Confession

This poor blog has been so neglected!  With our Facebook page taking center stage for pics and posts I've relegated this page to the B list.  Lots of hats are still being made for Baby Dumplings, knit pins are flying out the door and our local boutique shop is still a source for our monogrammed hats.  You'd never know though with some weird Flickr photo gallery problem (that I still can't figure out how to fix here) and not a single post since January!!  So sad.  

All I can say is come visit FB for more regular updates, look for our Etsy store's inventory update this summer and email me if you want to order one of our designs!

I'll leave you with a new twist on one of our favorites: Peace Baby!

Peace Baby Hat

Shown in White with bow on top and multi-colored embroidered peace sign

Something old, new & blue....

Ferne Rose Hat

Hat shown in Bachelor Button.

This hat was intended to be something else.  It was supposed to have bobbles and different details on the brim and has been in and out of my knitting bag since the school year began.  As each element didn't develop as I planned I put the hat away, brought it out and put it away again.  When my final design idea failed, I stopped and really looked at the hat.  I realized what it wanted to be--a hat that would be sweet enough for a tiny baby, but also make an older girl feel grown up.  I saw that it wanted to be an old fashioned cloche hat with a sweet flower bud on the brim.  And when I finished it, the name that came to me was that of my late grandmother, Ferne Rose.  She was a master knitter, crocheter, and quite the seamstress... I think she would approve.  

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Ferne Rose Hat

Hat shown in White.

I knew the baby when he used to rock 'n' roll...

A good friend of mine danced to "I Knew the Bride When (She Used to Rock 'n' Roll)" on her wedding day more than a decade ago.  Back then baby boys only wore pastels and maybe a navy or kelly green thrown in too.  Now baby boys can rock serious shades and show their hip side before they even walk.  

Whether your style is Unplugged (nothing but stripes), Classic (with monogram) or Punk (you choose the design) the Rock Me Baby hat is perfect for your little man!

Rock Me Baby Hat

Hat in triple stripe of Ebony, Robot and Hollyberry with long tassels on top.

Customize with your own color choices and embroidery options.

Lilybug

My sweet Lily turned 8 just a couple of weeks ago. At school her classmates were getting to know each other better and the topic of nicknames came up.  She asked how it came about that we called her Lilybug... I couldn't think of a moment, she just was always our little Lilybug.  Eight years later and the name still sticks!

Perhaps you have a little ladybug in your life, or even a Lilybug, either way this is a dear little hat.

Baby Bug Hat

Hat in Serrano with Ebony emboridered dots

 and topped with Ebony antennae.

Under a spell...

This hat's name was inspired by the 3 fairy godmothers in Sleeping Beauty.  We've watched Princess Aurora and her fairy Godmothers in Sleeping Beauty too many times to count.  This vine and flower combination brought big "oohs" and "aahs" from my little girls and I'm sure it will be perfect for your little fairy too!

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Flora Hat

Cream hat with Green Apple vines and leaves stitched on front.

Layered felt buttons in pinks, corals and purple sewn on vines. 

Flower colors may vary and can be customized.

Finished with bow on top and knitted hemmed edge on bottom.

Snail's pace...

We're in our first full week of summer vacation in our house and are still trying to get our footing.  We need to get reacquainted with each other after those long hours apart while in school or sharing afternoons with siblings after being used to having mom alone.  It takes a little time but I've seen glimmers of hope for a harmonious summer... I just need to let them work it out at their own pace--even if it is a snail's pace!  The kids came up with the name for this design and since they all agreed I decided it must be right.

Sheldon Hat

Grass hat with sewn detail in Cream, Jay, Sky and Reef.  

Topped with antennae and finished with knitted hemmed brim.

Out of the cocoon

My oldest and youngest both watched caterpillars journey through their life cycle in their classrooms this year.  The excitement of the rapid transformation wasn't lost on my 10 year old and easily mesmerized my 5 year old.  The changes that happened hour by hour remind me of the changes babies go through their first year of life.  They start as these tiny beings needing everything to these amazing little people who walk, talk and explore with abandon.  Butterflies and babies are just magical.

Flutter Baby Hat

Bachelor Button hat with Blush, Green Apple, 

Butter and Hydrangea butterfly.

I will name him George, and I will hug him and pet him and squeeze him...

Honey Bunny Hat

Cream hat with Blush bunny embroidered on front, white bushy tail 

and topped with a stem in Butter Pecan and Grass leaf.

Our yard is hopping with rabbits right now.  They've been feasting on my spring flowers (grrr) and have become quite used to the activity that 3 kids bring to our yard.  There was even one young bunny bold enough to wait by the side of the house, variegated Hosta leaf hanging out the side of his mouth no less,  for me to pull the car into the garage.  With dogs residing in all but one neighboring yard I'm pretty sure my garden barely stands a chance!  But, they are still super cute, cuddly (looking), and the perfect critter to put atop your baby's sweet noggin... at least with this bunny your yard will be beautiful!

Tour de France

Something about this hat seems so Parisian... I don't know if it is the stripes, or the vintage-looking red trike, or maybe just the yellow and a famous jersey worn by the leader in that big race in France won by an American a whole bunch of times?  I just envision a hip little boy sporting this knit and stealing hearts at the same time.  

Biker Baby Hat

Hat in Creme Brulee & Robot stripes.  

Tricycle sewn in Hollyberry on front.  

Finished with knot on top.

Dahling...

When this new yarn color arrived on my front porch I immediately knew I wanted to make a hat with layers of flower petals.  The yarn is called Begonia (how perfect!) and when we get those first few precious warm days here in the midwest it is impossible to think of anything other than planting in your garden.  Even for people who don't particularly like being in the dirt the fresh, rich colors after a long drab winter make everyone smile.  This design reminds me of the layers of petals on a Dahlia with all of the sweet colors we welcome each spring. 

Dahlia Hat

Hat in Begonia with details in Blush, Crocus and Lilac and finished with a vintage button.

Hat in Fedora with details in Blush, Mission Falls and Orchid and finished with a vintage button.

Where the green grass grows...

When I named this hat all I could think of was the jump rope song we sang as kids "down in the meadow, where the green grass grows, there sat Sally as pretty as a rose".  Of course we'd change the name to our own or a friend's,  drinking Kool-Aid or eating popsicles while the juice ran down your hand.  Priceless childhood memories.  I loved the sweet nature inspired colors of this yarn and the simple daisy pattern just seemed right for it.  I know your little one will be as pretty as a rose in this hat!

Meadow Baby Hat

Striped hat in Coral, Creme Brulee and Butter Pecan.  

Cream daisies embroidered with Blush bobble centers 

and Green Apple stems sewn on front.  

Topped with three twigs, one of each color in hat.  

Knit hemmed edge in Coral.

She sells by the seashore...

Sailboats are the perfect celebration of summer & sunshine.  I've always loved being by the water and dream someday of living on the seashore.  Warm gentle breezes, the gentle lapping of water on a boat hull or on the beach and days that seem to go on forever.  For now I'll just have to take the occasional vacation to get my fill... and now you can share that love of sailing with your baby and this latest creation!

 
                         Ahoy Baby Hat
Butter Pecan hat with embroidered detail in Fedora, Reef, Jay and White.  Knot on top and knitted hemmed edge on bottom.

Growing...

Perfect for little boys and little girls... these caterpillars in any color combination are perfect for your growing baby dumpling!

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Caterpillar Baby Hat

Hat in Bachelor Button, caterpillar in Sky, Green Apple, Orchid, Butter and Cherry.  

Grass green leaf on top with stem in Peanut.

Hat in light Green Apple, caterpillar in Begonia, Blush, Orchid and Serenade.  

Grass green leaf on top with stem in Butter Pecan

Hat in Green Apple, caterpillar in Sky, Butter, Sailor, Cherry and Bachelor Button.  

Arbor leaf and Butter Pecan stem on top.

Fly Away

Sunshine and dragonflies are on my mind.  It is spring break in our house which means more little bodies looking for something to do and dreaming about summer vacation.  Last summer we had a dragonfly resting on the front door screen.  It was huge and stayed long enough for several pictures and close inspection by all.  Hopefully this hat will inspire you to daydream about warm summer days filled with sunshine and dragonflies...

Dragonfly Baby Hat

Hat in Butter with dragonfly sewn on front in Serenade with accents of Hydrangea.

Dream a little dream...

This custom order hat came out of a dream about a baby boy arriving soon... whose real name is going to be Cooper, but in the dream a family member insisted the baby was named Bonz!  Everyone has shared a few giggles about this story.  So in honor of Bonz, aka Cooper,  a new design is born.

Baby Bonz hat

Hat in Sky with Sailor bone sewn on front, name "bonz" sewn on back in Sailor.

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Heart and Soul...**

Share your green soul with this new design!  

Even that tiniest branch on the family tree with the ancestor from Ireland is enough to get your Irish fired up for this hat.  But, really, there is no need for a leprechaun in your family tree--you could just wear it for the lucky shamrock.  And you know that everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day anyway!  

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Lucky Baby Hat (front)

Fedora hat with Grass shamrock sewn on front, "Lucky" sewn on back.  Hemmed edge and knot on top.

Lucky Baby Hat (back)


Another color combination... 

Lucky Baby Hat
Sailor hat with Grass shamrock sewn on front.

"j" sewn on back instead of "Lucky".

Grass hat with Blush shamrock sewn on front.

**One of my favorite Irish tunes (by Wolfstone... check it out on iTunes), especially when my girls practice their Irish jigs while listening! 

Groovy...

A little blast from the past seems to be creeping into my kids' lives.  All their friends are doing it... so why not join in?  I really didn't think I was old enough for fashion to come this far around, but I guess I was wrong.  At least this is one where I can say "when I was a little kid..." and not get an eye roll since my kids aren't embarrassed by us yet!

Peace Baby

Green Apple hat with White and Ebony sewing and embroidery.
Knot on top and knitted hemmed edge.

Green Apple hat with Ebony embroidery.

Grass green leaf on top with Ebony stem.

In the deep blue sea...

Beachy stripes are on my mind during this forever winter!  While we've had our fair share of sunshine (and super bright moonlight), the frigid air makes me wish for ocean breezes and warm surf!  I couldn't resist adding a little blue whale to this crisp striped hat... only 4 months 'til summer!

Baby Beluga

Striped hat with embroidered whale in Sky.  

Knot on top with hemmed edge.

In the Air and In Bloom...

Love that is... I'm in love with these 2 new designs!

Warm up your little loves with bright colors and sweet scenes for the rest of the winter and beyond.

 (Love) In Bloom Hat

Cream hat with embroidered flower 

in Orchid and Serenade with Green Apple stem.  

Love sewn on back of hat in Blush.

Something about balloons makes me think of spring in a lush green park.

It helps chase away these gray January days here in Chicago...

(Love) In the Air

Coral hat with Blush, White & Cherry embroidered 

heart balloons on a string.

Love sewn on back of hat in Blush.

Pocket full of posies

Posey Hat 

Cream hat with Blush, Orchid and 

Serenade stitched flowers topped with bow

I loved the idea of mixing stitched flowers with an embroidered center which was perfect for a 2 year old who had outgrown her baby hats.  Not too cute or too young for sweet Julia and her dimples, just a splash of girly colors for the winter.  

This hat is available with numerous color options for the flowers and hat.  The number of flowers and placement can be customized as well!

Posey Hat

Large Serenade, Blush & Orchid flowers