Do you want to knit for a good cause? Wondering where to start? Is there a need? With your generous donation, you can help support the educational hopes and dreams of thousands of Indigenous youth across Canada, help the community donate now.
Yes there is!
Whether
you are nutty about knitting or an eager novice with your needles
paused there are lots of charities to choose from. Knitting for charity
can definitely be fun, but it can also be one of the most fulfilling and
rewarding things you’ll ever do.
Have you knitted for your
children? Your grandchildren? Your friends’ children? Your friends’
childrens’ children? Knitting baby clothes is quick and rewarding but
sometimes there are just not enough babies in your social circle to knit
for. If you love knitting beautiful little items of baby clothing then
why not think about charity knitting for premature babies?
There
are lots of ways that you can click your knitting needles for a worthy
cause. The information here will help you begin charity knitting for
premature babies. There is something sweet about knitting a little item
for the tiniest of babies. Not only are you providing an individual gift
for someone who urgently needs it, but also baby clothes are quick and
simple to make! So it’s gratifying in more ways than one. Even if you’re
a novice this is a venture you can start and see through right to the
end. Read on for some great general guidance on charity knitting for
premature babies and some details of particular charities you can have a
look at before you decide who to knit for. The charities often offer
free knitting patterns.
Where can I find Premature Baby Charity Knitting Patterns?
One of the many ways that you can support Bliss is by
knitting for babies in special care units. Knitted items are most
helpful for babies about to go home, but there is also a need for
blankets and hats for babies in hospital. Knitted items are often not
suitable for intensive care units – stitched cotton is preferable.
However for larger babies, and in high dependency and special care
units, knitted items are often very welcome.
Bliss asks that to
reduce their costs volunteer knitters help by sending items direct to
their local unit, and not to Bliss. To find the address of your local
unit, and to check which items they have requested to receive, please
contact Bliss via their website.
Bliss also use Knitted breasts.
The knitted breasts allow nurses to easily demonstrate to women
important massage techniques that let them stimulate their milk
production and express their valuable first drops of milk. They are
particularly helpful when there are language barriers. Woollen breasts
are a brilliant free alternative to expensive teaching aids that are
used by health professionals to educate new mothers to express by hand
before going on to use an electric pump.
This charity sends premature baby outfits and blankets to
special care baby units around the UK and to parents who need support. A
mother who needed a way to deal with the loss of her premature child
founded Bonnie Babies six years ago. Bonnie Babies makes premature
clothing, blankets, and burial outfits for U.K. Special Baby Care Units
and families. Their aim is to show each mother and family that there are
people thinking of them and caring for them.
Bonnie Babies mainly
makes blankets for premature babies. They provide patterns for toys,
hats, and sweaters (including a “5 Hour Baby Sweater!”), but blankets
are quick, simple to make, and guaranteed to fit. Families can then
continue to treasure them long after the child is grown.
Feed the Children
Feed
The Children is a UK charity that has a knitting pattern for a jumper
appropriate for children of all ages. They are also look for knitted
hats, gloves and scarves.
This is a site based in the U.K set up to help people to
knit, crochet or sew clothes, blankets and other keepsakes for
premature, low birth weight and sadly stillborn babies. They have a wide
range of free knitting, crochet and sewing patterns accessible on their
pattern page.
The charities have a lot of information on their websites, below is some general advice to help you get those needles clicking.
Colours
Pastel
colours are the most popular. Apart from baby pinks and blues other
colours, which may be chosen, are: Lemon, Cream, White, Mint Green,
Peach, Lilac and Aqua. It is accepted that bright and dark colours
should be avoided as they often make premature babies look frailer. When
knitting burial garments the advice suggests its best to use colours
such as white or cream and to avoid pinks, blues and lilacs, as they are
not appropriate for the colouring of a stillborn baby.
Yarn
Premature
babies have very delicate skin and can often be allergic to wool;
therefore it is best to steer clear of garments made with a wool mix.
Acrylic yarn is more appropriate when knitting for preemies. Ideal yarn
to use for preemie knits is baby double knit or 4ply yarn. Most preemie
patterns will use these.
Size
Don’t put too
much importance on trying to perfect the size of a preemie item of
clothing. There is a great difference between premature baby sizes and
so an item of any size should be suitable for at least one baby. As a
general guide premature babies head circumference is roughly the same as
their chest circumference. The average premature babies chest
measurements are 8″-14″. However clothes of all sizes are needed for
preemies, so no matter how big or small your item is it will most likely
fit at least one baby.
Fastenings
Plain
flat half-inch buttons are best to use for fastening. Avoid nylon and
metal fastenings, as they get very hot under the incubator heaters. Do
not use Velcro as a fastening, it is very scratchy on the hook side and
also damages knitted garments when they are laundered. Ease of dressing
is vital for preemies and as a general rule it is best not to use ribbon
as a fastening as ribbon can often be fussy to tie on a garment so
small.
The charities involved usually have free knitting patterns
and advice on their websites so do not be worried by all the details as
you really will be able to find a garment to suit both your knitting
skills and the babies needs
Knitting items for premature babies
can be very worthwhile and rewarding. It is definitely appreciated by
the charities and the families who receive them. If you are excited by
the prospect of getting your knitting needles working for charity and
want to explore charity knitting for other organisations here are some
other ideas to help your search.
Charity Clowns
Teddies for Tragedies
Algerian Action
Save the Children
Knitting for Operation Christmas Child
The Sailors’ Society
Loving Hands
Operation Elderly Charity Stitcher
The Baby Pack Project
I hope you find the right premature baby charity knitting patterns to suit your skills and enjoy the rewards of knitting for charity.
I am a mom to one gorgeous little boy who was impatient to be
born, arriving early at 34 weeks. I am not a great knitter but know the
importance of donated items to mothers of premature babies. Find out
more:
Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Jo_Carthew/327237
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2330695
