My continuing adventures in knitting for our local NICU, creating special holiday hats (and more!) for our little Littles in celebration of the major holidays and for their parents to take home as souvenirs.
What have I been up to the last several weeks? Knitting up this adorable Easter dress for Niece Myia.
I really love this pattern: Shades of Summer Dress designed by Elena Nodel, a free download on Ravelry for sizes 3 months to 6 years and worked in sport weight yarn. It's an adorably light little spring or summer dress. However, since we live in southwest Missouri where Mother Nature is Bipolar....we added a little turtle neck top underneath for some warmth on this very cool spring day.
I'm pretty sure Myia likes it too, from this face which tickles me pink (or aqua):
Floppy-eared Bunny hat with coordinating thumbless mitts. Five sizes in medium preemie (3-5lbs) thru toddlers (1-3 years). Less than one skein main color yarn for preemie/newborn size; two skeins for larger sizes. Knitted using any light worsted weight easy care yarn for delicate machine wash and dry or hand wash and lay flat to dry. Facial details finished with sew-on eyes and/or hand-detailed fabric paint. Great pattern for NICU, Newborns in Need, and Pediatric charity knitters.
Size: Med Preemie (Large preemie/Newborn, 6 months, 1 year)
Finished Measurements: 10" (12", 14", 16")
Abbreviations:
CO = cast onK2tog = knit two stitches together as if one, to decrease
Gauge: In stockinette, 16 st x 24 rows = 4 inches square
Materials:
Size 8 (US) double pointed needles or needles sized to accomplish gauge
1/3 skein any worsted weight soft yarn in yellow (that fulfills gauge)
3-4 yards any worsted weight soft yarn in orange (beak)
Yarn needle
2 18mm googly eyes
Hat
With yellow yarn, and spaced over 3 to 4 needles, CO 40 (50, 55, 65)
Row 1: Knit around, placing marker after last stitch of first row and before first stitch of second row. Join to knit in the round.
Row 2: Purl around
Row 3: Knit around
Row 4: Purl around
Repeat rows 3 and 4 two times more.
Body:
Knit all stitches in round until total length measures 3.5" (4.5, 5.5", 6")
End at the beginning of a new row.
Decrease:
Row 1: K2tog around. For sizes with an odd number of stitches: K2tog to last stitch. Knit this stitch. 20 (25, 26, 33) stitches remain.
Row 2: K2tog around. For sizes with an odd number of stitches: K2tog to last stitch. Knit this stitch. 10 (13, 13, 17) stitches remain.
Row 3: K2tog around. For sizes with an odd number of stitches: K2tog to last stitch. Knit this stitch. 5 (7, 7, 9) stitches remain.
Cut long tail, thread onto yarn needle, and draw tail through remainging stitches. Draw tight, secure. Continuing with tail, make several loops, securing each with a slip knot into top of hat OR after weaving tail into underneath side of hat, tie a few 4" piece of yarn into top using a double knot (will not be looped) and trim to desired length.
Beak:
With orange yarn, and over two needles, CO 4 (4, 8, 8)
Hint: Make sure you have a tail, after casting on, long enough to sew beak onto hat.
Row 1: Knit all stitches. Place marker at end of first row and beginning of second row. Join to knit in round.
Row 2: Knit around.
Row 3: Knit around. Sizes Med Preemie and Large Preemie/Newborn skip to row 6.
Row 4 and 5: Knit around.
Row 6: K2tog around. 2 (2, 4, 4) stitches remain.
Row 7: K2tog around. 1 (1, 2, 2) stitches remain.
Row 8: K2tog around. -- (--, 1, 1) stitch remains. Med preemie and Large preemie/newborn skip to Finishing.
Row 9: K2tog
Finishing: Cut long tail, thread onto yarn needle, and draw through remaining stitch. Draw tight and secure, weaving end into inside of beak. Using original cast on tail, sew beak onto hat, sew googly eyes above beak using yarn (more secure than sewing thread), and weave all loose threads into underneath sides of hat.
Note: All beads, buttons, and the like can be choking hazards for babies so use caution and sew on with several wraps of yarn. OR, paint on eyes using 3D fabric paint.
I don't touch my knitting. I don't look at my knitting. I don't sort or handle our knitted baby things or even wash them. I don't think about our knitting no matter what holiday or how many cute things we have made. I ignore it all even though it makes me want to do this:
Because these:
are much too precious and fragile for even the possibility of being exposed to these little nasties:
