Congratulations! Beautiful work!

Thank you!

Very pretty, love it.

I have been crocheting baby blankets for the last several years for a charity but know I could not do anything as beautiful as you did. It’s amazing for a first project. You should be very proud.

Well done, Chi. I think your niece will treasure that for a long time.

WOW...awesome, especially for your first project!

I bet you could, Natesg! If you can do a single crochet, double crochet and half double crochet, you can do this!

Thank you for the kind words everyone, I really appreciate it!

Job well done!

Wow--that looks very complicated (and beautiful) for a first project! You should be proud!!

That is beautiful. I'm sure it will be treasured. Great job.

Thanks everyone. I have 3 other princess blankets to try next. :)

Oh wow! Great job Chi!!! That’s not an easy pattern for a first timer! Your stitches look nice and even. Dryers tend to change the texture of the yarn, so when I wash my projects for the first time, I wash them gently by hand and then block them on a towel and let them air dry. That way they dry in shape and still have a nice new feel to them.

I’m in the middle of making bun hats at the request of my daughter and an afghan for a friend. Oh what fun!!!

Thanks Lukki. The blanket survived the delicate wash cycle (no dryer) but a few of my weaved-in ends came out. I'll tuck them back in and hopefully they will stay. Just the last inch or so.

That's super cute, can't believe it's your first one. Great job!

I am another one who cant believe that is your first project. It looks perfect and is beautiful.

it's lovely. love the color . And it was your first attempt.! That will be treasured for sure:-). You must sign and date it in some way. :-)

I hope it will be treasured. The patterns come in various sizes so I will keep making them as long as she's into princesses. I worry they will unravel.

Unfortunately they live in Florida so blanket season is short!

It is my first completed project but I had to unravel and redo parts multiple times. Understanding the pattern was definitely the hardest part!

very cute but... how does it work?? is that a loop that goes over head (around neck) and blanket part just lays over your lap and legs. if so, i don't wanna be an alarmist, but that could very easily be a hazard to a kid.

Nicely done! And that's your first project? Wow!

WOW! Your first project is wonderful! I have crocheted for a few years & still can't make anything like that. I can make dish cloths, hot pads/trivets & I have made a few baby afghans. But nothing like that, I am hanging my head in shame-LOL!

Beautiful! My granddaughter would LOVE that :-)

That's adorable. I'm sure she and her family will treasure it.

Chi, there are lots of ways to weave your ends in but some work better than others (IMO). This video published by Red Heart shows the way I’ve had the most success with and might help.

Weaving your ends in

That is beautiful for a first project. I love it.

Your princess blanket is adorable. Learning to crochet has been on my wish list for some time. As a teen, three different master crocheters tried to teach me. Trying to teach myself has not gone well either. I have not given up yet. I am hoping that I do have the crochet gene, but it just has not awakened yet.

lukkiirish weaving in ends is the part I hate the most about crocheting or knitting. I'll have to watch the video you posted. :)

I recently finished an afghan. I made dishcloths last year, I'll have to make some more, if I remember how to do it. :-)

That's quite a pattern for the first time! You did a fantastic job, I don't think I'd even try making it.

My afghan was made of single rows, no turning, and the ends were to be left as a fringe. I don't like a fringe so I weaved them all in. To hopefully stop it from coming apart, I weaved the ends along the top row of stitches so that I crocheted over it with the next row.

Anoriginal, the arms go through the loops, and the blanket rests on the lap. It looks bigger in the pic than it is and there's no way a baby head could fit through the arm holes. I wouldn't give it to an infant but it's also a loose knit and breathable. I appreciate your concern though! Safety is definitely the top consideration and I won't be offended if SIL wants to wait a year or two.

Here's a pic of from the pattern maker showing how little ones wear it.

So cute, Chi! And very well done for your first!

Happy, I tried unsuccessfully in the past to teach myself, but a few months ago I decided to try again. It's helpful with the many resources and videos out there.

I used this website (first 7 videos) and just did one stitch at a time, and practiced rows and rows of them. Reading the blanket pattern was challenging at first as it had a lot of abbreviations and terminology but now it looks familiar. Just takes practice!

http://www.sewrella.com/crochet-beginner-series/

Chi, that Red Heart clip that Lukki shared is great, and it is how I weave in most ends. Sometimes the crochet is of thin yarn or thread and is very lacy, and for those I use a sharp needle so that I can pierce the threads of the work as I weave in ends. Piercing on lace tablecloths works quite well at making ends secure.

Came out just perfect, pat yourself on the shoulder.

Thank you for the link to sewrella. Her videos are far superior to the ones I have referred to. I saved the site to my bookmarks. Now I am looking forward to trying again.

Thanks everyone. I also noticed it came out kind of fuzzy after I washed it. I don't know if that's normal. I used soft, shiny, acrylic, 4/medium yarn.

Oh wow. Are you sure you haven't done this before? That is gorgeous!

Beautifully done, Chi! Thanks for posting photos of it being worn; that really helped me visualize how it works. Lucky little girl!

Chi, I still can’t believe it’s your first project and I love your niece’s reaction to it!! What a pretty girl! LOL.

I think weaving the ends is the what everyone dreads the most. I agree, the thinner the threads the more challenging, but the method in the video is the easiest and most secure that I’ve found. When I use a sock type yarn, instead of splitting the threads, I will double the number of times I thread back and forth through the stitches. The other thing I do (which in a way seems like cheating) is I use Susan Bates finishing needles instead of the eye needles. It makes threading much more quick and easy.

I don’t want to hijack your thread Chi, so I’ll just mention this real quick but if you or anyone else who is trying to learn, needs help, whether its a stitch, pattern or technique, don’t hesitate to post or reach out. I’d be glad to help and I’m sure any one of the other seasoned crocheters would be as well.

Thanks Lukki, I hadn't seen those needles before and they do look easier. I used a large, blunt needle and the yarn unraveled a bit trying to thread it. I will check out your video.

That's not my niece but I hope she'll have a similar reaction! :)

Yeah...I just reread the posts and saw that she’s not your niece, she’s still cute though! LOL I have no doubt the reaction will be very similar!

Well holy cow, that is adorbs! I'm am majorly impressed with it being your first project. You should be proud of yourself. Wish I had that talent.

I think if I was the mom I would be tempted to tuck it away for daughter to have forever.

I think that is so sweet. You did a great job.

It is so cute and you did an amazing job on it!

I am impressed....first project and it looks great! My mom could crochet and when I was a kid, I tried to get her to teach me, but she had no patience and I couldn't pick it up fast enough to suit her. I never progressed past making chains and a pattern that looked sort of like a sea shell. I gave up and never went back to it.

That is amazing for a first project! Good job. I learned a long time ago and have got back into it now as it relaxes me. I think everyone got tired of the dish cloths and towels in cotton so I moved on to doilies and snow flakes with fine crochet cotton. And infinity scarves with thick yarn. Now I am working on a thick blanket using 2 strands at a time, for my dog and me. It is fun and meditative. Keep going with it. I use a smaller crochet hook to weave in the ends. Or with the fine cotton thread, an embroidery needle.

I wish the knitting and crocheting areas on here were more active.

You've done a beautiful job, that is really very pretty! I'll admit I've never heard of a princess blanket before reading this thread. Thank you for posting the picture of how it is used.

Years ago I crocheted a lot, doilies, scarves, pot holders, baby sweater sets, baby blankets, novelty items, you name it, I crocheted it! Then about 30 or so years ago, I just stopped, I guess I had too many arts and crafts projects going on. I took it up again recently, making a baby blanket. Well! It's amazing how much I've had to practically relearn! Not to mention that severe Osteoarthritis in my shoulders and some stiffness and numbness in my fingers really slows me down. And affects the quality of the work. But I'm determined to finish this blanket by this weekend!

Congratulations on a beautiful accomplishment! I'm looking forward to seeing pictures of more of your work!

Rusty

You did a beautiful job! Hard to believe it's your first time! It will be a treasure, for sure.

Hareball, send me a PM and I can give you a link to a very active knit and crochet forum.