There's very little in this world that's more rewarding thandressing your baby in a special sweater, bunting - or evenbooties - that you've crocheted yourself. Crochet is one of theeasiest of the clothing crafts to learn. Even if you've neverlooped yarn around a hook before, you can crochet these simplebooties for your baby in an evening - and the matching sweaterin a weekend.

The basic stitches for the baby booties are: chain stitch (cs),single crochet (sc), dec (pull up loop in next two stitches,yarn over, pull through both loops on hook)

Using worsted weight yarn and crochet hook size H, chain 5.Turn. SC in next three chains, 5 sc in end chain, one SC inbottom loop of each of next three starting chain stitches. 5 scin end chain to turn corner.

Round 2: Five SC, two sc in next stitch, sc, two sc in nextstitch, sc, two sc in next stitch, 5 sc, two sc in next stitch,sc, 2 sc in next stitch, sc, 2 sc in next stitch.

Round 3: 8 sc, 2 sc in next, 5 sc, 2 sc in next, 8 sc, 2 sc innext, 5 sc, 2 sc in next.

Work two rounds of crochet even (no increases). Sole will beginto curve upward. At end of second round, turn.

SC in next 5 SC, dec, 3 SC, dec, 5 SC, turn.

SC in next 3 sc, dec, 1 sc, dec, 3 sc, turn.

SC in next sc, dec, dec, sc in next sc, turn.

SC in each sc, then continue in rounds again, dec one stitch ateach side of bootie top for two rounds.

Work even for three rounds, fasten off.

Repeat for second bootie.

If desired, embellish top of baby bootie with embroidered floweror other design.

The single crochet booties are so simple that you can make themin several colors - all in an evening.

The sweater is just as easy, and it's sized to fit a newborn to6 months baby. Using the same yarn and hook, chain 45. Turn.

SC in next five sc. In next, inc by working 2 sc, ch 2, 2 sc inone stitch. SC in next 8 stitches, work inc, sc in next 16stitches, inc, sc in next 8 stitches, inc, sc in to end.

Work in the pattern as established, even on all sc, inc in eachchain 2 loop, till 10 rows are complete.

Shaping row: Crochet to first ch 2 loop, crochet in ch 2 loop,skip all stitches till next ch 2 loop, crochet in that loop. SCin each stitch to next ch 2 loop, skip all stitches till last ch2 loop, sc in loop and one SC in each sc to end. Turn.

Work even till sweater measures 6 inches from underarm. Fastenoff.

Pick up and crochet in each SC around right underarm. Work inrounds till sleeve is same length from underarm as body. Repeatwith left sleeve. Fasten off.

Starting at lower right hand corner, pick up nd crochet one scin each stitch up front opening, around collar and back downother side of front. Run ribbon through openings in collar for aneck tie.

That's all there is to it - a warm, cozy crochet sweater andbooties you created yourself just for baby.

About the author:Kirsten Hawkins is a baby and parenting expert specializing newmothers and single parent issues. Visit http://www.babyhelp411.com/for more information on how to raising healthy, happy children.

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