Homemade gifts for children
Whether your grandchildren are babies, toddlers or teens there’s nothing more precious than a handmade gift
Rainbow Rattle
This pretty, crocheted gift for a new baby is made using bright colours to stimulate their senses and capture their attention
FINISHED SIZE
7½in (19cm) tall and 3.5cm (9cm) wide
YOU WILL NEED
Stylecraft Classique Cotton 4ply, 100 per cent cotton
1 x 50g ball each of 3672 Poppy (A), 3662 Sunflower (B), 3663 Soft Lime (C), 3667 Sky Blue (D), 3095 Greek Blue (E), 3660 White (F)
3mm (UK11) crochet hook Polyester stuffing
15cm (6in) lolly stick
Piece of white felt, large enough to cut out two squares 6.5x6.5cm (2½x2½in) Small bell
Tapestry needle
BEFORE YOU START… Ch – chain; ch sp(s) – chain space(s); dc – double crochet; rep – repeat; RS – right side of work; sl st – slip stitch; st(s) – stitch(es); tr – treble; WS – wrong side of work
TENSION
Tension is not essential for this project, but each square is approximately 8x8cm (3¼x3¼in) using a 3mm hook.
GRANNY SQUARE
(Make 2)
Using 3mm hook and A, ch 4 sts, sl st in first ch to form a loop. Round 1: 3 ch, 2 tr in loop, 3 ch, (3 tr, 3 ch), rep twice more, sl st in 3 ch (4 tr clusters). Round 2: Change to B, attach yarn to any 3 ch sp, (3 ch, 2 tr, 3 ch, 3 tr, 1 ch) in ch sp, (3 tr, 3 ch, 3 tr, 1 ch) in next ch sp three times, sl st in 3 ch (8 tr clusters). Round 3: Change to C, attach yarn to any 3 ch sp, (3 ch, 2 tr, 3 ch, 3 tr, 1 ch) in ch sp, (3 tr, 1 ch) in next ch sp, *(3 tr, 3 ch, 3 tr, 1 ch) in next 3 ch sp, (3 tr, 1 ch) in next ch sp; rep from * twice more, sl st in 3 ch (12 tr clusters). Round 4: Change to D, attach yarn to any 3 ch sp, 2 ch, 1 dc in ch sp, 1 dc in the top of every tr and every 1 ch sp, work (1 dc, 1 ch, 1 dc) into every 3 ch corner sp, join with sl st to first ch.
Round 5: Change to E, attach yarn to any 1 ch sp, 2 ch, 1 dc in ch sp, 1 dc in the top of every dc, work (1 dc, 1 ch, 1 dc) into every 1 ch corner sp, join with sl st to first ch. Fasten off and weave in ends. HANDLE Using 3mm hook and F, make a magic ring.
Round 1: 1 ch, 6 dc into the centre of the ring.
Round 2: 2 dc into each st (12 sts). Round 3: (1 dc, dc2inc) six times (18 sts).
Round 4: Work 1 round straight. Rounds 5-6: Change to A, work 2 rounds straight. Rounds 7-8: Change to F, work 2 rounds straight. Rounds 9-10: Change to B, work 2 rounds straight. Rounds 11-12: Change to F, work 2 rounds straight. Rounds 13-14: Change to C, work 2 rounds straight. Rounds 15-16: Change to F, work 2 rounds straight. Rounds 17-18: Change to D, work 2 rounds straight. Rounds 19-20: Change to F, work 2 rounds straight. Rounds 21-22: Change to E, work 2 rounds straight. Rounds 23-25: Change to F,
work 3 rounds straight. Round 26: (1 dc, dc2tog) six times (12 sts). Round 27: Work 1 round straight. Fasten off.
FINISHING
Weave in ends and block each of the squares. Cut out two pieces of felt, each measuring 2½x2½in (6.5x6.5cm). Place the pieces together and sew around all four sides, keeping one corner open. Place the bell inside the felt pillow and stuff with a small amount of stuffing. Place the front and back of the granny squares WS together. Using E, attach yarn 4 sts from one corner, 1 ch, 1 dc in both sides of the granny square and work (1 dc, 1 ch, 1 dc) in each corner space. Fasten off when you are four stitches from the last corner.
Carefully place the stuffed pillow inside the granny square pillow. Ease the corners of the pillow into the corners of the granny squares. Begin to stuff the handle of the rattle. Then place the lolly stick down the centre of the handle. Work additional stuffing around the stick and make sure the handle is firm. Place the granny square pillow on top of the stick and pull the open edge over the top of the handle. Sew firmly in place. YOU WILL NEED
50cm (20in) main fabric
1 fat quarter of contrast fabric Contrast thread for hand sewing and machine sewing Sewing machine Hand-sewing needle Dressmaking shears
Pins and pincushion
Iron and ironing board
SIZES
To fit 0-6 months, 6-12 months and 1-2 years PATTERN PIECES Photocopy the pattern pieces right at the percentage shown. Trace the appropriate size pieces onto tracing paper and cut them out. A 1cm (½in) seam allowance is included in all pattern pieces. Use a 1cm (½in) seam allowance throughout the pattern, unless otherwise stated. CROWN Cut 3 in main fabric Cut 3 in contrast fabric BRIM Cut 2 in main fabric