I am currently working on a bespoke baby blanket. I will publish the pattern after the mom to be gets it. One thing I can tell you now is that it is simple and colorful. There will be a nice gradient in colors. It is a fast knit. It will use 8 100 gram skeins of yarn on US size 3 knitting needles. Those without arthritis in their hands should be able to finish in a week or so. It will be large enough to use until the toddler stage.
Somehow having a space of my own where I can shut out the world while looking at a nice desert landscape is helping my creativity. I only wish I could knit more hours a day right now. Right now I knit for a bit and let my hands rest. This seems to have cut down the soreness and swelling. Maybe this way I can avoid further surgery on my hands. I can only hope.