Sunday 29 January 2017

Octopus for a Premature Baby


Premature babies at Poole Hospital in Dorset have been given unlikely bedfellows to keep them feel safe in their incubators: crocheted octopuses.
 
 
 
As local paper the Bournemouth Echo reports, the crafty creatures will now be offered to all infants in the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) – and the reason is as scientific as it is sweet...
Research has shown that crocheted tentacles remind little ones of their umbilical cords and being inside their mother's womb, which in turn helps them feel safe.
 
The idea came from Denmark, where research showed that toy octopuses can calm babies, while squeezing their tentacles led to better breathing, more regular heartbeats and higher levels of oxygen in their blood. The babies were also less likely to pull on their monitors and tubes. 
 
However ~ Poole Hospital were keen to stress that, for safety considerations, donated octopuses should be made from 100% cotton, so that they can be washed at high temperatures for infection control.
 
Additionally, tentacles should be no longer than 22cm when extended for safety.
 
Donations can be sent to the maternity unit reception at Poole Hospital.
You will find an English pattern (which uses American Crochet terms) at ~ http://mynomadhome.com/octopus-for-a-preemie-osmiorniczka-dla-wczesniaka/
 
I know of several charity groups based in the UK who have taken up this idea and are making cute little octopuses to donate all around the country.
This lovely little octopus was made by Donna Dighton Crooks for the charity group Purple Butterfly - which is a small non profit making knitting / crocheting group whose aim is to donate handmade items to help the families of premature babies & babies born too soon. https://www.facebook.com/groups/502401549941036/
 
'Skittles' - made by Donna Dighton Crooks
 
If you prefer to knit - you will find a knitting pattern in English for these at ~
 
 
There is more information about Spruttegruppen -
who originated The Danish Octo Project at ~
 
Photo by Spruttegruppen
 
 

Thursday 26 January 2017

With A Twist

 
I love knitting with this yarn ... it is so soft,
and I love the colours available too - just lovely in every way!
 
'King Cole Baby DK With a Twist'


Perfect Boy or Girl Top-Down Jacket
 https://mariannaslazydaisydays.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/boy-or-girl-top-down-baby-jacket.html

 
Lazy Daisy Baby Dress
 https://mariannaslazydaisydays.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/lazy-daisy-all-in-one-baby-dress_31.html 

Carla Baby Cape
https://mariannaslazydaisydays.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/carla-hooded-baby-cape.html
 

Barclay Baby Cardigan - 3 months
https://mariannaslazydaisydays.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/barclay-baby-jacket.html




Barclay Premature Baby Top
https://mariannaslazydaisydays.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/barclay-baby-jacket.html
 

Lilac Blossom Baby Dress
https://mariannaslazydaisydays.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/lilac-blossom-baby-dress.html


Lilac Blossom Hat & Bootees
https://mariannaslazydaisydays.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/lilac-blossom-baby-set.html
 
 
Lilac Blossom Baby Jacket
https://mariannaslazydaisydays.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/lilac-blossom-baby-set.html
 
 
Easter Bunny
https://mariannaslazydaisydays.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/easter-bunny-egg-cosy.html

 
Doll's Poncho
https://mariannaslazydaisydays.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/poncho-for-her-baby-doll-too.html
 
  
Bibi Baby Jacket
https://mariannaslazydaisydays.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/bibi-baby-jacket.html
 
Bibi Baby Hat
https://mariannaslazydaisydays.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/bibi-baby-hat.html
 
 
Charlie Baby Hat & Mittens
https://mariannaslazydaisydays.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/charlie-baby-beanie-hat.html
https://mariannaslazydaisydays.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/charlie-baby-mittens.html
 
 
Dewdrop Baby Jackets
https://mariannaslazydaisydays.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/dewdrop-baby-jacket-preemie-newborn.html
 
 
Tiny Topaz Sleeper
https://mariannaslazydaisydays.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/tiny-topaz-premature-baby-sleeper.html

 
Dexter Vest   -   3years
https://mariannaslazydaisydays.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/dexter-all-in-one-slipover-sweater-well.html
 
Primavera Baby Hat
https://mariannaslazydaisydays.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/primavera-crochet-baby-hat.html
 
Primavera Baby Hat
https://mariannaslazydaisydays.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/primavera-crochet-baby-hat.html
 
King Cole Baby DK With a Twist


I have bought 6 different shades of this lovely yarn from my favourite local yarn supplier -

Crafty Wools at Wimborne Market
(Proprietor - Jo Donnachie, who is a valued member of my facebook group)
https://mariannaslazydaisydays.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/woolly-loveliness.html 

Please try to support your local yarn shop.
 
 
 

Tuesday 24 January 2017

Adding a Hood to My Baby Patterns

Many of you have asked how to add a hood on to my baby jacket patterns.

The very talented Ginny Knight (a member of my facebook group) has been kind enough to share her 'how to' instructions.

Thank you Ginny - I know that this will be appreciated by many knitters.




INSTRUCTIONS FOR ADDING A HOOD TO MARION’S CARDIGANS ~ by Ginny Knight
KNITTED FROM BOTTOM UPWARDS
EXAMPLE – BELLA
Bella with a Hood
Knit cardigan as normal (adding extra buttonholes if required to make it look more like a jacket), but don’t knit neckband rows and don’t cast off stitches.

HOOD

1.            cast off border stitches, knit to end.
2.            Cast off border stitches, K4, purl to last 4 sts. K4.
3.           Carry on knitting in st. st. keeping the 4 border sts for approx 4” (10 cm) for a newborn size. (ON THE FIRST ROW YOU MAY WANT TO ADD EYELET HOLES TO INSERT RIBBON OR CORD FOR A SNUGGER FIT.)
4.       Transfer half of the stitches on to another needle and with wrong side facing, starting at front of hood cast off both sets of sts together.  (YOU COULD JUST CAST OFF ALL THE STS AND STITCH THE SEAM TOGETHER.)

KNITTED FROM TOP DOWNWARDS
EXAMPLE – BABBITY
Babbity with a Hood
1.          Using some scrap yarn in a different colour to the main yarn, cast on and knit one row.
2.    Change to main yarn and knit cardigan, not forgetting to add extra buttonholes to make it look more like a jacket.

HOOD

1.              Remove scrap yarn and place stitches back on needle with right side facing you.
2.              Rejoin main yarn and cast off border stitches, knit to end.
3.              Cast off border stitches, K4, purl to last 4 sts. K4.
4.              Carry on knitting in st. st. keeping the 4 border sts for approx 4” (10 cm).
(ON THE FIRST ROW YOU MAY WANT TO ADD EYELET HOLES TO INSERT RIBBON OR CORD FOR A SNUGGER FIT.)
5.       Transfer half of the stitches on to another needle and with wrong side facing, starting at front of hood cast off both sets of sts together.  (YOU COULD JUST CAST OFF ALL THE STS AND STITCH THE SEAM TOGETHER.)

 
Jack and Jill with a Hood

Saturday 21 January 2017

Julietta Baby Hat

I love making little baby hats -
and I know many of you do too - and donate them to hospitals, baby units and

charity groups who send them to where they are needed.
 
I knitted these sweet little hats this afternoon, and I wanted to share the pattern.

Some of you might enjoy knitting them too. I hope so.

Julietta Baby Hats
 
  
Julietta Baby Hat
 
Newborn – 3 months                    12 - 13″ circumference,   5½ - 6“ high
 
 
Requirements:
 
DK yarn ~ main colour around 12-14g, small amount of contrast colour
4mm needles
Length of satin ribbon for a bow, if desired
Tension:
 
22sts = 4" (10cm)
 
 
Instructions:
 
Using main colour cast on 63sts 
Knit 7 rows
Row 8:             Kfb, knit to last 2sts, kfb, k1     (65sts)
Row 9:             S1, knit to end
Row 10:           S1, purl to last st, k1
Join in contrast colour
Using contrast colour ~
Row 11:           S1, knit to end
Row 12:           S1, knit to end
Row 13:           S1, *yon, k2tog, repeat from * to end
Row 14:           S1, knit to end
Cut off contrast colour
Continue in main colour ~
Row 15:           S1, knit to end
Row 16:           S1, purl to last st, k1
Repeat last 2 rows 6 times more  
(Work should measure around 3 ½ “ ~ it is easy to adjust the length here)    
 
Shape Crown
1st  Row:          (K6, k2tog tbl ) repeat to last st, k1                   57sts
2nd, 4th,6th,8th,10th  Rows:  S1, purl to last st, k1
3rd  Row:          (K5, k2tog tbl) repeat to last st, k1                   49sts
5th  Row:          (K4, k2tog tbl) repeat to last st, k1                   41sts
7th  Row:          (K3, k2tog tbl) repeat to last st, k1                   33sts
9th  Row:          (K2, k2tog tbl) repeat to last st, k1                   25sts
11th Row           (K1, k2tog tbl) repeat to last st, k1                   17sts
12th Row           (P2tog) repeat to last st, k1                                9sts
Cut yarn (leaving a long ‘tail’ to use for sewing up), draw the end through all stitches, pull up tightly.
Sew up the seam.  Darn away ends.
 
 
 
Julietta Baby Hat
 

Large Premature Baby Hat                   11″ circumference,  5“ high

 

 

 
 


Requirements:
 
DK yarn ~ main colour around 10-12g, small amount of contrast colour
4mm needles
Length of satin ribbon for a bow, if desired

Tension:
 
22sts = 4" (10cm)
 
 
Instructions:
 
Using main colour cast on 55sts 
Knit 7 rows
Row 8:             Kfb, knit to last 2sts, kfb, k1     (57sts)
Row 9:             S1, knit to end
Row 10:           S1, purl to last st, k1
Join in contrast colour
Using contrast colour ~
Row 11:           S1, knit to end
Row 12:           S1, knit to end
Row 13:           S1, *yon, k2tog, repeat from * to end
Row 14:           S1, knit to end
Cut off contrast colour
Continue in main colour ~
Row 15:           S1, knit to end
Row 16:           S1, purl to last st, k1
Repeat last 2 rows 4 times more  
(Work should measure around 3“ ~ it is easy to adjust the length here)           

Shape Crown
1st Row:           (K5, k2tog tbl) repeat to last st, k1                   49sts
2nd, 4th,6th, 8th, 10th  Rows:  S1, purl to last st, k1
3rd  Row:          (K4, k2tog tbl) repeat to last st, k1                   41sts
5th  Row:          (K3, k2tog tbl) repeat to last st, k1                   33sts
7th  Row:          (K2, k2tog tbl) repeat to last st, k1                   25sts
9th  Row            (K1, k2tog tbl) repeat to last st, k1                   17sts
11th Row           (k2tog tbl) repeat to last st, k1                            9sts
Cut yarn (leaving a long ‘tail’ to use for sewing up), draw the end through all stitches, pull up tightly.
Sew up the seam.  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.