Knitting for the NICU

Pretty in Pink Princess Hat

Thank you to the NICU family who donated this yarn pack to our efforts.  With the pink fluffly yarn we will "pay it forward" to a little Little Princess this Valentine's Day.

This pattern, sized Small-Medium-Large Preemie and Newborn baby is a basic beanie in #6 bulky baby yarn from Baby's Breath by Bernat , sporting and oversized easy-to-make pom-pom, and a commercially made 2" wide floral hair barrette available from stores like Claire's Accessories.  Being able to take the barrette out is perfect for frequent washings.

 

 This pattern is also available as a free Ravelry download:  Pretty in Pink Princess Baby Hat

                       

Pretty in Pink Princess Baby Hat

Copyright 2013 by Glenna Anderson Muse

 

Sizes:

(Micro Preemie, Medium Preemie, Large Preemie, Newborn)

 

Finished Measurements:

(8", 10", 11", 12")

 

Abbreviations:

CO = cast on

K = knit

K2tog = knit two stitches together as if one, to decrease

P = purl

 

Materials

Less than 1 skein Bernat Baby's Breath #57200 Baby Pink yarn (or similar #6 bulky weight such as Bernat Softee Chunky #11981412 "Baby Pink") 

Size #8 double-pointed knitting needles or size needed to accomplish gauge

Optional size #10 double pointed knitting needles or 2 sizes larger than needles needed to accomplish gauge

One 2" wide silk flower decorated children's' hair barrette

 

Gauge: 12 stitches x 22 rows = 4 inches

 

Pattern notes:

Casting on using needles two sizes larger than the needles used to work the hat will create a stretchier, more comfortable, hat opening for the babies.

 

Directions:

 

Using larger needles and spaced evenly over three to four needles, CO (24, 30, 34, 38).  Join together to knit in the round, placing marker between last stitch of first row and first stitch of second row.

Row 1: Knit around.

Row 2: Purl around.

Row 3: Knit around.

Continue knitting all rows until total length measures (2.5", 3.5", 4", 4.5")

Decrease:

Row A:  K2tog around  (12, 15, 17, 19) stitches remaining.

Row B: K2tog around to last stitch, K1. (On Micro Preemie there won't be an extra stitch to knit singly.  (6, 8, 9, 10) stitches remaining.

Cut long tail, thread onto yarn needle, draw tail through remaining stitches.  Pull tight and secure.  Weave all loose ends in on underneath side of hat.

 

Pom Pom:

To make large pom-poms without commercial pom-pom maker: Wrap yarn around 3 (Micro Preemie) or 4 (rest of the sizes) fingers 50-60 times.  Carefully remove from hand and tie a double strand of yarn around middle of loops.  (I also use a small finger diameter rubber band to secure prior to tying with the strands of yarn.)  Tie as tightly as possible and triple knot.

 

 Cut through all of the loops.

 

 To trim, gather all of the loose ends up in your hand and trim the ones that stand up significantly higher than the rest of the ends.  It doesn't have to be perfect.

 

 To make the pom-pom fuller and  fuzzier, place a fork through the center of pom-pom and steam over boiling water, a couple of inches above water,  for approximately 45 seconds on each side.  You'll be able to see yarn ends starting to separate and appear fuller.

 

To finish hat, using yarn needle, draw long yarn ends through to underneath side, approximately 1/3 of the way down from the center top.  Secure underneath by securely weaving ends into hat underside. 

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If you have any questions, please contact me at [email protected].  If you would like to be featured on my blog, Knitting for the NICU,  please send pics of your little person wearing her Pretty in Pink Princess Hat!

 

 

 

Thank You to the "Pay It Forward" NICU Family

Huge thank you's to one of our little Little's family who donated this yarn bag of yarn to our efforts. What a sweet surprise to walk into work and find this bag of pretty yarns stuffed into my mailbox.  I couldn't resist the lure of the pink with Valentine's Day coming up and have already whipped up a Pretty Pink Princess hat to "pay it forward" to another little Little for Valentine's Day. I'll be blogging it, along with the pattern, in the next couple of days.

Thank you and big hugs!

 

Related articles

Mickey, the Famous Mouse

2012: Knitting for the NICU on TV and Thank You's!

Christmas 2012 in the NICU

Thanksgiving in the NICU

Call Out for NICU's Who Need Hats

Do you work for or know of a NICU in need of Preemie hats, booties, mitts, and/or cuddlers?

When we, or other groups, have extras we'd love to share the baby love!

       

Please email me privately at Marie9949 (at symbol) sbcglobal (dot) com.

Baby Cocoons from Relief Share Organization

 Cocoons are popular for photography sessions right now, but they're also very practical, particularly in the NICU.  Because preemies are, in fact, premature they have a multitude of special developmental needs. One is for swaddling.  It makes sense. By "age" they should still be in the ultimate swaddling environment but for whichever of many possible  reasons they've been brought out into the world where it's not dark, warm, wet, and tightly encompassing for their fetal development, so we make up for it where we can.  Preemies, the younger the more so, are most comforted by what their senses/developing bodies need:  lack of stimulation and lots of physical boundaries, namely being squished up like a ball and boxed in. Okay, that was a joke, but, in essence it's true.  They are happiest with their little arms arms and legs folded in mid-line to their bodies with their hands at their faces, and a snug swaddle of blanket giving them a simulated uterus of sorts. Cocoons work great for this.

In the NICU, the little Littles are snug in their isolettes, or "cages" as my niece Kaylee once called them sort of funnily appropriately,  with plenty of warmth and snugglers or Z-flows to position them, but a great use for cocoons/cuddles/sacks would be during the time when parents get to hold their babies, for example, each day when their bed linens are being changed and cleaned.

Another great use is for photographs, like all babies. Just because our babies are in the unit instead of home doesn't mean they don't still get tons of pics taken or don't get to celebrate their first holidays.  Orange cocoons with matching pumpkin hats for fall, Red/Green sets for Christmas, pastels for Easter, are all Kodak moments in the waiting.

Thatcher's Cocoon Knitting Pattern from Relief Share

From ReliefShare.org for this cocoon pattern, along with other great free knitting patterns.

 

 

"The general sizes are:

XXS – 14″ long x 50 stitches wide (6″ across) – 12″ diameter
XS – 16″ long x 60 stitches wide (8″ across)
S – 18″ long x 70 stitches wide (10″ across)
M – 20″ long x 80 stitches wide (10″ across)
L – 23″ long x 80 stitches wide (12″ across)
XL – 25″ long x 80 stitches wide (12″ across)

The hospitals use the XS size the most, the the families we donate to use the S, M and L the most as well as the XL. The XXS are used by the hospital, some of them for infant demise."  --Relief Share

 Keep a couple of important things in mind for all babies, namely current SIDS reccomendations. I personally knit shorter rather than longer when it comes to cocoons. Through personal experience, I (we in the NICU) have found that the 14 inch size fits 3.5-5 lb-er little Littles from their bent knees to just under their chins which is perfect. Per SIDS recommendations, you do not want to add a hood, any kind of fold over flap at the top, or a length so long that it might accidentally cover the baby's face. A handy reference for neck to toe infant measurements can be found here (Bev's Country Cottage). My point is that I would knock a couple of inches off the length of each of these dimensions.

Check out Relief Share, an organization in Houston Missouri and Boise Idaho, founded by Carol Green to help as many in need as possible, from individuals to organizations such as hospitals and clinics, nursing homes, nursery schools, shelters, and other relief organizations. They're doing great work over there, so please donate if you can, whether it's in the form of money, yarn, material, completed projects, etc.  Needed items and donation links can be found at Relief Share Current Projects.

Another great pattern from Relief Share is the Preemie Newborn Knitting Gown with sleeves, which to be honest, is even better for the NICU because it has sleeves that make the top comply automatically to SIDS recommendations and the drawstring bottom will make the RN's add your name and "hallelujah" to the same sentence for ease of diaper changes! 

 

Nest Building: Part Two

Hmmmm....the booger butts didn't seem to like the yarn on the baking sheet out on the back porch so after input from Gene about maybe they didn't like the pan and from Lisa about making it a little casual, I moved the yarn bits to the front flower bed and just tossed a handful out on a rock.

Let's see what they do with that....

Nest-Building: More Babies Need Yarn

I've been collecting my snipped ends all winter to share with spring mama birds and squirrels for their nests. I like the thought of our babies sharing with their babies this spring, kind of an all creatures great and small sweep of emotion.  We'll never see the results but I like to think of baby birds and squirrels opening their eyes to brightly decorated nurseries too.

I may have to move the tray farther out into the yard but since the birds and squirrels seem to have no problem eating my tomatoes and peppers that sit on the back porch in the summer, I'm hoping they don't suddenly get shy now.  I'd love to catch a few photos.