washed.

No Beadwork - While beadwork is popular in today's knitting and crocheting patterns, beads are never appropriate for a baby item. A baby can loosen them and they can become a choking hazard.

The adding of Beads to your crochet projects

No matter if your crochet project is simple or complex, adding beads is a simple process which you can learn very quickly. However, one very important thing is to remember is that your bead holes need to fit over the yarn or fiber which you are crocheting with. If the bead hole is hard to get on your yarn then you will find the entire process frustrating. And, the bead, if hard to string, will rub your yarn and cause it to fray. This fraying will cause your finished product to look less than professional.

The first step in adding beads to your crochet projects is deciding how many beads you need and where you will place them on your project. Your options are limitless when you are adding beads to crochet. You can add one bead, you can add just a few beads or you can add many beads. You also have the option of forming patterns with your beads or making them appear more random. Once you have decided some of these things then it is time to hit the craft store to purchase your beads.

The knitting yarn selection

Most everyone who knits appreciates all of the variation in the yarns and fibers available on the market today. Even in a large store like Wal-Mart, you can discover many different kinds of yarns. As you move to craft stores and knitting shops your yarn selection options go through the roof. At these specialty shops you can find yarns made of some of the most exotic fibers such as alpaca and cashmere. For a knitter, browsing through all the options in a store which carries yarn can take hours and is a very enjoyable pastime.

When you are looking at yarn for a particular pattern, make sure that you understand the fiber content and structure as well as the gauge of the suggested yarn. If you are going to substitute another yarn it is important to match the fiber content, structure and the gauge of the new yarn to the one suggested in the pattern. If you do not do this, then your end project will not come out as you expected.