Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary

When I first found out that Deanna was having a baby girl (and even before their nursery had been decorated top to bottom in nursery rhyme and vintage toy decor), I knew that THIS was the afghan that I wanted to make for baby Lexi. 

Deanna is quite the accomplished gardener, and these "pretty maids all in a row" just seemed to fit the bill for her baby girl.

The free crochet pattern can be found at Crochet Mary Ellen's or Ravelry. I used the pattern for the 12" square and made nine of them using Vanna's Choice yarn in Soft Pink, Pink Poodle, and Berrylicious.

I joined the squares using the method described in the free tutorial found at Carina's Craft Blog or Ravelry. And I finished with another row of Berrylicious and a picot border in Radiant Lime:

Border: 

Round 1: Hdc around the entire blanket working 3 hdc into each corner stitch. If changing yarn colors for picot, cut yarn and weave in ends. 

Round 2: Continue with this pattern or join second color yarn using a slip stitch:  *sc in the next three stitches, ch 3, hdc in the first chain* around. Cut yarn and weave in ends.

To complete the set, I added a sweater and a hat, both sized for 6 months, as new moms are often deluged with newborn and 3-month size clothing when babies are first born.

The free crochet pattern for the hat can be found at Red Heart or Ravelry. 

Rather than using the flower with the hat pattern, I used another pattern that looked similar to the flower on the afghan. That free pattern can be found at B. Hooked Crochet or Ravelry. 

I added two leaves to the flower with Radiant Lime from this free pattern that can be found at Red Heart.

The free crochet pattern for the sweater can be found at the Moogly Blog or Ravelry. The only modifications I made to the sweater were to stop the sleeve repeats after the first row to make it a cap sleeved sweater.

I added more vintage buttons from my stash that I acquired last December for my Christmas tree garland project. If I had to guess, I would say these buttons are probably circa 1950s.

And this 6-month set should tide Miss Lexi over until I see her again in the fall!

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