Ladybug Blanket & Owl Pillow

When I found out that one of my good friends was pregnant with a baby girl, I immediately got to work on a couple handmade gifts. Of course, she is aware that I crochet, so she told me that she'd like for me to make her a blanket, but I wanted it to be a surprise, so I acted like I wasn't going to make her one. Haha! But I really was making one, of course. Originally, I wanted to make a pink, gray, black, and white chevron blanket, but I didn't like the pattern I was using, so I went back to what I know, granny square.  So I made a 30 x 30 gray, pink, and white granny square blanket with a crochet ladybug applique. I also sewed an owl with fabric that has similar colors.

I made the owl with a couple gray fabrics that had been in my fabric stash for a while. I was saving it for the perfect project. I really love these floral fabrics.

front 

back

For the blanket, I made a 30 x 30 granny square with Caron Simply Soft yarn in Heather, Soft Pink, and White.

the ladybug

Instruction for Ladybug Applique:

Materials:
size F hook
3 yarns (I used pink, gray, and white)
yarn needle

Abbreviations:
ch - chain
sc - single crochet
dc - double crochet
hdc - half double crochet

Body:

magic ring

round 1: ch 2, 12 dc in ring, join.

round 2: ch 2, pull ring tight, dc in same space, 2 dc in each dc around, join

round 3: ch 2, dc in same space, 2 dc in each stitch around, join, fasten off and weave in tails

Head:

magic ring

row 1: ch 2, 8 dc, do NOT join, ch 2, turn

row 2: 2 dc in each stitch, pull magic ring tight, fasten off and leave a tail

sew onto the body

 *After, sewing the head onto the body, I single crocheted around the head and body with white yarn.)

Wings: (make 2)

magic ring, ch 2
row 1: 8 dc, do not join, ch 2, turn
row 2: 2 dc in each stitch, ch 2, turn
row 3: 1 hdc, 2 hdc around ch.1, fasten off

Spots: (make 6)
magic ring
8 dc, join, leave a tail for sewing

Stitch the wings onto the body of the ladybug.