Preemie Bonnets

Members of The Preemie Project bereavement committee recently met with representatives of the hospital we donate to in Iowa to find out how we can better meet their needs. They were told that bonnets are preferable over stocking caps for the smallest size bereavement sets because it makes it easier to dress the baby, so I decided to find a pattern and give it a try.





Pattern: Bonnet to Match Knit Burial Gown
Yarn: Bernat Softee Baby Sport D.K.
Needles: US 3 throughout
Size: 1-3 lbs

The size needles I used are a little small for this yarn, but I wanted the bonnet to be tiny. I normally prefer to use size 5 with this yarn.

After it was knitted, I found it difficult to know what size baby this bonnet would fit. It's easy to measure the circumference of a stocking cap and compare it to the measurements guideline, but a bonnet is different. I began to look around the house to find something to test it on. I discovered that a vanity light bulb measures 10 inches in circumference which is the size listed for a 1-3 pound baby. It fit nicely on the light bulb, so I'm hoping it will work as well on a baby.

I like this bonnet, but I began to think of ways to change it up. The design is a simple T-shape. The bottom of the T is folded to meet the top of the T and then sewn together (refer to the illustration on the pattern). It's easy to plug in different stitch patterns to each section to achieve a different look. The possibilities are unlimited.

I knitted up two more bonnets using sport weight Red Heart Soft Baby and size US 3 needles. This is a lighter weight yarn and it worked much better with size 3 needles. The resulting bonnet is slightly smaller, but will still work for 1-3 pounds.



The yellow one turned out to be my favorite, though the detail didn't photograph well. It is stockinette stitch with rows of garter stitch for the front and 1x1 rib for the back.



The lavender one is garter rib stitch on the front and 1x1 rib on the back. I like the ribbing in the back because I think it draws the bonnet in nicely, but any stitch would work.

Next, I experimented with reducing the number of cast on stitches to make a smaller size bonnet for a baby weighing less than one pound. I think this is the size the bonnets were requested for in the first place. You can see the difference in size in the picture below.




The stitch pattern for the tiny one is garter stitch for the front and my favorite 1x1 rib in the back.

I think I'll be making lots of bonnets in the future. The versatility of the pattern makes it fun to knit. For those of you who want to try it out, here is the formula I used based on the original pattern.

Yarn: Sport Weight Baby Yarn
Needles: US 3
Size: less than 1 lb (1-3 lbs)

*CO 31 (41) sts.
Work stitch pattern of your choice for 1.5 (2) inches.
Bind off 9 (12) sts. at the beginning of the next two rows.
Work remaining sts. in stitch pattern of your choice until it aligns with the front.
Bind off and sew together.
(I omitted the single crochet around the edge of the hat.)
Weave ribbon along the bottom edge of bonnet to use for tying under the chin.

* You may need to adjust the number of stitches cast on to work with the stitch pattern you select.

March

007 Snap a Dozen Days


Field of Bluebonnets
Brenham Christian Academy
Brenham, Texas

March is a beautiful month in Texas. Wildflowers begin to bloom near the end of the month and will peak in mid-April. The most famous wildflower in Texas is it's state flower, the bluebonnet. The only place in the world where it grows naturally is in Texas. Wildflowers of all types can be found growing along the side of the roads, but a showy field of bluebonnets will take your breath away.

Each March I look forward to the return of the Purple Martins. We have a martin house in our backyard. Once martins nest at your location, they will return each year. Our martins have been nesting here for three or four years. Their song is so unique and very pleasing. I love to wake to it each morning.

March is also madness, as in March Madness Basketball. Each year our son-in-law sets up an online family tournament. We all have our special method of making our picks. Some of the serious competitors in the family actually follow college basketball through the season and make their selections from first hand knowledge. My method is to do last minute "research", which this year means I copied some ESPN sports broadcaster's final four picks and guessed at the rest or flipped a coin when I couldn't decide. I was doing really well until this weekend. Currently I'm in fourth place, but still have a shot (even though it's a long shot) at the title. My pick for the winning team is Georgetown and they're still in it.

March is the start of spring--my favorite time of year.


Texas Bluebonnet
Old Baylor Park
Independence, Texas

Wee Knitting

I have a couple of projects on the needles right now: a hand towel from Mason Dixon and a pair of socks that only seem to get attention when I travel. Neither one of these projects was anything I wanted to work on yesterday. I was in the mood to knit for the babies. So out came the pink and blue yarn, my binder of patterns and my favorite needles. Some things just never get old. I love to knit tiny hats.



Pattern: So-Soft Preemie Hat
Yarn: Dreambaby D.K.
Needles: US 5 DPNS
Number of Stitches Cast On: 42
Size: To fit a baby up to 3 pounds

This is the first time I've used this pattern, but it won't be the last. If you check, you'll see I've already added it to my favorites list. The design is simple, but elegant. Perfectly sweet for a wee one.

Celebration

Today Wool Windings celebrates two years of blogging and the first day of spring with photos of roses from my backyard.


Yellow Lady Banks'



Old Blush



Maggie



New Dawn

Thank you for two years of encouragement and friendship. This blog wouldn't be the same without you.

A friend is like a flower,
a rose to be exact,
Or maybe like a brand new gate
that never comes unlatched.
A friend is like an owl,
both beautiful and wise.
Or perhaps a friend is like a ghost,
whose spirit never dies.
A friend is like a heart that goes
strong until the end.
Where would we be in this world
if we didn't have a friend.

--Unknown

From Start to Finish

Buy a spinning wheel, some wool roving and a how-to video.

Watch video and marvel at how easy it looks.

Treadle and draft, treadle and draft, treadle and draft...and then realize this is going to take some practice.

Slow down, be patient and spin up some very crude looking yarn.

Take pictures of this yarn and post it on your blog.

Be encouraged by everyone that comments and begin to look at your first handspun in a different light.

Find the perfect project and knit your first yarn into something useful.

Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!

Start all over again.


Handspun Pillow



I had so much fun knitting this pillow! Not only did I get to use my first yarn, I also got to use the Brittany Black Walnut needles (US 10 1/2) that John gave me. It's the little things that make me happy. The pattern that inspired this project is Garter-stitch Pillow from Sarah Dallas Knitting.



The rustic nature of my homespun adds texture to the knitted fabric. The finished look is a little like a child's crayon drawing--beautiful in it's imperfection.



On my version, the back is worked in one color in stockinette stitch. A few strands of merino singles are run through the ribbing to add contrast and interest.



Time to spin up some more yarn. I have lots of pillows around the house that could use a face lift.

A Different Kind of Memorial

It isn't easy to know what to say to someone who has lost a child. No one wants to bring up sad feelings, but remaining silent is often worse than saying something. Mama Bear has a helpful post about this very subject.

Recently on the Lucy Ladybug Knit-Along, a request was made by a member wanting to help her friend deal with the loss of her baby. Her friend has a fear that as time goes by, no one will remember her precious daughter, Marlowe. Her plan is to donate 200 baby items in Marlowe's name and then present a photo scrapbook of all the items to her friend as a tribute to Marlowe. Anyone can help. Just make a baby item, donate it in Marlowe's name to the charity of your choice, then email a picture of your item to the address here.

This bunting is going to The Preemie Project in memory of Marlowe.



Pattern: Inspired by Burial Bunting With Hat
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft
Needles: US 6
Size: 1-3 lbs

Weekend Visit

Last weekend we went to Oklahoma to visit Matt and attend Spring Sing. At the last minute, Robyn was able to join us. I didn't expect to see both of my kids on this trip, so I was a very happy mom!

While Matt was working the Spring Sing shows on Saturday, we took Robyn to the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum.



This memorial is a tribute to the victims, survivors and rescuers of the 1995 bombing of the Murrah Federal Building. It is a moving experience, overwhelming at times, but beautifully done. It is important to remember the tragedy of that day. It is all summed up in the mission statement:

We come here to remember those who were killed, those who survived and those changed forever. May all who leave here know the impact of violence. May this memorial offer comfort, strength, peace, hope and serenity.

The Gates of Time
To enter the memorial you must walk through one of two gates. These gates frame the moment of destruction--9:02. The East Gate bears the time 9:01 which represents the innocence of the city before the attack. The West Gate bears the time 9:03, the moment everything was changed forever.



Field of Empty Chairs
168 people lost their lives in this tragedy. Each victim is represented by an empty chair. The chairs are placed in nine rows, representing the nine floors of the building. Each chair bears the name of a victim and is placed according to the floor on which those killed worked or were visiting. The small sized chairs remind us of the children that died.



The Survivor Tree
This 90 year-old American Elm tree sustained much damage from the the bombing. It was charred and broken then. Over the years it has been nurtured and cared for and it's scars are not a noticeable now. It is a symbol of human resilience.



Photography is not allowed inside the museum. It is better if you don't know what to expect when you visit anyway. It is an interactive experience and you will be changed when you leave. Bring Kleenex.