After reading this post in the spring on Ginger Makes, I started thinking about how I do actually sew things for other people sometimes, and maybe I should post about some of them. Especially when I actually go outside and take pictures before mailing the thing off.
Sometimes, I sew a blanket for the new arrivals in the families of my nearest and dearest. The last several have been made from the scraps from these hats (quick shameless promotion: they’ll be back in my Etsy shop soon! Ask for them at your favorite kids’ store. Get me in touch with that store! Ok, I’m done).
I can’t get rid of these ribbings, they’re so irresistibly textural, and so vibrantly colored, and so buttery soft, basically perfect for a new baby’s blanket as far I’m concerned. Mamas, did I mention already felted = machine washable? (Just like the hats.)
I used the mock-serger stitch on my machine, for strength plus some stretch. With these materials, the seams will never be 100% ripple-free, so I’m going with “ripples are part of the charm.” In lieu of extra decoration, I switched thread colors at intervals as I went, and it made a big difference in the look, I love that the thread isn’t distracting from the ribbing colors.
We’re actually going to meet the recipient of this blanket today! I’m really excited.
One thing I love about making things for other people, besides the warm fuzzy feeling, is that it’s often an opportunity for me to try out a new idea and be more creative, thinking about things from another perspective.
What about you? How do you feel about making things for others?
Tasha Miller Griffith 
I knew there would be a project worthy of the cashmere sweater I saw in a charity shop the other day. I think I’ll start collecting now. This is absolutely gorgeous. I normally patchwork quilt for new babies – but this looks much softer and lots of fun.
This is as close as I currently get to quilting, but I also have a big bag of non-ribbing scraps, and ideas for various quilt-type things to make with those are always hovering around the back of my mind. I do love how soft and lofty the cashmere is, so one layer seems like enough.
I LOVE your fiddlehead hats! I bought one several years ago at the Ann Arbor Art Fair. You know you have a good product when you can get a woman with no children to buy a baby item! Hopefully, I’ll have a baby some day! LOL!
I love making things for others, but have a really hard time giving away something I poured my heart into. I’m pretty crafty (probably not as much as you though!), but I’ve found that the best way to give and still keep my creations is to be a photographer 😉 It’s the most amazing feeling to create a product that makes people so happy! And, it’s an extra joy that I get to keep it too. Oh, maybe I just need a therapist to handle my attachment issues! Haha! But, yes, there is definitely a proud feeling associated with giving someone something you’ve made. 🙂 ❤
I know what you mean, I definitely pick my projects and recipients carefully. I want whatever I’ve made to be used and loved! But if I think it will be, it’s usually easy for me to let it go. After all, I got to think it up and make it, which to me are two of the best parts of something. I think you’re right about photos, or writing etc., it’s nice to have some things that can be shared without giving them all away. I’m glad you love the hat! Good luck with that next part! 🙂
I enjoyed your thoughts and I find the blanket cute and a smart use of leftovers,
but I stopped by to say I LOVED those little hats you make. SO CUTE! makes me want to have children so I can have some! O.o
love,
Ju
Ha ha thanks Ju! Um, there’s an adult size … and there’s always baby gifts!
love the quilt…i have a good bit of cashmere, but no ribbing nearly that long…is that from sweaters? once i’ve felted them, it doesn’t seem like there’s enough to make something that big.
Hi Michelle, yes, it’s from sweaters. Because of making the hats, I have, um, a ton of them! If I cut the ribbing off around the waist in one piece, sometimes it’s long enough to be one whole strip of the blanket and sometimes not, as you can see in the pics where the colors join. Each strip of this blanket is about 30″ long, so if you were making an adult blanket of course you’d need more. If you’re in the market for extra ribbing, shoot me an email—right now I’m actually working on getting some kits with sewing instructions and ribbing ready for Etsy … good luck!
Love the blanket! How do I felt the cashmere though? I have a few cashmere sweaters feom charity shops I’d love to felt. Thanks, Maggie
Hi Maggie, so wool + moisture + agitation = felt (+ heat speeds it up). The easiest/fastest way to felt something knitted is in the washing machine. See this post: https://tashamillergriffith.com/2014/01/21/how-to-felt-basics-and-felting-faq-part-2/ Cashmere can resist felting for quite a while, but if you keep throwing it in when you wash a load of towels or something (i.e. on hot, long cycle, etc.), it will felt, somewhere between 2 and 10 cycles later … don’t forget to zip it inside a pillowcase, since a lot of fiber may escape from the sweater in the process!