looking for something to make my niece

Hi Kristine

My oldest DD is also 10. I think the dolls would be lovely; like your neice, my DD keeps only special toys now, and they're on her dresser (well, usually :D )

What about an afghan that is small now (out of 6x6 squares, maybe 2x3 squares to start) and add a round each year to reflect the favourite colour at the time of each birthday? Perhaps by the time she goes away to school or moves away from home it'll be big enough for a bed. While it's small it can be used as a topper for a dresser, or hung on the wall. A couple of years and it'll be lap-sized, especially if you add a round both at Christmas and the birthday. You could premake the squares, take the afghan back a week before the big day and return it with the next round a surprise for her. Easy way to mark events during the year; for instance, my DD is getting confirmed soon, so some squares could be white with crosses. You could also knit or crochet in a number for each round for each age. Maybe the first boyfriend could be marked with a heart? :P

Michelle

Still very busy, but had to sneak in, and HAD to say, Michelle, this is an EXCELLENT idea! Borrowing it for all the great-neices and great-nephews born this past year! Noreen

Hi Michelle, That is an awesome idea. The one snag is that I am currently in the Army in Germany and my niece lives in Washington. I have to call my sister--we try to call once a month--so I will ask her about it and maybe she could send it to me about a month early and I can do it and then send it back all wrapped.

What about an afghan?

Higs, Katherine

Hi Kristine,

I love the idea that Michelle gave you. Wish I had thought of that years ago when the nieces were younger. You won't always be stationed in Germany will you? You could always find out what her color of the year is and then be ready when your sister sends it to you.

Hugs,

Nora

Thats a cute idea Michelle. Also. Stella posted a link for a bunch of bed doll/clothes patterns on rcty a couple of days ago, has some really cute ideas. Marie and the cats

Nah, you just need a workaround! Are you always going to be stationed in Germany? All you have to do is make sure there's enough lead time for her to mail it to you, work on it, and mail in back in time for the day. Maybe six weeks beforehand your sis can mail it and you can send it back a few weeks later. If you start small, it'll be fast to both go through the mail AND add the next round.

Michelle

Hi Noreen

Let us know how it all works out! Sometimes my ideas sound great, but aren't exactly feasible.

Michelle

Katherine, did you see my reply? Great minds think alike....

Michelle

Well, yes!

Higs, Katherine

Or make it a joint project - you mail the squares, her mother (or the niece herself) does the sewing together. That way there's less risk of losing things in the mail.

=Tamar

Great idea! You could even have the rows sewn together so all they need to do is join them to the previous round.

Michelle

I can see a problem with this: the afghan will quickly get very big. If you start with 2x3 squares, the next year you would have to add 12 squares, and so on. By the time she's 16, it would be 7 feet wide and

Also, I would have an overall idea in mind before starting so that the final product has a pleasing color combination. You could still vary it according to special occasions, but within certain guidelines. You could maybe embroider motifs on the squares to mark special occasions.

To expand on some previous ideas: how about a new pillow each year. Then at significant years (12, 16, 20) they could be joined into a throw or eventually a bedspread. The new pillow each year might incorporate a number, current favorite color or toy or activity. By the time the child is an adult, there would be a lot of memories tied up in the gift.