Knitting for the NICU

Free Patterns: Ballet Leg Warmers for Girls

 

  How cute is this Sweet Pea?!  Yup, THAT cute!  This is Lauren, sister to Chef Samuel I featured on the food blog for his Taco Dogs lunch at the R Family Cafe.  Lauren provided the entertainment that day for her family by showing off her ballet skills.  A dancer this cute and talented needs the perfect hand-knitted leg warmers to keep her pink tootsies pink, warm, and cozy, and this was one set I created for her. 

 This pattern is also available as a free Ravelry download.

Lauren's Ballet Princess Pink Leg Warmers

Copyright 2015 by Glenna Anderson Muse

 

Easy care, hard-working ballet pink leg warmers for girls, sized 4-8, knitted in worsted weight Berroco Comfort "Ballet Pink" yarn that can be machine washed and dried.  One stretchy size for girls' sized 4-8. Pattern worked from the bottom to top.

 

Size:

One stretchy size fits most girls sized 4-8

 

Abbreviations:

BO = bind off

CO = cast on

K = knit

KFB = knit both in the front and back of the stitch to increase.

 

 

Materials:

 1 skein Berroco Comfort #9710 "Ballet Pink"

Size 8 double pointed needles or needles needed to accomplish gauge

Optional: Size 10 double pointed needles or  two sizes larger than needles used to work the piece

Yarn Needle

Optional embellishment:  18" of  coordinating 1/4" coordinating fabric ribbon

1 sewing needle

Sewing thread matching the ribbon for bows (sewn to leg warmers)           

           

Gauge:

18 stitches x 24 rows = 4 inches

 

Pattern notes:

Using the larger set of needles to CO  and BO creates stretchier, more comfortable openings for the leg warmers.

                       

Directions:

 

With larger needles, CO 28 stitches. Place marker between last stitch of first row and first stitch of second row.  Join to knit in the round.

Change to smaller needles.

Row A:  *K1, P1*.  Repeat from * to * around row.

Repeat row 1 until piece measures 2 inches from CO edge.

Change to stockinette (knitting every stitch) and knit until total length is 4 inches.

Increase:

Row 1:  KFB, K13, KFB, K13 (30) stitches .

Rows 2-6:  Knit all stitches

Row 7:  KFB, K14, KFB, K14  (32) stitches

Rows 8-12:  Knit all stitches

Row 13:  KFB, K15, KFB, K15  (34) stitches

Knit all stitches until length measures 9 inches.

Row A:  *K1, P1*.  Repeat from * to * around row.

Repeat row A until piece measures11 inches from CO edge. (Two inches of ribbing.)

BO in stitch (knitting the "v"'s and purling the "bars" as you BO).  Cut tail.  With yarn needle, draw tail through last stitch. Secure tightly and weave in all loose ends.

 

To accent.  Tie two equal sized bows (double knotted).  Sew one to top of each leg warmer as shown in photo above.

 

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Updated Mickey and Minnie, the Famous Mice Patterns

As part of my New Year's Resolutions, I'm organizing, updating, and posting new free patterns at least once a week.  Both Mickey and Minnie patterns have been updated here on the blog:

Mickey, the Famous Mouse

Minnie, the Famous Mouse

and are also both available as free downloads on my Ravelry page (links on the individual blog pattern pages).

Great for anytime, they're particularly popular hats in NICUs during both Valentine's Day and Halloween.

Had to add this pic of my niece, Myia, in her Minnie Hat:

Easter: Free Little Chick Hat Pattern

 

Baby Chick Hat

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.

 

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Preemie Boy Hellboy Hat

 

A couple of years ago, I started knitting a hellboy hat for each Halloween at the insistence of RN Olivia who was a big fan. At the time, I hadn't even seen the movies but after her suggestion, I made a point of watching what I thought I wouldn't care for and was pleasantly surprised at how fun both of the movies are.  Let that be a lesson to all of us to try new things, right?  Or at least consider the cast: if Ron Perlman's in it, it's probably good!

What surprised me was how popular the Hellboy hat was, especially with the NICU Daddies.  I now try to always throw a few hats in just for the Daddies to love: Hellboy, Yoda, camouflage, etc.   NICU Daddies need knit hat love too, especially for their baby boys.

Hellboy Hat

Pattern by Glenna Anderson Muse

Pattern copyrighted 2013 by Glenna Anderson
Muse. Please do not place pattern on the web or make any use of pattern other than
for personal use or knitting for charity.

Level:  Intermediate
(increases, decreases, knitting in color blocks,  knitting in the round)

 Sizes:  Medium Preemie (3-5 lbs)

Materials

Small ball black worsted weight yarn

1/3 skein red worsted weight yarn

Size 8 straight needles

Size 8 double pointed needles

Yarn needle

Small amount of stuffing for each “horn”

 

Gauge:

16sts x 24 rows = 4”

 Pattern:

 With black yarn and straight needles, CO 26 sts

Knit x 3 rows

Purl

Knit

Purl

Knit all (26), (without turning work) using red yarn, CO 14
stitches  (40 sts total)

Continue to alternate Knit and Purl rows, and red and black
color blocks (be sure to cross red/black yarns in the middle snugly to keep a
taut seam between the two colors) until total length from back (black part)
measures 2.5”, ending with Purl row.

Cut 8” tail on black yarn, leaving red yarn connected. Will
be only using red from this point.

With next row, knit onto double pointed needles, using only
red yarn.  Place marker between last
stitch of that row and first stitch on next row.  Join into round.

Continue knitting all stitches, in the round, in red, until
piece measures 4”.

To decrease:

K2tog around row (20 sts)

K2tog around row (10 sts)

K2tog around row (5 sts)

Cut tail.  With yarn
needle, draw tail through remaining 5 stitches and draw tightly.  Secure and weave loose ends into underneath
side of hat.

 

Horns (Make 2)

With red yarn, CO  4
stitches over three needles. 

Place marker between last stitch CO and beginning of next
row.  Join in round.

1. K+1 in
        each stitch  (8 sts)
2. K+1 in
        each stitch  (16 sts)
3. K+1,
        K1, repeat around row (24 sts)
4. K+1, K2, repeat around row  (32 sts)
5. Purl
6. Knit
7. Knit
8. Knit
9. K2tog,
        K2, repeat around  (24 sts)
10. K2tog,
         K1, repeat around (16 sts)
11. K2tog
         around  (8 sts)

Cut tail.  With yarn
needle, draw tail through remaining 8 stitches and draw tightly.  Secure, use tails to sew onto “forehead” of
hat,  and weave loose ends into
underneath side of hat.

Can make matching booties from your favorite bootie pattern or from mine:  Bernat Precious Booties

 

 

 

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Family Knitting: Summer Romper & Headband for Hat Baby

Family Knitting: Summer Romper & Headband for Hat Baby

"Hat Baby", as in that's her name... no, really, that's what we call her, has been our constant living room companion for the almost seven years I've been knitting for the NICU, is my model for Medium-sized Preemies. Although her legs and arms are much chunkier than our skinnier little Littles, her head measures exactly 12" and her length just under 14", making her the perfect dressmaker doll to sub in for Preemie fashions.  For years now, she's either worn the latest in Preemie wear, or the plain Jane little sleeper she came in.  Hat Baby deserves designer outfit love too, so this summer I knitted her  a sunsuit and headband of her very own to dress up in. 

While technically both the headband and sunsuit would fit a 3-5 lb preemie, it probably wouldn't be something to actually dress a real baby in since they need multiple layers to hold in their body heat, but it's fun to think about for photos and definitely cute for other dolls of the same size.

"Preemie" Summer Romper  and Floral Headband for 12" Height Doll

Doll: 12-14" tall;  10 1/2" chest; 12" head circumference

Pattern by Glenna Anderson Muse

Pattern copyrighted 2013 by Glenna Anderson Muse. Please do not place pattern on the web or make any use of pattern other than for personal use or knitting for charity.

Summer Romper

Materials:

2 oz Baby weight yarn in any color

Size 5 dpns

Size 8 dpns

yarn needle

1 foot of 1/4-1/2" silk ribbon

Directions:

CO:  60, loosely, over 3-4 needles and join in the round, placing marker between last stitch of cast on row and first stitch of new row.

Work in 2x2 ribbing (K2, P2...repeat) until  total length measures 2 1/2"

Change to size 8 needles.

Knit one row

Purl one row.

K+1, K3 around row. (Don't worry about exact counts on stitches, the important part is to keep increasing every few rows to create the flared skirt--it's for a doll. For a real baby, we might need to be more particular about counts and such.)

Knit x 4 rows.

Repeat increase and knitted rows until skirt measures 5"

Purl one row

Knit one row.

BO all stitches.  Cut tail and pull through last stitch. Secure.  Weave in all loose threads.

Optional:  To form "shorts" rather than skirt of romper, lay romper flat and find middle of front and back.  With same thread stitch a 1" seam, starting from hem, to form a simple seam between legs.  Secure and weave in loose threads.

Thread ribbon onto yarn needle and weave across front of romper to create halter ties.  Leave both ends dangling equal amounts on each side.  When dressing doll, bring ribbon around back of doll's neck and tie into a bow.  Trim ribbon as needed.

 

Baby Doll Headband with Flower

Pattern by Glenna Anderson Muse

Pattern copyrighted 2013 by Glenna Anderson Muse. Please do not place pattern on the web or make any use of pattern other than for personal use or knitting for charity.

Materials:

1/4 oz Baby weight yarn

1/4 oz Baby weight in contrasting color (leaves)

Size 8 straight needles

yarn needle

1 1"-2" silk flower mounted on an alligator clip (easily found at hobby stores or women's accessory stores like Claire's)

Directions:

With main yarn, CO 40 stitches very loosely.

Work in 2x2 ribbing (K2, P2, repeat) across x 6 rows.

BO loosely in stitch. Cut tail and pull through last stitch to secure.  Sew headband ends together and secure. Weave in loose threads.

To make "leaves", with contrasting yarn, CO 20 sts.

BO all stitches, cut tail and pull through last stitch. Secure. Allow piece to curl around itself.

Sew ends together. Secure. Use remaining tails to sew onto headband approx 1" apart, at sewn place only. Allow rest of "leaf" to remain unattached from headband.

Make 2 and sew both onto headband.

Clip flower onto headband between the two open leaves