Fibre arts like knitting and crochet have been on the rise during lockdown, with people turning to relaxing new hobbies they can do from the comfort of their own homes. There’s nothing more satisfying than curling up under a large afghan and knowing that you’ve knitted it yourself, but learning the basics can be intimidating. Knits and purls, tension gauges, needle sizes, yarn composition – it’s difficult to know where to start!
The finished Home Blanket
Luckily, We Are Knitters has everything you need to start your knitting journey in one simple kit. With each one of their four Décor Cotton kits, you will learn the basic skills of knitting or crochet, and by the end you’ll have a beautiful handmade item to show off in your home. Each pattern explains the steps stitch by stitch, with additional video tutorials if you get stuck.
The kit for the Foyer Blanket
Their Décor Cotton kits provide skeins of high quality Peruvian Pima cotton, the pattern, handmade Beechwood knitting needles or crochet hook, and a We Are Knitters label you can sew into your finished product. All of this comes in a recycled brown paper bag, meaning that the materials are as eco friendly as can be.
You can choose between a crochet blanket, cushion, or basket, or a knitted throw, all in a range of colours that you can chose yourself. The kits range from Beginner to Intermediate difficulty, so you can still make something if you’ve never touched a knitting needle in your life. These We Are Knitters kits are the ideal gateway to a fantastic hobby with a diverse and vibrant community.
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Aha! I do believe when it comes to blankets, I have found something which fits (perhaps loosely) into the category of homewares, therefore I can blog about baby stuff sans guilt. Am I right?!
This baby of mine has more blankets than you can shake a stick at but they’re actually all getting used in rotation because let’s face it, in this weather, you can never be warm enough. It’s actually pretty hard keeping a baby warm in this weather. Our power bill is going to give me a heart attack this quarter, I just know it! So here are 10 of my favourite baby blankets; many of them Australian, half of which we already own and the other half Seb wouldn’t mind adding to his rather impressive collection.
This is our latest acquisition and current fave in the blanket department. Made of baby alpaca and pima cotton, this is double-sided and oversized so super warm. I may or may not have stolen it a few times for my lap on the couch. And we love everything foxy and/or navy in this house so this was always going to be a winner. You really have to see and feel this blanket — which comes in its own cloth bag — to appreciate its quality, which is extremely high. Rightly described as heirloom quality in my opinion, it would make a gorgeous gift for a new mum. They have other designs too.
I’m a fan of a neutral when it comes to most linen, even baby linen, but this one hits a very happy medium with its touches of pale blue and bright yellow. This one always gets comments. Its 100% Egyptian cotton makes it a nice light option which we often fold double in Sebastian’s bassinet or pram. The cotton holds the Okeo-tex® Standard 100, which guarantees the highest sustainable and ecological practices in textiles. I also love that this one’s made in Melbourne.
I’ve long been a fan of Kate & Kate’s grown up blankets, so no surprises I love the mini versions too! This is a simple design but it’s the details that count, like the lovely blanket stitching around the edges and the cloth bag it comes in. Another 100% cotton option, this one also gets used in Seb’s bassinet. It also happens to match his blue and grey pram (the Bugaboo Bee3 with bassinet) perfectly!
If you love an old fashioned crochet blanket, a la Princess Charlotte, you need this GatherKids option. We have the bassinet size in grey and love it. Because it’s smaller we often taken it out with his capsule or in his pram. I just love how this looks like it could have been passed down generations but is in fact brand new! It’s a beauty! These are made in New Zealand and individually knitted, pre-shrunk and tumble dried.
This is a great size for bassinet or pram and you can’t go wrong with grey and white, especially if you’re buying for a baby whose sex is as yet unknown. I love the navy version too and at $49 it’s great value. Cotton/acrylic blend.
How cool is this?! No wonder it’s currently sold out. In true Kip & Co style it’s totally out there but who said all baby blankets had to be pastel and pared back? I love the pom poms! In peach and red 100% merino wool, I’d say this is a unisex option. (We love the nap wraps they recently gifted us too).
Atelier/Child is the new luxury children’s knitwear label founded this year by ex Vogue Australia deputy editor and founder of The Grace Tales Georgie Abay and communications consultant Jessica Baird Walsh. This on trend blanket is made of a cashmere/wool blend.
There’s something wonderfully old school about this rocking horse design and I do love a neutral option. This Australian-designed, reversible cotton knit blanket is the perfect size for a pram or bassinet or perhaps just snuggling on the lounge! Little Bonbon also sell some lovely baby shawls, including this one which is rather reminiscent of Princess Charlotte’s!
Everyone RAVES about their oversized muslin wraps for swaddling, so it goes without saying aden + anais’ organic muslin blankets would be something pretty special. They promise to get softer with every wash. This 100% organic cotton four-layer blanket is the ultimate in breathability; warm in winter and cool in summer.
This on trend geometric is just one of the fun designs by Weegoamigo, available from The Little Linen Company (who also sell the Airwrap, the safer cot bumper alternative). A premium double-layered knit blend of 30% bamboo rayon and 70% cotton, this one’s nice and warm and comes gift boxed.
Disclosure: Blankets marked with an asterisk were kindly gifted to Sebastian with no promise of coverage.
When her son was born with skin allergies, Rebecca Meyer realised how hard it was to find well-designed cotton toys without synthetic yarn. Sparking an idea, she decided to begin La De Dah Kids, an affordable and high quality lifestyle brand, with a penchant for crochet!
“I love everything about crochet as a medium,” says Rebecca. “The colour, texture, strength and practicality. Sometimes when you are limited to one medium the options to be creative are endless. I also love that it is an old traditional craft that can be re-invented time and time again.”
With the majority of La De Dah Kids’ homewares and toys being made from crochet, all their designs are quirky and unusual, and handmade ethically by a team of 180 passionate women in China.
With a style that is a mishmash of everything (there’s a little Scandinavian in there and a little retro!), their products are a perfect addition to any nursery or kids room. They are also ideal for those on a tight budget, with their toys, storage baskets and floor rugs perfect for parents wanting to decorate beautifully without breaking the bank. “You don’t need a huge budget to make an amazing nursery,” explains Rebecca. “Some of my tips are using toys and books as decorative art on open shelves to make a feature. You also don’t need to fill a nursery with bulky storage items; you can use great storage baskets for all the bits and bobs. This way it makes items portable and keeps things organised and practical. Furthermore, I would recommend buying a floor rug that is practical and can grow with your baby.”
Other tips Rebecca has for decorating on a budget include using paint to create a feature wall, repurposing and painting old furniture and investing only in pieces that will last and grow with your child. “Choose items that your child can grow with. Don’t just search kids sections; there are some great adult homewares that look lovely in kids rooms too. Have fun this really can be a fun project! And if your child is old enough include them in the process.”
With La De Dah Kids having just launched their latest collection, all their products perfectly suit the current trends of black and white and pastel nurseries. “This year’s go-to colour combo for a baby’s room is black and white. The classic, back-to-basics colours makes a great unisex base that you can then add pops of colour to as your child grows. Also these years the must have for any little girls room is a soft pastel palette. Think Gelato ice cream of all shades.”
