She's Pretty in Pink

She's all done! 

The pretty in PINK Victorian Baby Jacket!

 I love this free pattern from Red Heart.

Of course I made a few modifications to the pattern.

The pattern called for one button with a crocheted button closure loop.

I didn't want a closure that would have a tendency to come open.

I opted to put three small pearl buttons on the front instead of one.

And in place of the button closure loop, I sewed three homemade buttonholes into the front facing with pink DMC embroidery thread.

(One commenter in Ravelry advised that the front of her jacket gapped open without a button closure.) 

I debated how to tack down the front lapels.  

Should I put buttons, crochet a flower ...I just couldn't decide. 

With the other embellishments already on the front - the picot edging on the collar and the ribbon tie - I didn't want it to look too fussy with even more on the collar.

Plus the collar lapels are small.

As I was trying to decide, my eye caught a deep rose cotton yarn in my piles around my chair and I thought to myself why not just add a simple embroidered straight line of stitches around the collar.   

It's pretty, but simple and it also tacks down the lapels neatly. 

I folded up the sleeves.  

They look a little long to me. 

Mom will have to adjust them for the size of her baby. 

I added pink felt for backing on the front facings to give extra strength to the buttons and buttonholes.

Not the best looking home sewn buttonholes I will admit.

Maybe I can erase the pencil marks before I give this to my niece?

With these facings it should be easier for my niece to button and unbutton her baby's jacket.

I tacked down all around the front facings with regular pink sewing thread.

What else did I changed?

The pattern called for the picot edging on the collar and the front facings.

I just added it to the collar.

Here's a closer look at the back.  

The white band is where the white ribbon is threaded through.

And a full view of the back.

This is only the second baby outfit I have crocheted.

I'm tickled PINK at how it came out.  

Not bad for me.

(Click here to go to Ravelry for more details).

Just A Teeny, Tiny Peek

I'm not done yet with the Victorian Baby Jacket that I'm crocheting for my niece's baby due this July...

...but it's so cute I couldn't resist giving you a little, teeny, tiny peek.

I still have some finishing touches I'm working on. 

So stay tuned for the big reveal coming soon.

(Hop over to Ravelry for more details.)

Victorian Baby Jacket in PINK!

Our niece is expecting her second child this July.

I had already decided to give her the two baby blankies (here) and (here) I crocheted previously.

We were anxiously awaiting to hear if they were having a boy or another girl.   

While we were at Walt Disney World our niece texted us...

Another little princess for them!   

We were so pleased.

And then...

I saw this adorable little pink and white Victorian BABY Jacket on Pinterest. 

I fell in LOVE with this FREE pattern (download available here).

It's perfect for a PRINCESS!

Could I crochet this?

I have to try it.

I'm GOING for it. 

Now mind you I have only ever crocheted one baby dress (for their first baby girl, Hailey) so this is a new challenge for me. 

Luckily I have a skein of Caron Simply Soft yarn in Soft Pink in my stash.

I love it in PINK!

My first try of the foundation chain and first two rows was off...my BAD...I didn't read the pattern correctly. 

 So I drew a rough diagram to help me out. 

 My second try was better. 

 I'm a visual person and I like diagrams along with the written instructions.

I just wish more designers would include them.

Wish me luck with this one!

More information on this project available on Ravelry (here).