It takes up to a year for a baby to develop the ability to regulate its own body temperature.  In that year they are unable to tell parents and caregivers that they are too hot or too cold, apart from crying their discomfort.  It is our responsibility as carers to provide a safe, warm and comfortable environment for our little ones.

Natural fibres such as cotton, wool and alpaca fibre have been used for centuries to provide soft, breathable coverings for babies.

Modern use of synthetic fibres has brought down the price of baby and infant clothing, however these fibres do not breathe or wick moisture away from baby’s skin.

In New Zealand and overseas there is an increasing trend back to using traditional wool, cotton and mohair natural fibres, and also more recently introduced natural fibres such as Alpaca and Bamboo. 

The advantages of some of the different natural fibres readily available now are briefly discussed below:

Cotton – No-one knows how old cotton is but by the year 1500 it was known generally throughout the world. Cotton was first spun by machinery in England in 1730. Since then it has been an integral part of clothing manufacture throughout the world.

 Pure cotton is ideal for use in baby clothing – look for it in singlets, nappies, muslin wraps and face cloths, Tshirts, dresses, shirts, nightwear

 Wool – The story of wool began long ago, before recorded history when primitive man first clothed himself in the woolly skins of the wild sheep he killed for food. It was woven into cloth in the Bronze Age which began about 1900 BC. Man had discovered a durable fabric which gave him what nothing else could give: protection from heat and cold alike, from wind and rain. A versatile fabric which kept him cool in the heat of the day and warm in the cold of the night, which could absorb moisture without feeling wet.  Man can never match it. No other material, natural or man-made, has all its qualities. Man has refined and improved wool, by selective breeding of sheep and by incorporating in wool fabrics such qualities as shrink resistance, durable creasing and pleating, mothproofing, shower-proofing and stain-proofing.

Wool is a great choice for natural baby clothes. Look for it in cardigans, sweaters, blankets, mittens, hats and booties. Merino Wool is enjoying renewed popularity and although more expensive than other wool types produces lovely light-weight, warm baby clothing items. 100% certified organic Merino Wool is also now produced in New Zealand. Merino fabric is also available for baby wraps and clothing items.

Alpaca – South American Andean tribes have used Alpaca fibre for centuries.  It was used for meat, skins, and the fibres for weaving. It is only recently that Alpaca fibres are enjoying popularity as a weaving and knitting fibre in many parts of the world. 

 Light-weight, soft and warm ideal for matinee jackets, beanies, hats, mittens and bootees for baby. Alpacas are breed and raised in many countries including New Zealand.

Mohair – Angora Goats produce mohair fibre, the originated in Turkey and Turkey remained it sole produced for many years prohibited the export of goats and fibre. In 1839 travellers introduced Angora Goats to South Africa and then they were gradually found all over the world.  Mohair has been used for cloth, scarves, shawls, blankets and knitwear. 

 Ideal for attractive cardigans, jumpers, mittens, gloves, beanies and scarves.

 Bamboo – The Chinese have used bamboo for many items for centuries -  food, in construction, decoration and clothing. New technology is currently being developed to add another option to bamboo processing methods called “Greenyarn”, which involves using chemicals to create nano particles of bamboo charcoal that are then woven into fabrics. 

 Try out a Bamboo Fibre knitted item, you’ll be surprised how silky and light-weight it feels.  Ideal for warmer climates where the added insulation properties of wool are not required. 

Handy tips for washing natural fibres 

All natural fibres should be treated gently.  Some modern wool types are labelled as machine washable, but take care to follow the washing instructions carefully to avoid matting, shrinking and pilling.  A general rule for natural fibres is to hand wash gently in warm water with a wool wash or gentle washing agent.  Squeeze out excess water.  Rinse well in lukewarm water. Squeeze out excess rinse water.  Avoid wringing, spinning or twisting.  Dry flat or if a small item suspend out of direct sunlight.  Avoid storing in plastic bag or plastic containers.  Use lavender or other natural insect repellents to deter insects.

 Enjoy using natural fibre items with a clear conscience knowing that your product, once finished with, is biodegradable. 

 Don’t forget natural fibres breathe as well as insulate.

As a Mum-in-waiting I set to in the evenings while I was still working and made some matinee outfits and bootees to match for my new baby.  I was feeling so pleased with myself when they were finished.  They seemed to be very small but the pattern said Newborn to 3 months so I figured it should work well.

Our baby was born prematurely and my carefully made outfits just didn’t fit. On going home day after nearly two weeks in Neo-natal although baby had gained weight he was still small so I folded up the sleeves a few times and the brim of the hat and vowed then and there that for the next one, if there was one, I would find or make up a pattern that would make an outfit that would fit for taking my little newborn home.

Fortunately my Mother-in-Law, also a knitter, set to with her needles and found a dolls pattern and made our new son a lovely little cardigan and bootees that worked really well and fitted him for the first 4-6 weeks.  It wasn’t until he was nearly 3 months old that the matinee items I had made him fitted him. I was, needless to say, well prepared when our next baby arrived also premature.

Ever since that experience I have had a passion for making nice outfits to fit prem and newborn babies.  I know that babies grow fast and the outfit doesn’t last that long but at a time when family, friends and extended whanau are visiting to welcome your precious newborn I just remember how grateful I was to have received that little cardigan and bootees that fitted and didn’t say “I’m smaller than the average”.

Now as an Aunt, Great Aunt and Grannie I still enjoy knitting little things.  I love the feel of 100% pure baby wool but over the years I have branched out and used Alpacca Fibre and for older children some of the new yarns including Bamboo.  For newborns though I still stick with Pure Wool or Alpacca as both of these give good insulation when baby is new and unable to maintain its own body temperature.

Now that most Mums no longer stay in Hospital for 8-10 days as we used to but often go home the same or the next day after baby arrives I believe the woollen cardigan, beanie and bootees to be absolutely essential items.  This is why they came to be a priority for me when knitting for newborns.

 Check out my current listings under Matinee Sets and Premature Outfits.

 Knitting with Love

Sarah

The Going Home Pack had its beginnings when my nieces were born and although still in my late teens I was delighted to be able to make bootees and Angel tops for the new babies as they arrived.  “The Aunty Pack” developed when my nieces began to have their own children.  I was keen to help out with practical but nice things for their new babies, as by then I had been a Mum myself.

 Most essential in my thinking was the baby’s first outfit, a going home woollen outfit for newborns or perhaps a 0-3 months set, it varied.  With this in mind a matinee coat/cardigan, matching beanie and bootees seemed to be top of the list.

 Next came baby wraps.  Most newborns settle better when wrapped firmly.  These wraps are light-weight and soft but provide comfort for baby when put down to sleep.  So wraps became an insert into the “Aunty Pack”.

 As a very practical person I thought Nursery Squares would have multiple uses when baby is new – these are a variation on the old flannel nappies I used and were so versatile for:

• Burp clothes
• Change pads covers
• Mess catchers
• Sheet protectors
• Kick mat covers

Muslin Face Flannels were another important addition as wet muslin is lovely and soft on baby’s new skin at bath time and as face and hand wipes.  Muslin washes and dries well for frequent use.  They were a favourite for my own babies so in they went too!

Lastly I thought about blankets and with the advent of car capsules/seat I developed these little blankets from shawl patterns making them smaller and square to reduce bulk, but still give an added covering when travelling in the car or out and about in the capsule or pram and for cuddling at feeding time.  The little pile was growing!

 When I told my nieces and daughter-in-law what I was planning for Nana’s Gift Store they happily sent me feedback of their experiences with their Aunty/Grannie Packs.

 “As a new Mum it was hard to know what I really needed for baby.  The Aunty Pack gave me a great start on the basics.  The muslin wipes and wraps were perfect for during and after bath time, being soft and gentle on new skin, and the woollen booties and hats were really important for keeping our winter baby warm.”

 “I’ve received two now and I loved getting them. My packs were full of useful bits and pieces and we’ve used everything.  The muslins and nursery cloths have been particularly important as our babies spilled a bit to start. For our first baby, we hadn’t started collecting much in the way of baby clothes so when the pack arrived it made baby very real for us to look at little booties and hats”.

 “The Aunty Pack was a life-saver for me. I didn’t even know that I needed some things until I found them in the Aunty pack! The little soft muslin wash cloths were great, and muslin wrap, loved the soft wear-home outfits with booties and hat and jersey, soft blankets… everything was wonderful.”

“All the items in the Grannie Packs were great and much appreciated.  Included were things I hadn’t realised I would need.  The most useful and practical items were the Nursery Squares and the Muslin cloths.”

“The Aunty Pack was fantastic and our girls came home in a beautifully knitted, matching ensembles.  Particularly gorgeous were the hats with the bows on the front, and as our babies were premature, the cardigans and booties were excellent for the very important job of keeping their body temperature stable when we brought them home.”

 This feedback indicated to me that these packs when they were received, although filled with practical items,  they not only helped to make a start with planning for the new baby but also gave the expectant Mum and Dad some little items to imagine bringing their new little person home in.

 So that’s the history of Going Home Pack and Aunty Packs.  Check out in the Specialty Shop listing to see if any are available just now.

 Sarah

In South Africa, there are whole generations of children growing up not knowing their parents and grandparents who have been tragically lost to HIV and Aids.

Both my mother and mother-in-law work, through their church outreach programmes, with families who have been affected by HIV and Aids. One of the projects they have implemented successfully is the memory box and I thought that this is a wonderful idea, not just for families affected this way, but for everyone to leave a part of themselves behind so future generations can learn more about them.

Basically a memory box contains things about you. Some of the suggested items to include are a sample of your handwriting, samples of your voice, some photos of you and your family – parents and grandparents if possible, even your favourite pet! Tracing your roots has become very popular again these days, and including a copy of your family tree if you have one, would be wonderful.

Greg and I were prompted to delve into his family tree by a great aunt of his. Trixie celebrates her 90th birthday this Saturday, and she has been a wonderful source of information, from photos, to stories about his grandfather and great grandfather. We first met her two years ago and it has been wonderful getting to know more about his history. We discovered that his great grandfather was an architect, and this meant so much to him, as it helped explain his passion for architecture, the profession he too chose to follow. His father knew nothing about his grandfather, and so without this information from Trixie, Greg would never have known this information

Another good idea is to try writing a letter telling future generations a bit more about yourself, talk about growing up, what your favourite things were as a child, a teenager and an adult. Tell them about your friends, and other family members. Things that might seem mundane to you could be really fascinating to future generations.

A perfect way to pull all this information together would be to decoupage a box, as discussed in one of my previous articles – there it was used as a gift box for babies, but it has many wonderful uses. Perhaps you could photocopy photos to stick on the top of the box as a memento itself, just remember to use some hairspray on the photocopies to seal the ink before modging and varnishing the top.

As a new mother, my legacy to my daughter will really be lessons that I have learned through the years, it will be in guiding her to make the right choices in life, teaching her everything I can. One’s biggest fear as a parent is not being able to be there for your children, a memory box like this can be a wonderful gift to them. I have already started recording my thoughts for her while I sit in traffic on the way to work in the morning, a good use of this otherwise useless time in my day.

In previous articles, I have shared a bit of my life experience and shared with you, patterns that have been successful for either me or friends and family members. I feel that it’s important to learn one new thing every day, and try to do this consistently in my daily life.

I visited the Michael Mount Organic Market this weekend with my mother, and was amazed at the beautiful handcrafted items on sale. It was rather fresh out today and I found myself drawn to the stalls selling jerseys and ponchos. (You can visit their market’s website at www.bryanstonorganicmarket.co.za)

I chatted to the stallholders about their jerseys and ponchos and discovered that they are made from homespun yarns. They had the most stunning array of items and I fell in love with a colourful poncho for my daughter and wanted to know more about it. The owner of the stall told me that they imported the jerseys and ponchos from Mexico and other South American countries like Peru. This homespun yarn is made from alpaca and is dyed in many brilliant colours that you identify well with these parts of the world. I had always imagined homespun yarn to be dull and pale, and to be honest I expected it to be scratchy, not nearly as soft as it actually is. I think I must have stood there too long rubbing the poncho against my cheek, because he started to eye me suspiciously!

I wanted to buy the poncho but it was very expensive and as we’re heading into summer here I decided against it. I will wait till next winter, when she’s a bit bigger and we will manage a few months wear out of it.

When I got home I hopped on the internet to learn more about homespun yarns, and was able to find quite a bit of information about it. I thought I would share this with you as perhaps like me; you have had little information about homespun yarns and fabrics.

To explain true homespun yarn in the simplest way possible, it is yarn that is spun at home, and is produced in small quantities, often from lama and alpaca wool. This yarn is then dyed into the colours you need. It is often woven on a loom at home and has an uneven, almost spongy texture. It’s strongest characteristic is that it is incredibly warm and strong wearing – which makes it an excellent choice for countries experiencing extreme temperatures such as New Zealand, where it snows in winter and one needs to keep very warm. In South Africa, many people feel that there are really only a few days in winter when it is cold enough to wear it, but it is so beautiful that many people choose to wear it anyway.

I discovered that you can also purchase homespun yarn, in the shops or online, just as you would any other yarn. The yarns come in vibrant colours, both multicoloured and solid strands. It is a textured yarn which brings depth to your creations, without needing complicated patterns and designs. Some companies who sell the homespun yarn and patterns online include, Lionbrand (www.lionbrand.com); and Bountiful www.bountifulspinweave.com (phone for orders).

Some interesting websites to do with homespun yarn and homespun patterns include; http://www.yarndex.com/ – a yarn directory dedicated to telling you more about every kind of yarn imaginable, http://www.touchyarns.com/ – a site for Merino wool, perfect for knitting, weaving, embroidery, felting and embellishment of garments.

We would love to hear from you – tell us which sites you found helpful and interesting, ask us questions and we will try our best to help you with your query.

As new parents of a beautiful baby girl, Ciara, we were blessed with many wonderful gifts from our friends and family. Some of the most precious to us were hand crafted by grannies and even great grannies.
For me personally, the most precious gift came in my mother’s gift basket to us. After opening the beautifully wrapped gifts, I came across a gift from my grandmother, who passed away while Greg and I were still dating many years ago.

My grandmother was so important to me, we would spend every Christmas with them as children in the same home in which my mother and her brothers grew up. Every morning my brother and I would sneak into her room at five o’clock, and snuggle into the bed with her and my grandfather. They slept in separate beds in the same room, high big wooden carved beds that we had to scramble up onto with difficulty. First they would read from the Bible, and then they would say their prayers. I remember as a child thinking how many friends they must have as there were so many prayers said for so many people, each one mentioned by name. The list seemed endless and I thought that they were very lucky to have so many friends. Then I would sit on the floor next to her stool as she carefully applied her porcelain make-up, using an old wooden shoe-horn to pat the skin under her chin to keep it taut. She was always immaculately turned out, in beautiful silken blouses and skirts or smart pants.

Her kitchen was a treasure trove of cupboards and pantries, stuffed with ice-cream sundae boats and glasses, old Lucozade glass bottles filled with home- made ginger beer and lemonade that we had as special treats. She would cook every day, ensuring that my grandfather had a hot meal on the table when he returned home from his stationery supply store. After dinners on Tuesday’s he would sit down in front of the television with us on his lap and we’d all watch the Lone Ranger – his favourite show.

My grandmother was very creative, winning many awards for her flower arranging, and assisting in uplifting the community teaching the less fortunate to knit in order to create items they could sell to bring in a bit of an income.

All these memories of her came flooding back as I turned over the most beautiful, carefully knitted bibs, so small and dainty. My mother smiled at me and told me that she had asked my gran to make them for me many years before when she was living with us after my grandfather passed away. She had put them away safely for me till now.

I thought back to those times with fondness and can actually remember her making these same bibs for friends of hers at church to give to their daughters and sons. I can remember going into the shop with her to buy the wool and the tiny knitting needles that were needed for such fine work. There was also a wonderful cardigan set for Ciara, again, so carefully worked upon, so detailed, so neat. To be honest, I felt quite overwhelmed by this treasure trove and felt such an outpouring of love.

My mother kindly shared the pattern for this baby bib with me so I could share it with you. This beautiful bib will make a wonderful addition to any gift basked for a new baby. It is a very old Pingouin pattern that my grandmother took from a magazine. Apologies for not being able to give credit to the magazine as the copy did not include the name of the magazine on it.

Materials

Pingouin No 8 (50g balls) – about 25g;

One pair 2mm Inox knitting needles;

Narrow tape or ribbon for ties

Abbreviations:

K – knit; p- purl; M1 – (make one) yarn round needle; tog – together; skpo – slip one, knit one, pass slipped stitch over; sk2po – slip one, knit tow together, pass slipped stitch over; st(s) – stitch(es); alt – alternate; inc – increase; c/on (off) – case on (off); gst – garter stitch; N(s) – needle(s); cont – continue; foll – follow(ing); rep – repeat; dec – decrease; rem – remain; patt – pattern; tbl – through back of loop; yrn – yarn round needle.

Feather Pattern

TO MAKE

C/ on 2sts and work ingst inc 1 st at each end of every row until 54sts on N. Cont in patt as foll:

First row: P2 *(k2tog) twice, (M1, k1) 3 times, M1, (k2tog) twice, p2.

Rep from *3 times more.

2nd Row: Purl

3rd Row: Knit

4th Row: Purl

Rep these 4 rows 8 times more, then first and 2nd rows once more.

Next row: K22, c/off 10sts, k22 (including st on N).

Work on first set of 22sts only as foll:

** First row: K19, skpo, k1.

2nd and foll alt rows: Knit.

3rd Row: K18, skpo, k1.

5th Row: K17, skpo, k1.

Cont in this way until on 15th row you have k12, skpo, k1.

17th Row: (Shaping on outer edge): K1, skpo, k11.

19th Row: K1, skpo, k10.

21st Row: K1, skpo, k9.

Cont dec in this way until 3sts rem. C/off. ** Rejoin yarn to neck edge of rem 22sts and knit one row. Work from **to**

BACKING

Make an identical piece, working in gst only.

EDGING

C/ on 4sts.

First Row: K2, M2 (yarn round needle twice), k2.

2nd Row: K3, p1, k2.

3rd Row: K5m K twice into last st.

4th Row: C/off 3sts, k3 (4sts on N).

Rep these 4 rows until edging is long enough to fit round outer edge of bib.

TO MAKE UP

Pin backing to wrong side of bib. Oversew around neck edge. Stitch edging neatly to both thicknesses of bib, using small stitches. Sew length of tape or ribbon to each end of bib for ties. Stem lightly.

I hope you enjoy making these bibs as much as my gran did!

Do you have a fond memory or a story you’d like to share with us, we would love to hear from you. We would also love hints and tips for knitting and crafts for babies.

There are a wonderful variety of beanies available to knit for little ones these days. For countries where the climate is more temperate, there are thinner knits which just hug the babies heads, and for countries where the temperatures are more extreme, there are wonderful knits that cover the ears of the babies too. Beanies are wonderful additions to babies’ wardrobes; they are practical and can complement many winter outfits. I wish my daughter Ciara had worn more of them, as I believe a warm head is a warm body. She also looks just adorable in them. Our only problem is she figured out straight away how to take them off and this became a game to her, and as a result, she never wore them.

One of the ladies in my mother’s knitting and sewing circles knitted a bright pink and very simple beanie for Ciara that looks absolutely gorgeous on her as you can see in her picture. She has been kind enough to give me a copy of this pattern to share with you all.

Mock Cable Baby Hat Knitting Pattern

Designed by Bonnie Brann

This hat fits newborns up to age 6 months

Gauge:

18 sts = 4” over pattern st with large needles

Materials

Size 6 US (4mm) straight needles

Size 8 US (5mm) straight needles

Worsted weight yarn

Instructions

Row 2: K2 *P3

Using smaller needles, CO 72 sts.

Row 1: P2 *K3, P2; rep from * to end of row.

Row 2: K2, *P1, yo, P1, K2; rep from * to end of row.

Row 3: *P2, K3; rep from * , end P2

Row 4: *K2, P3; rep from *, end K2

Repeat Rows 1-4 unit work measures 7-7.5 inches (18cm), ending with Row 1 completed.
Decrease Crown:

Row 1 (WS): *K2, P2; rep from * to end of row

Row 2: *P2tog, K2tog; rep from * to end of row

Row 3: *K1, P1; rep from *, end K1

Row 4: *K2tog; rep from *, end K1

Row 5: Purl

Row 6: *K2 tog; rep from * to end of row

Cut yarn leaving long tail. Thread through tapestry needle and pull through rem sts on needle; draw together. Sew seam. Add pom pom if desired.

Ciara and her gorgeous hot pink beanie!

I do not have as much free time as I would like to have these days, but I still think it’s important to make something special for the little ones that bless our lives. I received an email from a friend of mine the other day, who is seven months into her pregnancy, and the subject line was “Blue booties please!” I was excited for her as she already has one gorgeous nearly three year old girl, with the brightest mop of curly bright red hair (just like her mom), and I thought a little boy would be a wonderful addition to their family.

So I thought about putting together a little gift pack for her. I spoke to my mother-in-law who is arranging for some of the ladies in her community upliftment group to make both of the children a beautiful knitted blanket – a slightly bigger blanket in pinks and oranges and yellows for her and hues of blue in a smaller blanket for him. I would not have time to knit a blanket for both of them, and this way I also get to give back to the community in which I live. I thought though, that at the very least I should attempt to make a pair of blue booties to send with the gift

I’m not the world’s best knitter. Usually the best I can do is knit squares to give to my mother-in-law for her blankets. I figured the best place to start is the pattern.
There are so many free patterns available on the internet today. You can find almost any pattern you could ever want. It’s always nice though, to use one which is tried and tested, and to have a picture to see what the end product should hopefully look like. That’s why I usually turn to my mother or mother- in-law and their friends to see what has worked best for them.

Cosy toes

Materials:

One ounce of Patons Beehive Baby Wool 3-ply Patonised, for both pairs; a pair of No.11 knitting needles; 2 yards of narrow baby ribbon.

Tension:

Work at a tension of 9 stiches to 1 inch, over the stocking stitch, using No. 11 needles, to obtain the following measurements.

Ribbed Booties: Length of foot, 3.5 inches; top to base of heel, 2 3⁄4 inches.

Abbreviations (To be read before working)

K., knit plain; p., purl; st., stitch; tog., together sl., slip; k.1b., k1 through back of loop; m. 1, make 1 (by leaving wool at front of the work so that it passes over the needle before working the next st. or sts. Tog); moss st. is k1 and p1 alternatively and on subsequent rows the sts. Are reversed; stocking st. (k on the right side and p on the wrong side.)

The Ribbed Booties

TO MAKE (BOTH ALIKE):

With No. 11 needles, cast on 31 sts. For sole edge.

1st row: K.1; m.1; K.1; m.1; K.12; m.1; k.1; m.1; k.1; m.1;k.1; m.1, k.12; m.1; k.1; m.1;k.1.

2nd row and every alternate row: All p.

3rd row: K.2; m.1; k.1; m.1;k.14, m.1; k.1; m.1;k.3; m.1; k.1; m.1;k.14; m.1; k.1; m.1;k.2.

5th row: K.3; m.1; k.1; m.1;k.16; m.1; k.1; m.1;k.5; m.1; k.1; m.1;k.16; m.1; k.1; m.1;k.3.

7th row: K.4; m.1; k.1; m.1;k.18; m.1; k.1; m.1;k.7; m.1; k.1; m.1;k.18; m.1; k.1; m.1;k.4

9th row: K.5; m.1; k.1; m.1;k.20; m.1; k.1; m.1;k.9; m.1; k.1; m.1;k.20; m.1; k.1; m.1;k.5 – 71 sts.

10th row: All p.

11th row: All k.

12th row: All K.

13th row: All p.

14th row: All k.

Repeat 12th, 13th and 14th rows twice, then work 12th and 13th rows again.

Now divide sts. For instep: Next row: K.42 sl. next st. onto right hand needle, turn.

To shape instep:

1st row: K.2 tog.; k.11; k2 tog.; turn.

2nd row: P.13; sl.1; turn.

3rd row: As 1st row.

4th row: K.13; sl.1; turn.

5th row: P.2 tog.; p.11; p.2 tog.; turn.

6th row: K.13; sl.1; turn.

Repeat these 6 rows twice more, then work the first 5 rows again.

Next row: K. to end of row.

Next row: P. across all sts.

Slot row: * K.2; m.1; k.2 tog.; repeat from * until 3 sts. remain, k.1; m.1; k.2 tog.

Next row: All p.

Next row: All k.

1st rib row: K.1b.; *p.1, k.1b; repeat from * to end.

2nd rib row: P.1; * k.1b.; p.1; repeat from * to end.

Repeat these two rows 9 times. Cast off.

To Make up Booties
Press on wrong side. Join row ends to form back seam, then join seam of sole. Thread ribbon through holes at ankle and tie.

We were the last of our friends to have children. All of our friends bar one had two boys; the other was a girl and a boy. I loved putting together the baby gift ideas for them, and I always go the extra mile to make the whole gift giving experience very special. It is always easy to go out and buy clothes and nappies and other essential items, but I believe it is the presentation of these gifts that makes it memorable.

I am a creative person. I might not always follow the traditional rules for decoupage or scrapbooking, but my product at the end of the day looks just as stunning as those boxes that had a million layers of varnish painstakingly applied. Here is my easy method for creating stunning baby gift boxes to house those beautiful baby gifts you have either bought or made.

For some great baby gift ideas check out these unique baby gifts from the store:

• Pure Wool Baby Beanie
• Pure Wool Baby Moss Stitch Booties
• Matinee Set

Requirements:

1 wooden blank box (for this you can use any wooden blank box, whether it is round, square, or rectangular)
1 sheet decoupage quality wrapping paper with your chosen design / Wallies stick on pre-cut pictures
Glue (any brand as long as it works well with paper and won’t make it bubble)
Decoupage paints in your chosen colour (suitable for working on wooden blanks) plus paintbrushes, sponges etc.
Modge Podge
Decoupage varnish – clear and a sponge brush
Glass Sandpaper
Sheet of cork
Sheets of felt (optional)

Method

First start by using the glass sandpaper (the finest grain sandpaper you can get which should be lightly wet first) to smooth off any bumps on the wooden box. Ideally you want to give it a nice light sanding to ensure smooth surface and to make it easier to for the paint to cover the whole of the box. To remove any dust particles simply give it a wipe with a slightly damp cloth and allow it to dry while you gather everything you need.

Choose your paints carefully – they should complement the pictures you will be using on your box. For the box I made for my friends first son, I followed the theme of the nursery – “Happy smiling frogs”. It was not easy to find happy smiling frog wrapping paper, but I managed to locate exactly what I was looking for at the second store I visited. I choose green paint as my base on which to work because I wanted to give the effect of a green pond with smiling frogs on Lilly pads.

To start I gave the box an all over base of plain dark green paint which covered the wood and sealed it. Then I gave the box a further two coats of paint, this time using two additional shades of green – each a bit lighter than the other using a sponge to apply them lightly, swirling them around to create interesting patterns so the box did not appear so flat.

After letting the paint dry it is time to apply your chosen pictures to the box. Carefully cut out your chosen pictures from the wrapping paper or select which Wallie you which to use. Then place the pictures before you stick them down so you can build up your overall look and imagine what it will look like when it’s finished. Once you are happy with your design you can stick them down with the glue. (Some more season decoupage stars will use the Modge Podge to stick the pictures down; however this can be a bit tricky for beginners as it sometimes causes the paper to bubble.

Once your pictures are stuck down, you can begin to apply the Modge Podge. Remember – don’t panic when you see the Podge on the box, it goes on white and dries clear. Don’t be tempted to do very thick layers of Podge as this takes a long time to dry and can lead to caking of the Podge which ends up being a bit of a gooey mess of little rubbery balls all over the box. You should ideally put on 4 layers of Modge and each one should go on in a different direction – so you can go left to right for the first one and then top to bottom for the second and then repeat the process. This gives the box a good sealed foundation. In traditional decoupage – this process can run from 16 – 24 layers of Podge and can take some time to really embed the picture. For the purposes of this gift box, four layers will be just fine. Remember that each layer needs to dry thoroughly first. (If you’re short on time – like I am sometimes – you can try and cheat the drying process using your hairdryer – just don’t hold it too close or it will actually make it melt a bit!)

Once the Modge is all dry, it’s time to apply the varnish. Again in traditional decoupage method would be to apply roughly the same amount of varnish to the box as you did layers of Modge Podge. I am not so fussy (and neither are my friends who adore these gift boxes!) Again apply the varnish with the soft sponge brush and again – do each layer in a different direction. Four layers of varnish should be fine.

Once the varnish has dried, the final steps are to attach the cork to the bottom of the box to stop it scratching surfaces and to give it a finished look, and if you choose to do so, attaching the felt to the inside of the box. All you need to do is cut the cork to the size of the bottom of the box, and attach it using wood glue. I like to make sure I don’t have the lid of the box on yet as it might not be 100% dry and then I place a heavy book or object inside the box so that it creates the pressure on the base that will help it stick to the cork. Use a sharp craft knife to cut off any straggling pieces around the edges to give it a clean line all the way around the box.

To place the felt in the box, simply cut the pieces to size, and use the wood glue again to attach it to the inside base and sides of the box. This is a nice to have and not a have to have. Sometimes I throw these boxes together quickly overnight when I have a sudden event come up and I don’t have felt. Using tissue paper to layer through the base of the box and placing the gift on top of that is also just as pretty.

Ideally you want to give yourself enough time to have the box with all its layers dry carefully throughout the day – probably even overnight. This is in an ideal world. If your life is anything like mine and you spend most of your day chasing children and husbands and trying to sort dinner, you probably don’t have two days to spend on a project like this. That’s why I use the quick fix option, it’s simple and fun – and if your children are old enough – they can make their own keepsake boxes with you as a fun activity.

I have given away many of these boxes over the years, and I’m always happy to visit my friends and see that their children now a few years older are using them to keep cars, monsters or crayons in (the boys) or jewellery or other keepsakes (the girls). They are fun for any age to make and receive. I find it’s a great way to de-stress from a busy day, the painting is very therapeutic!