Here are the direction for the roses. They have been such a great hit at baby showers or I've given them to them after the baby is born. I use the straight craft wire that you can get at Walmart. I used the 18 gauge wire, that way the stems aren't wobbly. It comes in a green or silver. At Walmart all they had was the silver, which is OK, Because you will cover it up with florist tape. I usually buy 6 pairs of socks that way you will have a dozen. Beginning at the toe, roll the single sock to 1" or so from the open end. I roll them like on a slant, that way you get the different levels, Then take the open end and flip it up over the bottom of the rose. Then take the wire and then wrap it around the bottom of the "rose", then take your green florist tape, Walmart also carries that too, and wrap the bottom of the rose and the entire stem. When working with florist tape, the key is to pull on it as you wrap. That's what makes it stick. In the beginning when I was making them, I would loose the rose shape all the time. So don't worry if that happens, just start all over. Then when they are all finish, I lay them on tissue paper add some silk greenery and a filler if you like, then wrap them up and tie with a bow. You will get different shape roses depending on the material of the socks

I too, have a "jane" in the family. Several aactually. Just know that whatever you decide, she will probably feel negatively about it. She sounds kinda jealous. If you bring all the gifts at once, she will talk about how you spend too much and are just trying to show off. If you only bring one small one, she will probably say that you should have gotten her something bigger since apparently she thinks your rolling in dough. (whether you are or not is really irrelevant) In my case, i am the youngest of six adult children(ill be 30 in a few months). I am the only one who is unmarried, and have no children(unless you count the four legged furry kind) :) No matter WHAT i do, my older siblings always feel it necessary to comment on how i waste my money, im not good with money, i have no budget, im irresponsible with money, etc. None of which is true. I make a good enough living to support myself and have a little extra for fun and savings. I live very much below my means, although comfortable. I drive the same car i bought (all by myself thank you very much) at age 18. However, some people are just naturally negative nancys. I learned a long time ago to do whatwever the heck i want, especially when it comes to my hard earned cash. You should do the same. P.S. I am sure that the soon to be mommy will very much appreciate everything you got for her. Baby showers are not thrown to celebrate a pregnancy, not really anyway.If they were, they would not require gifts would they? They are to help new parents with some of the things they need for baby.I would put everything in one giant box and wrap it, therefore making it "one" gift. Your "michelle" is the only one you should think about now. Jane's opinions should be kept to herself or ignored.

Just warm the cable. I sometimes sit on mine, but you can run the cable thru steam if you like. As for easy knit baby afghans, try the grandmother's favorite dishcloth pattern, holding two strands of worsted weight yarn together as one, and make it as big as you want. If you want it 36" sq., knit until it measures 36" from the beginning to the point where your needle is waiting, not across the row you are knitting, then start decreasing. Simple and cozy warm! Tami

Our friends tend to be financially well prepared to pay for things like diapers, though those do make a great gift if you know whether they are planning on disposables or cloth. I am a total baby stuff snob/safety freak (tibbix, the bouncy seats should never, ever be put on a table as they can fall off--and this actually happened to a family member of mine). I have two kids (the youngest is five) and I did as much baby stuff research as I have done kitchen remodel research. This is terrible, but people's registries often make me cringe. So I tend to give Robeez shoes because no one ever registers for shoes and we loved Robeez (both to keep socks on in smaller sizes and as first walkers). People usually tell me that they were the only shoes they received and how much they love them. Or I give anais and Aden swaddle blankets because they were very useful to me and they are a bit of a splurge. If it is someone I don't know well and a gift card is appropriate, I do an amazon gift card. I also always give a small gift to any big brothers or sisters--usually books.