There's a bit of a baby boom going on amongst my friends lately, so I've been busy knitting, sewing, and designing for the little ones. With 3 new arrivals and 4 more on the way, there's not a moment to spare!

I just got back from a wonderful trip to Austin, TX, where I met my adorable baby nephew for the first time. The climate isn't well suited for hand knits, so I made my very first pieced quilt: 

Right now, it's still pretty warm in Austin, so Baby Tucker gets to enjoy his quilt during his daily "tummy time" sessions. He seems to like the rich red-orange colors in the prints, which makes me so happy!

I needed a quick gift for a double baby shower so I whipped up these matching chipmunk new-born hats. The babies are due right before Halloween, so the timing seemed pretty great for a gift like this.

They were so easy and worked up quickly. If anyone is interested in the pattern, let me know in the comments below.

My best friend gave birth to an adorable baby girl right before the manuscript for my book was due.  I was so excited for her and wanted to make something really special as soon as I had the opportunity. The very same day I finished working on my book, I cast on for this little cardigan:

I've knitted this design before, and it's always a hit. I'm thinking about releasing the pattern sometime, so I'd love to hear what you think about the design. It's currently sized for 3-6 months, so I might add a 6-12 month size too, if that's something people want.

I love giving hand made gifts. Sometimes it's difficult to express the love I have for my friends and family, but when I spend the time to make something special, I think they get it. What's your favorite kind of thing to make for a new baby? If you're a mom, what's the best handmade gift you received for your little one? Tell me everything (because I'm running out of original ideas!) in the comments below.