Monday 17 July 2017

Bonding Squares


Bonding Squares are knitted in matching pairs.


One square is placed with a premature baby and another is worn against the mum's skin, then the squares are swapped round every 12 hours or every time mum visits.
Many Neonatal Units are now using them. They help with the bonding of a premature baby in an incubator and the baby’s mum. The baby can smell mum’s scent even when she isn't there or wasn’t able to get him out of his incubator, and then when she goes home she can still smell the baby’s scent on the square, which is a big comfort.
Not only this, but many mums find that it really helps with expressing breast milk. Keeping the scent of the baby close by triggers the hormones needed to produce and express milk, which is very important as breastfeeding can be difficult for mothers with premature babies.
For all these bonding squares ~
Requirements:
DK yarn ~ around 16 - 18g
4mm needles

Tension:
22sts = 4” (10cm)


Simple 5" Bonding Squares (knit 2)   
Instructions:

Cast on 28 stitches
Start with a garter stitch border - knit 6 rows

7th Row:       S1, knit across row
8th Row:       S1, k4, purl to last 5sts, k5
Repeat the last 2 rows 11 times more

Complete with a garter stitch border – knit 7 rows

Cast off knit wise

Darn away ends                                                                                                                                                 


Jack & Jill 5" Bonding Squares (knit 2)   




Instructions:

Cast on 29 stitches
Start with a garter stitch border - knit 6 rows

1st Row:      S1, knit to end
2nd Row:      S1, k4, *p3, k1, rep from * to last 4sts, k4
Repeat the last 2 rows 12 times more

Complete with a garter stitch border – knit 7 rows

Cast off knit wise

Darn away ends                                                                            




Jeannie 5" Bonding Squares (knit 2)   

Instructions:

Cast on 29 stitches
Start with a garter stitch border - knit 6 rows

1st Row:        S1, knit to end
2nd Row:       S1, k4, purl to last 5sts, k5
3rd Row:      S1, knit to end
4th Row:        S1, k4, purl to last 5sts, k5
5th Row:       S1, k4, *k1, p2, repeat from * to last 6sts, k6
6th Row:       S1, k4, purl to last 5sts, k5
7th Row:       S1, k4, *k1, p2, repeat from * to last 6sts, k6
8th Row:       S1, k4, purl to last 5sts, k5

Repeat the last 8 rows twice more

Next Row:      S1, knit to end
Next Row:      S1, k4, purl to last 5sts, k5

Complete with a garter stitch border – knit 7 rows

Cast off knit wise

Darn away ends           





WILLOW Bonding Squares (knit 2)         5¼“

Instructions:

Cast on 30 stitches
Start with a garter stitch border - knit 6 rows

**
7th Row:       S1, knit to end
8th Row:       S1, k4, *p4, k4, rep from * to last st, k1
Repeat the 7th and 8th Rows twice more

13th Row:     S1, knit to end
14th Row:     S1, k8, *p4, k4, rep from * to last 5sts, k5
Repeat the 13th and 14th Rows twice more  **

Repeat from ** to **  once more

31st Row:      S1, knit to end
32nd Row:     S1, k4, *p4, k4, rep from * to last st, k1

Repeat the 31st and 32nd Rows twice more

Complete with a garter stitch border – knit 7 rows

Cast off knit wise

Darn away ends      




NEVIS Bonding Squares (knit 2)     5½“

Instructions:

Cast on 30 stitches
Start with a garter stitch border - knit 6 rows

7th Row:       S1, knit across row
8th Row:       S1, k3, *p4, k2, repeat from * to last 2sts, k2
9th Row:       S1, knit across row
10th Row:     S1, k3, p1, k2, *p4, k2, repeat from * to last 5sts, p1, k4

Repeat the last 4 rows five times more

31st Row:     S1, knit across row
32nd Row:     S1, k3, *p4, k2, repeat from * to last 2sts, k2

Complete with a garter stitch border – knit 7 rows

Cast off knit wise

Darn away ends      




CHARLIE Bonding Squares (knit 2)     5“

Instructions:

Cast on 28 stitches
Start with a garter stitch border - knit 6 rows

7th Row:       S1, knit across row
8th Row:       S1, k4, purl to last 5sts, k5
9th Row:       S1, k4, * k2, p2, rep from * to last 7sts, k7
10th Row:     S1, k4, * p2, k2, rep from * to last 3sts, k3
11th Row:     S1, knit across row
12th Row:     S1, k4, purl to last 5sts, k5

Repeat the last 6 rows four times more

Complete with a garter stitch border – knit 7 rows

Cast off knit wise

Darn away ends      




Georgie 5" Bonding Squares (knit 2)   

Instructions:

Cast on 29 stitches
Start with a garter stitch border - knit 6 rows

7th Row:        S1, knit across row  
8th Row:        S1, k4, *p1, k1, repeat from * to last 4sts, k4
Repeat the last 2 rows 13 times more

Complete with a garter stitch border – knit 7 rows


Cast off knit wise

Darn away ends



BEN Bonding Squares (knit 2)                   5½“

Instructions:

Cast on 31 stitches
Start with a garter stitch border - knit 6 rows

7th Row:       S1, knit across row
8th Row:       S1, k4, *p3, k3, rep from * to last 2sts, k2

Repeat the last 2 rows 13 times more

Complete with a garter stitch border – knit 7 rows

Cast off knit wise

Darn away ends                          




 I am happy for you to use my patterns for your own use or for charity donations.
In addition:  You can gift or sell any finished items you make from my patterns.  
However, please do not copy my patterns
Copyright © 2017 ‘made by marianna’  All Rights Reserved
This pattern (the information and photos) may not be copied or reproduced
or republished on another webpage or website.

24 comments:

  1. What a lovely idea :) do you know of any particular hospitals that would like some?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yes! St. Thomas Hospital in London. Check out this FB link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/810MumsMake/permalink/699450586924358/?comment_id=699890313547052&reply_comment_id=699891376880279&notif_id=1511280449552195&notif_t=group_comment

    That's how I found this posting :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Just a quick question can these be made with acrylic yarn or does it need to be wool or cotton
    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  4. My guess would be something that can be washed and dried.

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  5. Hi just a quick question..What size is the actual square when fullyknitted? I'm getting back into swing of knitting again just bit lost when do ben square im doing these for my local hosp

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  6. Just found this blogspot. I am recovering from surgery and will spend some time knitting these squares. It's a lovely idea and thank you for all the different patterns.

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  7. Hi I have my mum in a residential home where they have a knitting club. I'm going to pass this on so they can knit squares then i will collect them and send them to St Thomas's Hospital. As they are quick to produce they can have a finished result in no time. A lot of the residents have dementia but they can still knit. Hopefully it will give them a purpose too.
    Good Luck with your new venture with Etsy.

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  8. can i crochet these squares as i can't knit

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  9. My granddaughter was a premature baby and mum and baby used these. I've been knitting these squares when i have an hour to spare and will take them to the hospital where my granddaughter was born. I am going to look for pattern for such tiny babies as I believe they are very expensive.

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  10. Can you tell me whether pure wool is used, or is acrylic ok as it's not keeping the baby warm, it's all about the smell. And I'd like to add what a wonderful idea this is!

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  11. Such lovely patterns. I am going to add a inch all round as my Hospital would like 6 inch squares for tiny Angel Babies. Thank you so much for allowing us to use your patterns. Blessings ��

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  12. Lovely patters . I will be knitting for Land D Hospital Thank you

    Janet

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  13. in lockdown so i need something to do. hopefully they will go to Worcester hospital

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  14. Thankyou for lovely patterns

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  15. Hi I am retired and live in South Africa. This is so beautiful and brings me close to my mom whom I lost a year ago. Thank you so much

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  16. I have made these squares for my daughters boy triplets in Wales. I think it is such a lovely idea 😻 thank you

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    Replies
    1. Sometimes the simplest of things can make such a difference. Best wishes and happy knitting. M

      Delete
  17. These are lovely and I can’t wait to ‘cast on’ Made me realise just how lucky I was when I had my children and they in turn have had theirs, not to have had all the stress and worry that parents - and grandparents - have when a prem baby is born into the family. What amazing work is done in our maternity ICUs within our hospitals nowadays and a huge thank you to everyone who works in one of these remarkable units.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree! I love to share my patterns knowing that they are used by baby units to help preemie babies and their families at a stressful time. M

      Delete
  18. Thank you for sharing this, such a lovely thought.i will pass this on to my knitting group.

    ReplyDelete
  19. My daughter is a midwife and I have been knitting 'Ben's hat' in various sizes and colours. I am now starting on the bonding squares for her to take to the hospital.
    Thank you so much for sharing your pattern details,Marianna, as it makes it so much easier

    ReplyDelete