We are excited to once again feature Morgan Roberts, owner and designer behind King Soleil, a boutique specializing in children’s wear and home decor. Morgan recently shared some of her latest “Design on a Dime” projects with us, check these out!

Pink Cashmere Baby Blanket with Floral Applique and Bamboo Crochet Trim
This blanket was made from a cashmere sweater, (J.Crew) that I purchased at my local Goodwill, here in CT, for twenty dollars. The color caught my eye the second I stepped in the store and I bee-lined straight for the rack! When you spend as much time in second hand shops and tag sales as I do, you develop a sixth sense for lux materials, and this was no exception. It is possibly the softest cashmere I have ever found, I could tell the previous owner took really great care of this knit. The style was outdated, which is why I assume it was there, but the color was vibrant and unique, so I knew I would make it into a baby blanket. I resized the shape, and sewed the front and back together, making it even more cozy. I crocheted the blue shell stitch trim from bamboo yarn, sustainable and super soft, but still felt it needed a little something. After rummaging through my odds and ends, I found a scrap of floral fabric that was part of a discontinued fabric sample book (this was actually free). I cut out a flower from the fabric, embroidered over the center and then hand sewed the applique to the blanket. This was one of those times where everything just seemed to fall into place. I have received quite a few comments that people wished this was larger so they could use it for a throw! Maybe pieces a few sweaters together could solve that problem!

Lavender Cashmere and Merino Baby Security Blanket with Embroidery and Cotton Back
I was asked to donate an item to the ‘Sacred Pregnancy’ Book Launch event and an upcycled baby security blanket seemed perfect. Off I went to look for the perfect material and found an awesome cable knit J.Crew merino wool and cashmere blend lavender sweater for ten dollars at a thrift shop. I knew I would have to fiddle a bit with this one because it was an extra small. I cut the sweater bodice into strips and was able to sew those together to create a larger area. I embroidered a couple little lavender branches and then backed the blanket with cotton fabric purchased at a tag sale for five dollars (for a whole bolt)! It was a hit and now these upcycled sweater baby blankets are also going to be sold in the Sacred Pregnancy Handpicked Shop.

Grey Cashmere and Organic Cotton Little Whale Baby Blanket
One of my all-time favorite designs, this started out with inspiration from a vintage Bergdorf Goodman grey cashmere sweater found at a vintage shop in CT for twenty five dollars. The shape of this men’s sweater baffled me for quite some time because it tapered quite dramatically at the waist. Thankfully, I was able to cut squares from the bodice and sew them together to make a larger blanket. I embroidered a little whale and then backed the blanket with organic cotton. I love the size and weight of this blanket, and have received quite a lot of positive feedback on this one!

Argyle Merino and Crochet Baby Dress
This baby dress design is so much fun and only uses half a sweater! It can be made with literally any kind of sweater and it my most requested product from the Upcycled Children’s Wear Line. This super fun and cheery argyle print sweater was purchased at an estate sale in CT for fifteen dollars. I loved that the front had a print and the back was solid green. I crocheted the bodice, and shell stitch trim from navy yarn and added a brass colored anchor button on the back. The button was part of a Ralph Lauren blazer I purchased at a vintage shop for ten dollars. I absolutely love making these little dresses and wish I had made this pattern while my daughter was still a baby!

Aqua Toddler Dress with Floral Cotton Sash and Crochet Detailing

This dress is truly one of a kind, made from a J.Crew aqua cardigan with floral lining I found at a local Goodwill, in CT, for fifteen dollars. The color first caught my eye, and the lining totally sold it for me! I could tell that this sweater was shrunk, as the actual size definitely did not match the size on the tag, and the lining was not flush with the back of the sweater. There wasn’t enough fabric to make a baby blanket, and I really wanted to keep the whole front intact, as I loved the little crew neck and buttons. So I resized the sweater as a toddler dress. I cut out the lining, and repurposed it into little flutter sleeves and a sash. I then used silk bamboo ivory yarn to add a detail to the buttons down the front and two flowers and leaves on the front. I then used some amber beads, which were originally on a broken necklace I purchased for a few cents from a tag sale. I am totally in love with this dress and am constantly on the lookout for more cardigans so I can make more!

Morgan Roberts is the Owner and Designer at King Soleil
You can view her online shop here: www.etsy.com/shop/kingsoleil