Knitting for the NICU: Christmas

Christmas

12/30/2016

Christmas in the NICU 2016

Whew! This has been one long year! I don't know about you but I am so ready to start a new year, new beginning, new chapter in life, new...everything!

Due to health problems this year, I've had to cut way back on my knitting which breaks my heart but we all have to do what we have to do and can only do what we can. If that makes sense. Huge thank you's to Auntie Miranda who helped me finish 32 hats this year for Christmas in the NICU (we had some design duplicates)!

Even though I've had to cut back, I'm determined to keep designing and writing up the patterns for lots of hats I've made on the fly in the past (including the Hershey's Kisses hat), just please be patient. My hands and my health (which is better than it was) "ain't" what it used to be.

Hope everyone had the Merriest of Christmases and may we all have the Happiest of New Years!

With Knitting Love,

Glenna

Posted on 12/30/2016 at 11:53 AM in Christmas | Permalink | Comments (0)

12/22/2015

Christmas in the NICU 2015

Whew! Christmas as snuck up fast this year! (And yet I say that every year so where's the surprise, right?)

Hard to believe this is my 8th year knitting of our NICU and I'm not sure I ever had as much fun as I have had this year playing with color combinations, styles, and patterns--hopefully something to please every parent and compliment every baby's personality! Merry Christmas to all the families this year spending time with their babies in NICUs around the world!

Posted on 12/22/2015 at 11:04 AM in Baby, Christmas, Preemie | Permalink | Comments (0)

09/14/2015

Free Pattern: Christmas Stripe Beanie for the Teenies

CHRISTMAS STRIPED BEANIE FOR THE TEENIES

Simple Christmas red and green stripes overlaid on a red, green, and white tweed hat, and topped with a puffy pom-pom.

Sizes: (Micro-Preemie, Med-Preemie, Large Preemie, Newborn)

Finished hat circumference measurements:

(8, 10, 11, 12) inches

Abbreviations:

CO = cast on

K2tog = knit two stitches together as one, to decrease

Materials:

Size# 8 double-pointed needles or needles needed to make gauge

Optional: Size #10 double pointed needles or 2 sizes larger than needles used to accomplish gauge. Note: Casting on using larger needles creates a stretchier, more comfortable hat opening.

50-100 yards Hobby Lobby "I Love This Yarn" in "White Tweed"

50 yards Hobby Lobby "I Love This Yarn" in "Jelly Bean"

50 yards Hobby Lobby "I Love This Yarn" in "Fire Red"

Yarn needle

2-3 inch Pom-Pom maker

Gauge: 16 stitches x 22 rows = 4 inches

Directions:

With Green yarn and larger set of needles, CO (36, 42, 48, 54).

Change to smaller needles.

Row 1: *K1, P1*, repeat from * to * across row. Join to knit in the round, placing a marker between last stitch of first row and first stitch of second row.

Rows 2 and 3: *K1, P1*, repeat from * to * across row.

Change to White Tweed yarn.

Rows 4: Knit all stitches

Row 5: Purl all stitches

Rows 6-9: Knit all stitches

Change to Green yarn.

Row 10: Knit all stitches

Change to "Fire Red" yarn.

Row 11 and 12 Knit all stitches.

Change to Green yarn.

Row 13 Knit all stitches.

Change to White Tweed yarn.

Knit all stitches until piece measures (2.5, 3, 3.5, 4) inches from CO edge.

Decrease: 6, 7, 8, 9).

Row A: *K4, K2tog*. Repeat * to * around row. (30, 35, 40, 45 stitches remain)

Row B: *K3, K2tog*. Repeat * to * around row. ( 24, 28, 32, 36 stitches remain)

Row C: *K2, K2tog*. Repeat * to * around row. ( 18, 21, 24, 27 stitches remain)

Row D: *K1, K2tog*. Repeat * to * around row. ( 12, 14, 16, 18 stitches remain)

Row E: K2tog around row. ( 6, 7, 8, 9 stitches remain)

Cut long tail and thread onto yarn needle. Draw yarn through remaining stitches, pull tightly, and secure. Weave loose end in to underside of hat.

Finishing: Weave in all loose ends, make pom-pom and attach to top of hat

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Thank you for using this pattern. If you have any questions, please email me at [email protected]. If you would like to be featured on my blog, Knitting for the NICU, please send pics of your little Little to the same email address.

Posted on 09/14/2015 at 07:37 PM in Baby, Christmas, Free Patterns, Gifts , Hats, Newborn, Preemie, Winter | Permalink | Comments (0)

03/07/2015

Free Pattern: Elf on the Shelf Micro-Preemie Christmas Hat

ELF ON THE SHELF STYLE CHRISTMAS HAT FOR MICRO-PREEMIE

Since micro preemies are the same sizes as the Elf on the Shelf dolls, I always knit a couple of these tiny hats for our NICU at Christmastime so our micro preemies can be our own personal cutie patootie Elves on the Shelves. Except we would never wedge them up on the family room curtain rods, of course.

This pattern is also available as a Ravelry Download.

Finished Measurements: 8 inch circumference hat opening by 5 inches tall.

Abbreviations:

CO = cast on

K = knit

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

P = purl

Materials

Less than half skein of Lion Brand Vanna White yarn in Scarlet or other worsted weight yarn that accommodates gauge

Less than half skein of Lion Brand Vanna White yarn in White or other worsted weight yarn that accommodates gauge

Size 10 (US) double pointed needles

Size 8 (US) double pointed needles

Yarn needle

Gauge: 16 stitches x 22 rows = 4 inches

Pattern notes: With all baby hats, I routinely use a long tail cast on and cast on with needles two sizes larger than those used to knit the rest of the hat for the stretchiest, most comfortable fit The heads and vasculature of preemies, particularly micro-preemies, are so delicate and fragile that with this hat I insist on it.

Directions:

With white yarn and larger needles, CO 33 stitches.

Change to smaller needles.

Row 1: Knit all stitches. Connect to knit in the round, placing a marker between last stitch of first row and first stitch of last row.

Row 2: Purl all stitches.

Repeat rows 1 and 2 one more time.

Change to red yarn.

Knit all stitches until piece measures 1.5 inches from CO edge.

Decrease:

Row 1: *K9, K2tog*...repeat * to * two times more. (30 sts remain)

Row 2 (and all even rows): Knit all stitches.

Row 3: *K8, K2tog*...repeat * to * two times more. (27 sts remain)

Row 5: *K7, K2tog*...repeat * to * two times more. (24 sts remain)

Row 7: *K6, K2tog*...repeat * to * two times more. (21 sts remain)

Row 9: *K5, K2tog*...repeat * to * two times more. (18 sts remain)

Row 11: *K4, K2tog*...repeat * to * two times more. (15 sts remain)

Row 13: *K3, k2tog*...repeat * to * two times more. (12 sts remain)

Row 15: *K2, K2tog*...repeat * to * two times more. (9 sts remain)

Row 17: *K1, K2tog*...repeat * to * two times more. (6 sts remain)

Row 19: K2tog around row. (3 sts remain)

Cut 10" tail, thread onto yarn needle, draw thread through remaining 3 stitches, pull tight, secure, and weave into underneath side, keeping top point nice and pointy.

Weave in all loose ends.

______________________________________________________________

Thank you for using this pattern. If you have any questions, please contact me at [email protected]. If you would like to be featured on my blog, please send pics of your hat or your little person wearing his or her new knitting.

Posted on 03/07/2015 at 07:53 PM in Baby, Christmas, Free Patterns, Hats, Preemie | Permalink | Comments (0)

03/02/2015

First NICU Hat Knitted for Christmas 2015

Just playing around with a Christmas tweed yarn from Hobby Lobby's "I Love This Cotton Yarn" collection with a Norwegian star pattern cobbed from the 'net. Let the 2015 Christmas NICU knitting season begin!

Posted on 03/02/2015 at 05:38 PM in Christmas | Permalink | Comments (0)

01/08/2015

Christmas in the NICU 2014

Even though I haven't blogged much this year, I have been a busy little knitting bee (or maybe that's why I haven't blogged much!)

Here's a roundup of NICU and some personal knitting that took place...

Above, with my phone illustrating how tiny these hats were, are two of the micro preemie hats knitted for the NICU this (2014) year. We called our tiniest little Littles our own personal "NICU Elves-on-their-Shelves".