My littlest grand baby made her entrance 4-weeks early, which threw her paternal grandmother (me!) into a bit of a tizzy. I knew that Mommy and baby were in the best medical hands, but my crocheting projects were timed to be finished in a couple more weeks!
Little one had to stay in the NICU for about 9 days due to her weight and body temperature regulation, so Grammy had some time to play catch up. Thankfully, everyone came home happy and healthy, thanks to the wonders of modern medical care.
I ended up making 2 blankets, starting out with a pattern that I immediately LOVED, that I found on Hooked by Robin’s YouTube channel (a terrific channel for crocheters) but had not started out with enough foundation chains and it was going to be too narrow to serve as a proper baby blanket, so I finished it and put it aside to be given as an “extra” to keep in the car.
I used Lionbrand’s Pound of Love for both of the baby blankets. I love the BIG skeins (fewer tie offs) and they wash up so nice and soft. I wish they had a few more colorways in this option, but I’m still a fan.
For the “main” blanket for my newest little grandbaby I could not find a published pattern that spoke to me. I had started 3 different ripple blanket patterns but wasn’t feeling any of those, and frogged them all. In snuggling under my own TV-watching blanket, I realized that the Suzette Stitch was what I was looking for in this baby blanket.
At that point I was already behind the 8-ball, so to speak, as it related to time. Not finding a pre-existing pattern that I liked, I turned to Co-Pilot (AI tool) and asked for a crochet baby blanket in Suzette Stitch, with a shell edging. I’ll share that in its entirety at the end of this post.
I realize that some people are going to get offended that I used AI to generate a pattern, but hear me out: a LOT of the patterns being posted on Etsy (for sale) or shared online are simple reiterations of the stitches we all know and love and already use. I wasn’t looking to design some new pattern; I simply wanted a basic Suzette Stitch baby blanket, and wasn’t in the mood to do all the calculations. It made sense for me to use AI to help me get exactly what I was looking for, AND again – I went looking for an existing pattern and did not see any that met my expectations for this project.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a tool, just like the printed pattern became a tool at some point, changing the passing on of crochet and knitting from spoken word to printed word. Then came books of patterns, and then the internet, which opened a whole NEW vista for fiber arts patterns and instruction. Who among us would argue against the many YouTube videos that help guide us through a difficult pattern, learn a new technique, or demo a new take on an old standard?
My bet is that few of us would want to banish YouTube from our fiber arts activities. To me, AI is no different. It is simply the next TOOL developed for a much larger scope of tasks, and that we can also use to support our crafting pursuits.
I visited the little family a couple days after Baby Girl came home and presented my Grammy gifts to her royal highness. Both she, and her older sister (also a princess) approved, and Big Sis even covered her up to her chin with the car seat blanket so she could stay warm and rest while we ate dinner.
On my way home that evening, I found myself looking forward to picking up a project that I had left unfinished as the baby window began to shorten and I realized that I was behind. It is also a Peephole Chevron blanket, but sized for a small couch (in other words, a Netflix-binging blanket). I’m making it in Red Heart yarn Ombré browns (Sand and Cocoa colorways), with a pattern repeat of 7 rows of each color, alternating. I’m looking forward to this being done and draped on my couch.
Our newest little one has arrived, is happy, healthy and snuggled into her family as comfortably as if she had always been there (some wisdom traditions suggest that she was!). It’s likely that I’m done welcoming new grandbabies, but hope that at SOME point down the road, before I’m too old, a great-grandbaby or two might come along. Since the little princesses have 2 older cousins – one in college and one in high school – the odds aren’t astronomical against that occurrence, but that decision remains theirs, alone; and who knows where life will take each of them!?
Spring in the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic is a welcome transition out of Winter. The sun shines, the flowers and trees bloom and the air is heavy with promise. For those of us blessed with the arrival of new babies, the bounty of this time of year is multiplied many times over.
Wishing everyone a Happy Spring, days filled with sunshine, and blessings galore!
(C) 2026 Fiber Harmony / Stitch ‘n Dish
p.s. as to the blanket pattern, I will be creating a PAGE specific to patterns.
Check back soon for that option.
Fiber Harmony (Stitch 'n Dish) 