Knitting For Premature Babies

A premature baby has very delicate skin so make sure you use baby soft yarn. Sometimes premature babies are allergic to wool, so it's best to steer clear of using wool mix. You can use cotton and acrylic yarn. 100% Egyptian cotton is very soft, a fantastic soft yarn for delicate skin, warm when it is cold and cool when it is warm.

  Don't put too much emphasis on trying to perfect the size of a preemie garment. There is a great variation between premature baby sizes that an item of any size should be suitable for at least one baby. As a general guide premature babies head circumference is approximately the same as their chest circumference. The average prem baby's chest measurements are 8"-14". However clothes of all sizes are required for preemies, so no matter how big or small your item is it will most likely fit at least one baby.

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.
Knitting items for premature babies can be very rewarding and is definitely appreciated by the charities and the families who receive them.
'LILY' Love In the Language of Yarn has  teamed up with several non profit organisations in Turkey helping to raise awareness of premature births, and have been asked to help provide knitted garments for several neonatal intensive care units in Aydin, Izmir and Bodrum.  If you would like to help out here are some knitting patterns to get you started.

You will need:

1 skein of Any kind of Baby DK Yarn

Size 4mm needles

Stitch Holders (or large safety pins)

3 buttons for hoodie

Abbreviations:

K Knit

P Purl

St stitc

K2tog Knit 2 stitches together

YO Yarn over

HOODIE

BACK

With 4mm needles cast on 40 sts.

Work 3 rows in garter st. ( K each row).

Work in stockinette st ( K 1 row, P 1 row) until work is 4inches, ending on purl row.

SLEEVES

Cast on 18 sts at beginning of next 2 rows.

Next row: K across.

Next row: K 2, P across to last 2 sts, K 2.

Repeat these 2 rows until sleeve measures 2.5 inches,

ending on purl row.

Cast off 18 sts at the beginning of next 2 rows.

Next row: K 2tog across to end of row.

Cast off 4 sts at beginning of next 2 rows. Put remaining 12 sts

on stitch holder.

LEFT FRONT

Cast on 20 sts.

Work 3 rows in garter stitch.

Next row: K across.

Next row: P across to last 3 sts, K3

Continue last 2 rows until work measures 1".

Next row: K1, YO, K 2tog, (buttonhole), K across.

Continue in stockinette stitch until work is 4" ending on prl row

**after you have 9 ridges from 1st buttonhole, make another buttonhole.

SLEEVE

Cast on 18 sts beginning of next row.

Next row:K 2, P across to last 3 sts, K3. (continue front edge)

K until sleeve measures 2.5 inches.

Add another buttonhole when you have 9 ridges from last buttonhole.

Make sure front measures the same as the back.

Cast off 18sts, P across.

Next row: K2tog across to end of row. (10 sts)

Next row: Cast off 4 sts, P 4, K2 (6 sts) Place on stitch holder.

RIGHT FRONT

Cast on 20 sts.

Work 3 rows in garter stitch.

Next row: K across.

Next row: K 3 sts, P across.

Continue these 2 rows until work measures 4" ending on purl row.

SLEEVE

Cast on 18 sts beginning next row.

Next row: K across.

Next row: K 3, P across to last 2 sts, K2.

Continue these 2 rows until piece measures 2.5 inches.

(make sure measures same as the left front)

Cast off 18sts, K across.

Next row: K3, P across.

Next row: K2tog across to end of row (10 sts)

Next row: K2, P across.

Next row: Cast off 4sts, work to end. (6 sts) Place these sts on stitch holder.

HOOD

With right sides facing you, place right front, back, left front

(24 sts) on needle. Right side facing you, K across.

Next row: P across.

Next row: Increase knit front and back in each stitch. (48 sts)

Keeping 1st and last 3 sts in garter stitch, work in stockinette stitch until hood measures 4". Cast off all 48 sts.

Fold hood in half at cast off sts.

Sew seam for hood.

Sew sleeves and side seams.

Add buttons to match the buttonholes.

HAT

With 3.75mm needles cast on 64 (72) sts.

Work 6 rows K1 P1 rib.

CHANGE to 4mm needles and continue in stocking stitch

(1 row K, 1 row P) until work measures 3.5 inches.

DECREASE:

Row 1: K6 (7) K2 tog, repeat to end row.

Row 2 and alternate rows: purl.

Row 3: K5 (6) K2 tog, repeat to end of row.

Row 5: K4 (5) K2 tog, repeat to end of row.

Row 7: K3 (4) K2 tog, repeat to end of row.

Row 9: K2 (3) K2 tog, repeat to end of row.

Continue decreasing thus until K2 tog across row.

work 1 row.

BREAK off yarn and thread through remaining sts.

SEW up carefully with a seam as flat as possible.

BOOTIES

WITH 4mm needles, cast on 23 (25) sts, fairly loosely.

WORK K1 P1 rib for 8 rows.

DIVIDE INSTEP (RS)

Next row: Knit 16 (17) turn

Next row: Purl 9, turn

WORK 12 rows in stocking st.

BREAK off yarn.

REJOIN yarn at point of needle and pick up and knit:

9 sts from side of instep,

9 sts from needle

9 sts from side of instep

sts of left needle. 41 (43) sts

WORK 9 rows in garter st.

NEXT row: work 2 tog, patt 17 (18), work 3 tog, patt 17 (18) work 2 tog

NEXT row: Knit.

NEXT row: Work 2 tog, patt 15(16), work 3 tog, patt 15 (16) work 2 tog.

KNIT 1 row. 33 (35) sts

Cast off.

Sew up the seam. There is no need for ties or ribbon for these booties.

'Thoughtful Thursday' 'LILY'- Love In the Language of Yarn.

It's just 7 months since we started 'LILY' - Love In the Language of Yarn We provide hand knit and crocheted items for children mainly orphans but any child in need.

Our first assignment is to help provide blankets for the Syrian refugees in Turkey.
As we are a small and new organisation we set a target of 100 blankets and put out a plea for knit or crocheted  8inch squares which will then be sewn together to form blankets. The response has been awesome! We soon met the target and upped it to 250 and in a short time we busted that target too! Todate we have sent 1,292 blankets to enough to give every refugee child in Two camps a blanket and we have another 704 blankets completed and over 2,000 squares, almost enough to supply a third camp. Thankyou! 
But please remember there are now over 10,000 Syrian refugees in Turkey, 60% of these are women and children, and very soon the weather will change and it will be cold!

For our second assignment we  teamed up with several non profit organisations in Turkey helping to raise awareness of premature births, and asked to help provide knitted garments for several neonatal intensive care units in Aydin, Izmir and Bodrum again the response was awesome! We recently payed our second visit to 3 NICU hospital wards and took 20 layettes to each hospital and again we have recieved further donations of 24 hats, 15 cardigans, 36 pairs of booties and 28 baby blankets. Thankyou so much you are awesome ! but please carry on :)

Our third assignment is that we are  working alongside the Humanitarian Relief Foundation and at this time they have 2175 orphans in their care here in Turkey. Next week I will be visiting an orphanage in Kayseri, Turkey with a group of volunteers. The orphange is home to 115 children at the moment. We asked for help knitting and crocheting hats, scaves and gloves for these orphans, again we were bowled over by the response and at the moment we have 110 sets to help keep these children warm in the winter months. Thankyou! We are just a couple short.


            
A Big Thankyou!  to everyone who has helped and please can we have loads more.....! 


Your help is really appreciated.

Email dbjones5559@hotmail.co.uk for the postal address. You can also find us on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/LilyLoveInTheLanguageOfYarn

'Lily' is supported by businesses and individuals in Turkey,Uk, Austrailia, US and Germany whether it be donations of yarn, Knitting and Crocheting or transportation of completed blankets to receiving agencies.

'Lily' has no paid employees.  All the good work is done on a strictly volunteer basis.

'Lily' wishes to thank all those private individuals and businesses which support us.  Without you, there would be no 'Lily' - Love In the Language of Yarn.  We work hard for the day when we are no longer needed to help keep Children warm.

Dianne Jones - Founder of  'Lily'- Love In the Language of Yarn.

'Thoughful Thursday' Knit for 'Lily'- Love In the Language of Yarn

The charity featured today on Thoughful Thursday is 'Lily'-Love In the Language of Yarn set up in memory of my grand-daughter Lily Iris Gibson. Our Mission is To bring love and a smile to all children in need around the world. We provide hand knit and crocheted items for children, mainly orphans but any child in need.

  We need your HELP!
At the end of September  I will be visiting an orphanage in Kayseri Turkey with a group of volunteers.The orphange is home to 115 children at the moment. I hope to take with me a parcel for each child. I am busy knitting a 'Lily' Bear for each child. Knitters and Crocheters I need your help! Age groups are 3-6yrs, 7-10yrs and 12-14yrs. Boys and Girls. Hat, scarf, glove sets for each child. Our volunteers have been wonderful but we are a little low on scarves and gloves (mittens) especially the 7- 10 age group. To help you there is a free knitting pattern  on our facebook page. Please help if you can.




Also  Please consider making a square or two with your odds and ends. It's a great way to bust your stash. The squares will be joined to form blankets and  given to IHH- Humanitarian Relief Foundation to be taken to Syrian refugees in Turkey. Turkey has seven camps housing more than 48,500 Syrians  the highest number taking shelter in Turkey at one time since the start of the uprising some 17 months ago. 'Lily' - Love In the Language of Yarn has been asked to help provide blankets especially for the many children refugees. In the short time we have been established we have made a staggering 347 blankets - enough to give one to each child in just one of the camps in Turkey near the Syrian border, but WE NEED MORE!. A gift of a handmade blanket will bring comfort and warmth to Syrian people especially children who continue to suffer from oppression and war. Your lovingly made gift will send a message of concern and hope to these refugees. Your participation is important.!  Any spare wool you have can be knitted into eight inch squares and then we'll stitch them all together into a blanket. No waste and someone gets a warm and colourful, cover for their bed! Can you help?

Knitting Instructions

FOR ONE 8"/20 cms SQUARE, you will need:
Yarn from a 100 gram (3.5 oz) ball of yarn or scraps of yarn 
 worsted weight , double knit or 8ply

Size 4mm needles  10 (USA)
A yarn sewing needle.
 Cast on 32 stitches (try to make your stitches neither too loose nor too tight to help ensure uniform squares)
 Row 1: knit
 Row 2: knit. These two rows form the 'garter' stitch knitting pattern for your square but you use any stitch you prefer, beascreative as you like. Continue knitting  until you have knitted a square
 To ensure you square is 8"/20cm either use a tape measure .

 Cast off
 Use your yarn sewing needle to sew in all the yarn ends using a darning method
VERY IMPORTANT 
Leave a one metre length of your yarn attached to your work after you have cast off. This will be used to join the squares together. but if you're changing colors work in your other tails.  DO NOT TIE AND CUT IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE KNOT, THAT IS GUARANTEED TO COME UNDONE.  Knot if you want, but leave a tail and work in your ends.

And last but by no means least  we have teamed up with several non profit organisations in Turkey helping to raise awareness of premature births, and have been asked to help provide knitted garments for several neonatal intensive care units in Aydin, Izmir and Bodrum.  Premature babies are amazing – they can grow and thrive despite huge obstacles, and catch up to full-term babies in both size and development. Please Help us to knit for premature babies especially hats, bootties and blankets. We have some patterns available for your use on our facebook page.

Please Help If You Can!

You can also find us at:  https://www.facebook.com/LilyLoveInTheLanguageOfYarn where I will be adding more knitting and crochet patterns, links to patterns and information updated daily.

'Lily' is supported by businesses and individuals in Turkey, whether it be donations of yarn, Knitting and Crocheting or transportation of completed blankets and garments to receiving agencies.

'Lily' has no paid employees.  All the good work is done on a strictly volunteer basis.

'Lily' wishes to thank all those private individuals and businesses which support us.  Without you, there would be no 'Lily' - Love In the Language of Yarn.  We work hard for the day when we are no longer needed to help keep Children warm.

Dianne Jones - Founder of  'Lily'- Love In the Language of Yarn.

Thankyou from 'LILY'- Love In the Language of Yarn

It's just 4 months since we started 'LILY' - Love In the Language of Yarn We provide hand knit and crocheted items for children mainly orphans but any child in need.

Our first assignment is to help provide blankets for the Syrian refugees in Turkey.
As we are a small and new organisation we set a target of 100 blankets and put out a plea for knit or crocheted  8inch squares which will then be sewn together to form blankets. The response has been awesome! We soon met the target and upped it to 250 and in a short time we met that target too! Todate we have sent 347 blankets to enough to give every refugee child in one camp a blanket and we have another 104 blankets completed and over 200 squares. Thankyou! 

For our second assignment we  teamed up with several non profit organisations in Turkey helping to raise awareness of premature births, and asked to help provide knitted garments for several neonatal intensive care units in Aydin, Izmir and Bodrum again the response was awesome! We recently visited 3 NICU hospital wards and took 20 layettes to each hospital and again we have recieved donations of 84 hats, 35 cardigans, 106 pairs of booties and 28 baby blankets. Thankyou so much you are awesome ! but please carry on :)











Our third assignment is that we are  working alongside the Humanitarian Relief Foundation and at this time they have 2175 orphans in their care here in Turkey. In September 2012 I will be visiting an orphanage in Kayseri, Turkey with a group of volunteers. The orphange is home to 115 children at the moment. We asked for help knitting and crocheting hats, scaves and gloves for these orphans, again we were bowled over by the response and at the moment we have 84 sets to help keep these children warm in the winter months. Thankyou!




            
A Big Thankyou!  to everyone who has helped and please can we have loads more.....! 


Your help is really appreciated.

Email dbjones5559@yahoo.com for the postal address. You can also find us on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/LilyLoveInTheLanguageOfYarn

'Lily' is supported by businesses and individuals in Turkey,Uk, Austrailia, US and Germany whether it be donations of yarn, Knitting and Crocheting or transportation of completed blankets to receiving agencies.

'Lily' has no paid employees.  All the good work is done on a strictly volunteer basis.

'Lily' wishes to thank all those private individuals and businesses which support us.  Without you, there would be no 'Lily' - Love In the Language of Yarn.  We work hard for the day when we are no longer needed to help keep Children warm.

Dianne Jones - Founder of  'Lily'- Love In the Language of Yarn.

'Thoughful Thursday' Knit Blankets for NICU Wards

The charity featured today on Thoughful Thursday is very close to my heart. I have set up 'Lily'-Love In the Language of Yarn in memory of my grand-daughter Lily Iris Gibson born sleeping 18th July 2010.

Our Mission is To bring love and a smile to all children in need around the world. We provide hand knit and crocheted items for children, mainly orphans but any child in need. We have teamed up with several non profit organisations in Turkey helping to raise awareness of premature births and have been asked to help provide knitted garments for several neonatal intensive care units. 

I recently visited three NICU's in Bodrum, Aydin and Izmir taking with knitted and crochet items that supporters of 'LILY' had so lovingly donated.
The NICU can be such a frightening experience for parents, and a couple of the mothers said to me 'it's so nice be able to treat our babies like babies instead of patients,' Another mother said ‘For the first time, you made me feel like my baby is real.’(her baby weighed just 1.75lbs). They were so thrilled with the handmade items and the thought that someone cared enough to make these clothes for their babies. While I was visiting the hospitals I was asked if we could help provide baby blankets, so this is our plea for today.




Please Help us to knit blankets for premature babies.
Here are three knitting patterns to help start you off.

MATERIALS: 

 3oz. of Baby or Sport weight yarn --- for each of the solid color blankets
1oz. each of 3 colors for the striped blanket
 4mm (US size 6) straight knitting needles

GAUGE:  5 sts/7 rows = 1" (stocking stitch)

PATTERNS:

Garter Stripes: Rows 1-5:  Work Stocking Stitch (K on Right Side, P on Wrong Side)
Rows 6-12: Work Garter Stitch (K every row)
Repeat rows 1-12 for pattern.

Basket Weave: Row 1:  P5, K5 across
Rows 2-5:  K the K sts, P the P sts across
Row 6: K the P sts, P the K sts
Rows 7-10:  K the K sts, P the P sts across
Repeat rows 1-10 for pattern.

Raised Garter Stripes: Rows 1 & 2: With color B, K across
Rows 3-6: Work Stocking Stitch (K on Right Side, P on Wrong Side)
Rows 7 & 8:  K across; change to color A
Rows 9 & 10: With color A, K across; change to color C
Rows 11 & 12:  With color C, K across
Rows 13-16:  Work Stocking Stitch (K on Right Side, P on Wrong Side)
Rows 17 & 18: K across; change to color A
Rows 19 & 20:  With color A, K across; change to color B
Repeat Rows 1-20 for pattern.

INSTRUCTIONS:

For each blanket: 
A.  CO 75 sts. Work 7 rows (4 ridges) of Garter Stitch (K every row).

B.  Work first 5 and last 5 sts in Garter Stitch, with one of the three patterns above, in
     between.

C.  When blanket measures 14" from start, work last inch (approx. 7 rows -- 4 ridges) of
     Garter Stitch.  Bind Off.

In a hospital setting there is a high turnover of clothing as it has to be washed at very high temperatures to protect the babies from germs therefore more often than not hand knitted garments that are given to the baby and stay with them, so there is no need for boil washing, but this means we need lots!

For more information you can find us on facebook https://www.facebook.com/LilyLoveInTheLanguageOfYarn

you can also find more info and a free booklet 'Knitting for Premature Babies' at this linkhttp://dianne-jones.blogspot.com/2012/05/thoughful-thursday-lily-love-in.html

'Lily' is supported by businesses and individuals in Turkey, whether it be donations of yarn, Knitting and Crocheting or transportation of completed blankets and garments to receiving agencies.

'Lily' has no paid employees.  All the good work is done on a strictly volunteer basis.

'Lily' wishes to thank all those private individuals and businesses which support us.  Without you, there would be no 'Lily' - Love In the Language of Yarn.  We work hard for the day when we are no longer needed to help keep Children warm.

Dianne Jones - Founder of  'Lily'- Love In the Language of Yarn.

'Thoughful Thursday' Knit for 'LILY'

The charity featured today on Thoughful Thursday is very close to my heart. I have set up 'Lily'-Love In the Language of Yarn in memory of my grand-daughter Lily Iris Gibson born sleeping 18th July 2010.
Our Mission is To bring love and a smile to all children in need around the world. We provide hand knit and crocheted items for children, mainly orphans but any child in need. We are a new organisation and have three areas where we need your Help.


Plea 1. 

Knit a Square For Syria.

Please consider making a square or two with your odds and ends. It's a great way to bust your stash. The squares will be joined to form blankets and  given to IHH- Humanitarian Relief Foundation to be taken to Syrian refugees in Turkey. Turkey has seven camps housing more than 29,500 Syrians  the highest number taking shelter in Turkey at one time since the start of the uprising some 15 months ago. 'Lily' - Love In the Language of Yarn has been asked to help provide blankets especially for the many children refugees. In the short time we have been established we have made a staggering 347 blankets - enough to give one to each child in just one of the camps in Turkey near the Syrian border. A gift of a handmade blanket will bring comfort and warmth to Syrian people especially children who continue to suffer from oppression and war. Your lovingly made gift will send a message of concern and hope to these refugees. Your participation is important.!  Any spare wool you have can be knitted into eight inch squares and then we'll stitch them all together into a blanket. No waste and someone gets a warm and colourful, cover for their bed!

Plea 2.

 For our second assignment we have teamed up with several non profit organisations in Turkey helping to raise awareness of premature births, and have been asked to help provide knitted garments for several neonatal intensive care units in Aydin, Izmir and Bodrum. 
Premature birth occurs in between 8 % to 10% of all pregnancies. Because they are born too early, preemies weigh much less than full-term babies. They may have health problems because their organs did not have enough time to develop. Preemies need special medical care in a neonatal intensive care unit, or NICU. They stay there until their organ systems can work on their own. Premature babies are amazing – they can grow and thrive despite huge obstacles, and catch up to full-term babies in both size and development. Please Help us to knit for premature babies.

Plea 3.
We work alongside the Humanitarian Relief Foundation and at this time they have 2175 orphans in their care here in Turkey, and 25,000 across 35 countries. Children who are deprived of the care of their parents due to wars, natural disasters, poverty or health problems.In September 2012 I will be visiting an orphanage in Kayseri, Turkey with a group of volunteers. The orphange is home to 115 children at the moment. I hope to take with me a parcel for each child. I am busy knitting a 'Lily' Bear for each child. Knitters and Crocheters I need your help! Age groups are 3-6yrs, 7-10yrs and 12-14yrs. Boys and Girls. Hat, scarf, glove sets for each child.






















It is the children who are affected most by the troubles in regions hit by conflicts, hunger and wars.

Please Help If You Can!

You can also find us at:  https://www.facebook.com/LilyLoveInTheLanguageOfYarn where I will be adding more knitting and crochet patterns, links to patterns and information updated daily.

'Lily' is supported by businesses and individuals in Turkey, whether it be donations of yarn, Knitting and Crocheting or transportation of completed blankets and garments to receiving agencies.

'Lily' has no paid employees.  All the good work is done on a strictly volunteer basis.

'Lily' wishes to thank all those private individuals and businesses which support us.  Without you, there would be no 'Lily' - Love In the Language of Yarn.  We work hard for the day when we are no longer needed to help keep Children warm.

Dianne Jones - Founder of  'Lily'- Love In the Language of Yarn.

'Thoughful Thursday' LILY - Love In the Language of Yarn

The charity featured today on Thoughful Thursday is very close to my heart. I have set up 'Lily'-Love In the Language of Yarn in memory of my grand-daughter Lily Iris Gibson born sleeping 18th July 2010.

Our Mission is To bring love and a smile to all children in need around the world. We provide hand knit and crocheted items for children, mainly orphans but any child in need. We are a new organisation and our first assignment is to provide blankets for Syrian refugees in Turkey. For our second assignment with have teamed up with Premature Bebek a non profit organisation in Turkey helping to raise awareness of premature births. We have been asked to help provide knitted garments for several neonatal intensive care units in Aydin, Izmir and Bodrum. 

A premature baby, or preemie, is born before the 37th week of pregnancy. Premature birth occurs in between 8 percent to 10 percent of all pregnancies. Because they are born too early, preemies weigh much less than full-term babies. They may have health problems because their organs did not have enough time to develop. Preemies need special medical care in a neonatal intensive care unit, or NICU. They stay there until their organ systems can work on their own. Premature babies are amazing – they can grow and thrive despite huge obstacles, and catch up to full-term babies in both size and development.

 Calling All Knitters!

Please Help us to knit for premature babies.


Here is a free booklet containing some helpful information a basic knitting patterns for premature baby hat, booties, cardigan and hoodie + pant set.


Knitting for Premature Babies

Can you spare a little of you time to knit for premature babies?




Email dbjones5559@hotmail.co.uk for the postal address.
You can also find us at:  https://www.facebook.com/LilyLoveInTheLanguageOfYarn where I will be adding more knitting and crochet patterns, links to patterns and information updated daily.


I hope this has inspired you to get your knitting needles out and knit for premature babies! You don't have to be a brilliant knitter, and it's very rewarding!

Please Help If You Can!

'Lily' is supported by businesses and individuals in Turkey, whether it be donations of yarn, Knitting and Crocheting or transportation of completed blankets and garments to receiving agencies.

'Lily' has no paid employees.  All the good work is done on a strictly volunteer basis.

'Lily' wishes to thank all those private individuals and businesses which support us.  Without you, there would be no 'Lily' - Love In the Language of Yarn.  We work hard for the day when we are no longer needed to help keep Children warm.

Dianne Jones - Founder of  'Lily'- Love In the Language of Yarn.