Click Your Needles for Babies

 

May 17 2011……

Now that the donations have started pouring in it is time to really get this party started. Below are are just a few of the many purple hats that have been donated by the lovely ladies at the Rainer Vista Apartments in Pacific Washington. They are knitted on a round loom.

 

 Hey wait a minute where did this one come from? Apparently someone didn’t follow the instructions.  No wait a minute…he is starting to look a little familiar. Could it be ? Yes that is my little brown mouse hat ( made from the same pattern)…Hmmmm… I guess he snuck in to remind us all to just have fun with this project. Yeah that’s what he meant…unhuh.

 

  We even have our Mascot crocheting away for the cause…How about you?

May 7 2011…(This is where it all began)

  At work many of us crafters are working hard on a charity project. We are making purple Hats for babies to help educate new parents about the period of purple crying. It is a normal but frustrating time when babies tend to cry more in the first few weeks and months of life. The purple hats will be given to new parents at Seattle Children's Hospital (as well as nine other hospitals) in the month of November, as a reminder not to shake your baby to get them to stop crying. Frustration with crying is the number one reason a parent shakes and harms a baby. To learn more about this cause please visit www.clickforbabies.org-or Twitter@PurpleCrying 

  My friend Maggie has created a pattern and will be offering this pattern for the cause.  I have crocheted little hats and booties for preemies in the past. This project was right up my alley. I have created some not purple ones just to donate for the celebration of a new life.

This is my friend Maggie who created the pattern offered today.  As you can see she is so good she can make hats with her eyes closed. Thanks Maggie. The hats in front of her are all variations of her pattern.

  Notice the lovely purple Bracelet Maggie is wearing , these are being given to all who participate in this project.

New Born Hat Pattern

G hook and regular yarn

Step 1: Chain 2- then 6 sc in the second chain

Step 2: 2 sc in each stitch around

Step 3: 2 sc in the next stitch, 1sc in the next

Step 4: 2 sc in the next stitch, 1 sc in the next 2 stitches- repeat to finish row.

Step 5; 2 sc in the next stitch and 1 sc in the next 3- repeat to finish row.

Step 6: 2 sc in the next stitch and 1 sc in the next 4- repeat to finish row.

Step 7: 2 sc in the next stitch and 1 sc in the next 5- repeat to finish row.

Step 8; 1 sc in all stitches of this row-repeat the row 11 times

Step 9; sc in each stitch but only in the back of each stitch to complete row.

Step 10; sc crochet in every stitch to complete this row-repeat this row 4 times.

This completes the basic pattern. I have added a row of shells to mine. if you want to do this:

When you get to the last stitch do a slip stitch. then reverse the direction, do a sc in the last stitch of last row (you’ll be doing this in the direction your came from) skip a stitch in the next stitch do 2 double crochet, two chain stitches,2 double crochet, skip a stitch do a sc- repeat to finish the row and tie off.

I added a rose and leaf to each just to make more special.

When I was little I would watch my grandmother make small granny squares from her yarn when there wasn’t enough for another project (this was when yarn had dye lots) so she wouldn’t waste any. She would use the squares to make lap afghans for local nursing homes and gifts. I decided to take her lead. I use all my scrap yarn to make roses and add them to many projects. I always have a large bag of them. My scrap green yarn is made into leaves.  I hope you enjoy this project. Have a great week, with love from the Victorian Rabbit.

   

Back Home

After five long days and nights at Mary Bridge Children's Hospital In Tacoma, our little guy is finally back home. We still don’t have a solid diagnosis on what caused him to become so ill, but he is continuing testing and is having more blood work as I type. He seems to be doing a little better. But still has so much swelling in his joints he cannot wear shoes. Not really sure if he’ll be returning to school this year.

  I wanted to share some of the handmade gifts he received at the hospital. The next three pictures are of his Bravery Quilt. This quilt was handmade by by the ladies of a local Baptist Church, and was given to him on his second day in the hospital.

  When my little buddy was admitted he was put in a very sterile looking bed all white, with this bright colored Pillow case with cats and dogs on it. It looked so cheerful and happy. I apologize that the pictures are showing this beautiful pillowcase as being wrinkly from his constant use. We were very surprised when he got ready to leave they said it was for him to keep.  It really touched our hearts that these beautiful people gave of their time and talents to brighten the day of a very sick little boy that they had never met.

  We want to thank everyone for their prayers and get well wishes.  It has been a rough week but thankfully we have been blessed with so many good and kind hearted people around us. With love from The Victorian Rabbit.