Knitting for the NICU

Estera Butterfly Stitch Women's Head Kerchief Scarf

Summery head kerchief, inspired by my friend, Estera, whose hair always looks so pulled together in kerchiefs and scarves without the severity of a pony tail or bun. One size fits school-aged girls, teens, and adult women.

Knitted in butterfly stitch lace, using two colors of Be Sweet Bambino 70% cotton/30% bamboo, hand-dyed, hand-spun yarn. Requires 1 ball “dark peach” and less than half one ball of “lime” color. Techniques used are knit, purl, K2tog, YO, PSSO, slip stitch, K1P1 ribbing on band, and knitted on two straight needles.

Pattern available for $2.95 as a instant download on Ravelry  and  Etsy.

"No Pinches" St. Patrick's Day Preemie/Newborn Hat

"No Pinches" St. Pat's Day Baby Hat 

Copyright 2015 by Glenna Anderson Muse

 Based on the colors of the Irish national flag, a green, white, and orange hat with a little strand work and a commercially made shamrock girls' hair clip for fun, 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.

Less than 1 skein of any "soft" worsted weight kelly green yarn that meets gauge

Less than 1 skein of any "soft" worsted weight bright orange yarn that meets gauge

Less than 1 skein of any "soft" worsted weight white yarn that meets gauge

Yarn needle

Optional:  shamrock pin or girls' shamrock hair clip

Gauge:  16 stitches x 20 rows = 4 inches

Directions:

With green yarn and larger set of needles, CO (32, 40, 44, 48). 

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 2-4: *K1, P1*, repeat from * to * across row.

Change to white yarn.

Rows 5-6: Knit all stitches

Change to orange yarn.

Row 7:  Knit all sttiches

Row 8: *K2(orange), K2(green)*.  Repeat * to * around row.

Note: Be sure to cross yarns at each color change throughout the row and keep your tension loose so the fabric will lay smoothly.

Row 9: *K2(green), K2(orange)*. Repeat * to * around row.

Change to green yarn

Row 10: Knit all stitches.

Change to white yarn

Knit all stitches until piece measures (2, 3, 3.5, 4) inches from CO edge.

Change to orange yarn.

Knit all stitches x 3 rows.

Decrease:

Row A: *K2, K2tog*. Repeat * to * around row. (24, 30, 33, 36 stitches remain)

Row B: *K1, K2tog*. Repeat * to * around row.  (16, 20, 22, 24 stitches remain)

Row C: K2tog around row. (8, 10, 11, 12) stitches remain.

Row D: K2tog around row.  Large preemie size will have one stitch at the end of the row to knit singly. (4, 5, 6, 6) 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 and place (optional) shamrock pin or clip on hat.

_____________________________________________________________ 

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.

Updated: Free Pretty in Pink Princess Preemie Hat Pattern

Pretty in Pink Princess Preemie Hat has now been re-written, with faster, easier to follow directions, more detailed instructions, and a no-special-equipment Pom pom photo/written tutorial.  Also available as a free Ravelry download..

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Ravelry Pattern Dowload: Floppy-Eared Bunny Baby thru Toddler Hat and Mitts

 

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.

Ravelry Download: Floppy-Eared Bunny

Etsy Download: Floppy Eared Bunny

  

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Easter: Free Little Chick Hat Pattern

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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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