Finding the perfect gift for new parents can often be a challenge. Many times new parents have either already shopped for their babies, or they have other children and have many of the things they will need already in their homes. One perfect gift option in this case is the gift of a handmade crochet baby blanket.

Some considerations when making a baby blanket

Pattern Selection - You should choose a pattern which is tightly woven if the blanket will be used by a very young baby. Often designs with any open-work allow for the baby's fingers or toes to get caught up in the blanket and cause discomfort. This is both a health and a safety risk.

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.

When adding 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.

Knitting yarn selection

If your knitting pattern calls for a very lightweight smaller yarn and you use a larger chunky yarn, then you can count on your end project being a very different size than the pattern states. While this is easy to adjust for in the case of scarves and blankets, it is not as easy when you are making things like socks, hats, and sweaters. It is important to keep this in mind when you are selecting your yarn.

While no one particularly loves knitting a swatch to check for gauge, it is vital when you are looking at substituting a different yarn for a pattern. This quick check will show you if your gauge is correct for the pattern or if you will need to switch needles or adjust your tension.