There are few things more exciting than when someone is having a baby. Maybe you have heard that good news from several people recently, and while you are very happy for them, you are a little concerned. You may be one of the many who have too little money and too much time since the current economic uncertainties began, and you know it will be hard to get all of these wonderful new families the gifts you would like to give them. Now would be a great time to consider reviving a tradition that has often been discarded in our materialistic age: the tradition of hand made and homemade gifts. Personalized baby blankets, handmade cards, embroidered party bags and many other common items can be made special with your personal creativity.
One simple homemade gift you could try is making some knitted baby booties for the new babies. It may be the beginning of a new hobby for you and will give each child a personal treasure. In fact, some people become so adept at knitting these baby booties that 50 baby booties to knit in a couple of days for their retail business is quite reasonable to accomplish. Knitted baby booties for sale go quickly, especially if you can add any type of custom work such as embroidering.
Choosing the Supplies
Once you’ve decided to make your own hand knit baby booties, you will need to invest in some supplies. You will need knitting needles, yarn, and most likely you will want to find easy knitted baby booties patterns to follow, at least until you get the feel of knitting and how to make the shapes you want. Before you go shopping though, you may want to do a little investigating of your own to find out if the parents are going to have a particular theme for the baby. Booties that are a clashing color are not likely to get much wear. If you aren’t sure, go with a neutral color like tan or white. When choosing yard, both the color and the material are important. The salespeople in craft stores can be a very useful resource at this point. They will know the different merits and drawbacks of each type of yarn. Going to a craft store will also give you the opportunity to network with other people who enjoy knitting or are just starting to knit. You may find a new group of friends in a knitting group before all the baby booties are finished.
Learning to Knit
Once you have purchased yarn and a pair of knitting needles, you’ll need to find a pattern and learn some knitting basics. Fortunately, it’s the World Wide Web to the rescue once again. Many sites offer free knitted baby booties patterns. Two such sites are knittingpatterncentral.com and knittingonthenet.com. The knitted baby booties pattern offers at these sites are great, but you may have to purchase the more elaborate patterns you are looking for. Some patterns are designed specifically with beginners in mind and you might want to start with an easy knit baby booties pattern. There are also several You Tube video that demonstrate the knitting techniques you can use to make baby booties. Ultimately, there will come a point in time when you just have to jump in and get your feet wet. Practice makes perfect, and the more you play around with your knitting needles and yarn the more comfortable you will become with knitting.
Other Options
Some people will find that knitting their own baby booties is not something they enjoy or want to do ever again. If you still want to give knitted baby booties, there are a couple of options. You can purchase already knitted booties on the Internet, the offer not only hand knits but also loom knit baby booties. Other options for handmade gifts would include a knit or crochet baby blanket or a burp rag, wall hanging, towel, or washcloth, with a wise quote embroidered or cross-stitched into it. Whatever you decide to give, even if you don’t make it with your own hands, the baby’s parents will appreciate the uniqueness and thoughtful planning that went into your homemade gift.