Giving Thanks: A Baby, a Bonnet, a Blessing Day

Every Thanksgiving my family tops the list of things I am grateful for, and so what better way to celebrate the week of Thanksgiving than with a baby blessing? 

Tess was an unexpected blessing this year and it's impossible to imagine our family without her. It was nice to formally acknowledge her arrival by blessing her this past Sunday, surrounding her with family and close friends and invocations for a life filled with the good and important things. Doesn't every baby deserve this kind of welcome?

We served a brunch of strata, spinach salad and cinnamon rolls (on the table with the new Thanksgiving centerpiece).

 

Tess wore a bonnet I finished (just in time) to match the bootees I made. I think she looks beautiful in it and I love the old-fashioned look. I can't get enough of that old-fashioned, Puritan baby look (appropriate for Thanksgiving, no?). This bonnet reminds me of the one I knitted for Scarlett last year. I made up the pattern as I went along. It was an experiment based on the bootees and it certainly isn't perfect--it is a bit big and the shaping along the back of the neck could be improved--but it worked, and it was fun to work it out. And fun that she has a couple things made specifically for her blessing day. I love the crochet ties and plain single crochet rows framing her face.

Click to read more if you are interested in the bonnet pattern and strata recipe.

Blessing Day Strata

4 cups ½ inch cubes hearty white bread or French bread

2 c (about 6 ounces) shredded cheese (cheddar for the bacon version, Monterey jack or swiss for the sausage vrsion)

½ cup finely chopped onion (or scallions)

**

10 large eggs

1 cup half and half

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

***

6 thick-cut bacon slices, cooked and crumbled

6 asparagus spears (woody stems removed) cut into 1” pieces, blanched

OR

6 links of pre-cooked breakfast sausage

½ c. sliced mushrooms, lightly sautéed

Preheat the oven to 350-degrees. Butter a 9x13-inch baking casserole.

In a large bowl, toss the bread cubes, cheese and the onion together, then arrange this mixture evenly in the baking casserole. Add either asparagus and cheese, or sausage, mushrooms and cheese and combine. In a medium bowl, beat the eggs, half and half, mustard, salt, and black pepper to blend. Pour this egg mixture over the bread cubes. Sprinkle the bacon over the strata with the asparagus. Bake until a knife inserted into the center of the strata comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Serve hot.

 

Blessing Day Bonnet  (download PDF pattern here)

Size: 3 months 

Materials: 1 skein Paton’s Grace  yarn in natural, Size G (4.25mm) crochet hook, tapestry needle for weaving in ends

  

Abbreviations:

·         ch: chain

·         sl st:  slip stitch

·         v-st: v-stitch (double crochet, chain-1, double crochet in same stitch)

To Make:

Ch 3. Join with a slip stitch to form a loop.

Round 1: 9 single crochet (sc) into loop, sl st in beg sc to join.

Round 2: Ch2, v-stitch (double crochet, chain-1, double crochet in same st). V-stitch in next 8 sc around. Sl st in beginning chain to join. (9 v-st)

Round 3: Ch1, sc in each dc and ch-1 around; sl st in beginning ch-1. (28 sc)

Round 4: Ch2, v-st in same st, ch1, sk 1 sc, *v-st in next sc, ch 1, sk next sc,** repeat from * to ** around and sl st in beginning ch. (14 v-stitch)

Round 5: Ch2, *v-st in the next v-st (working in the ch-1 space); ch 1, sk nxt ch-1 space,** repeat from * to ** around and sl st in beginning ch. (14 v-stitch)

Round 6: Repeat round 5.

Round 7: Ch 2, *v-st in nxt v-st, v-st in nxt ch-1 space** repeat from * to ** and finish with the final v-st in last ch1. Join with a sl st in beginning ch. (28 vst)

Round 8: Ch2, *v-st in nxt v-st** repeat from * to ** around and join with a sl st in beginning ch. (28 vst)

Round 9: Ch1, sc in same st, *sc in next dc, sc in next ch-1 sp, sc in next dc**, repeat from * to ** for a total of 72 sc (leaving 12 unworked sc, which will be back of neck). Ch-1 turn. (72 sc)

Now you will work in rows, rather than rounds.

Row 1: Sc in base of turning chain, *sc in nxt sc**, repeat from * to ** to end. Chain 1. Turn (72 sc)

Repeat Row 1 15 times for a total of 16 sc rows.

Now you will make the neck band and ties.

From the end of the last sc row, chain 71. Turn, sc in 1st ch nxt to hook. 69 sc to edge of hat (70 sc in tie). Now work 16 sc across the ends of the sc rows. Work 12 sc along the previously unworked part of back neck. Work 16 sc along the opposite edge of sc rows. Chain 71, turn.

Next Row: Sc into 1st ch next to hook and each subsequent ch for 70 sc. 16 sc along straight rows. Along back of neck, 1 sc,*2 sc, sc next 2 sts tog**, repeat from * to ** two more times for a total of 3 decreases, 1 sc. Work 16 sc along straight rows. Work 70 sc along tie, ch-1, turn.

Next Row: 70 sc along tie. 16 sc along straight rows. 9 sc along back of neck. 16 sc along straight rows.  70 sc along tie, ch-1. Turn and work 3 sc along end of tie. Ch-1, turn and work 70 sc along opposite side of tie.

Fasten off at edge of bonnet. Weave in ends.