As tiny as they are, babies and toddlers are like giant magnets for attention. This is definitely true in the crafts world, where DIY projects for babies abound and where making garments for babies takes a fraction of the time it takes to make them for grown-ups. So we decided it's high time the rest of the family got some doting. This issue contains not one baby pattern. No sweaters, toys, or tiny hats. No cheesy pink and blue bobbled blankets and frilly booties. A simple Google search will turn up millions of those.
Instead, you'll find patterns and articles for moms and dads and sisters and brothers. Of course, as per the credo of my childhood favourite, Free to Be, You and Me, I urge you not to be sucked in by the gender stereotypes that crept in here and there. I know for sure that when I was a kid, I would have much preferred the "boys" bath set and mini messenger bag. A lacier bag just wouldn't have held my blocks and other implements of destruction quite as effectively. Plus, I really would have loved to colour the bathroom walls.
Lots of the patterns in this issue are intended to soothe, comfort, and calm through any sort of stress. Others are celebratory and one will keep your hands busy through an entire pregnancy, if you let it. Some pages (like this one) are graced by the artful playfulness of Cynthia Frenette's illustrations. She's totally helped us set a tone of cool crochet, no?
On the Features front, Annette Petavy has completed her series on waist shaping; as always, be prepared to learn a lot. (And no, the irony of putting an article on waist shaping in an issue partly dedicated to the expanding bellies of pregnancy did not escape us). Rachel Teadora Barnett challenges us to embrace the unexpected in her essay about pregnancy and parenthood. And Jo Anne Tracy introduces Tunisian crochet.
Whether you are facing the excitement, stresses, and anticipation of your own growing family, or simply sharing in the thrills of other families you love, please use the resources in this issue to pay some well-deserved attention to the moms, dads, brothers, and sisters all around. Their lives are changing forever because of that adorable little baby, and they could use it.
Finally, we'd like to thank Stitch Diva Studios, and all of our other sponsors, for their continuing support. This magazine wouldn't be here without them, so go give them some business, okay? We'd really appreciate it. (Oh, and check out Stitch Diva's Crochet Flower Competition. It looks like wild fun.)
Thinking of Spring...
Cheers,
www.kimwerker.com
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