Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Preemie Noggins patterns

(Approximate sizes)

Very small: 20 cm/8 inches

Small: 25 cm/9- ¾ inches

Medium: 28 cm/11 inches

Large: 30 cm/11- ¾ inches

Newborn: 33 cm/ 13 inches

Hints:

A medium sized orange is about 8 inches.

Ikea small bear’s head is 24 cm/9- 1/2 inches

A large-sized apple is about 25 cm/10 inches

Bitty Baby’s head is 31 cm/12 – 1/4 inches


a. Heirloom Breeze (30% Wool/69.6% Cotton/0.4% Lycra) or other DK weight yarn

3.75 mm/US 5 dpns or circulars

Sized to fit all three preemie heads

Gauge: (unstretched) 6 sts/inch

Cast on 48 stitches, join K2:P2 ribbing for 6.5-8 cm/ 2-1/5-3 inches for no fold-up brim; 12.5 cm/5 inches for a fold-up brim.

Begin decreases:

Rnd 1: *K2, P2tog* around.

Rnd 2: work even.

Rnd 3: *K2tog, P1* around.

Rnd 4: work even.

Rnd 5: Slip 1, *K2tog* to last purl st, knit this together with the first stitch.

Rnd 6: K2tog around.

Cut yarn and thread through all stitches, pulling tight and fastening securely. Weave in ends.


b. Oddments of your favorite sock or fingering weight yarn

2.5 mm needles dpns or circulars

Size: sm (med) preemie

CO 64 (72) sts, join, work your favorite rib for 8 rows.

Change to stockinette for a total length of approx. 5 cm (2 inches.)

Decrease for crown:

Rnd 1: K 14 (16) K2tog around.

Rnds 2 & 3: work even.

Rnd 4: K 13(15) K2tog around.

Rnd 5: work even.

Decrease every other round twice more, the decrease every round until there are 12 stitches left. b.1: Repeat decrease round once more, 8 stitches; cut yarn, thread through remaining stiches, pull tight and fasten securely. Weave in ends.

b.2: Repeat decrease round twice more, 4 stitches, make a 4 stitch I-cord for approx. 4-5 cms, K2tog, K1, K2tog , secure last stitch, weave in end. Tie a top knot.

b.3: Knit each set of 3 stitches as an I-cord long enough for a small loop (2-3 cm.) K2tog, K1, K2tog, knit this last stitch together with the first stitch of the next set (one loop completed.) Make each loop a slightly different length for variation. Fasten securely in center. Weave in ends.


c. DB Baby Cashmerino or other sport weight yarn

2.75 or 3 mm needles (US2-?) dpns or circulars

Size:

CO 56 (64) stitches, join.

Rounds 1-6: Knit 1:Purl 1 rib

Rounds 7 & 8: Knit.

(infinity sign)


d. Baby Lotus Blossom (reversible)

Paton’s Grace or other sport weight yarn

3.25 mm (US3 needles)

Size: Medium preemie

CO 60 stitches, join, Knit 14 rounds 1:1 ribbing.

Refer to A Treasury of Magical Knitting by Cat Bordhi pp 62 & 63. Follow her instructions beginning with her increase round turning 60 stitches into 90. Fold up cuff for side you like best.


e. Peace Hat

Dalegarn Heilo or other sport weight yarn

2.75 or 3 mm needles (US 2-?)

Size:

CO


f. Flinders Island Fleece 8 ply pure new wool* or other DK weight wool

3.75 mm needles (US 5)

Size: large preemie - newborn

CO 48 stitchs, join.

Knit 4 rounds

Purl 1 round

Knit 2 rounds

K20, K2tog, YO, knit 3, YO, SSK knit to end of round.

K2 rounds

On next round, pick up loop from cast on edge as you knit to create casing. *you may skip this step if sewing the casing closed later ; your preference.

Knit even for 9 – 10 cm (3.5 – 4 inches)

Decrease round 1: Knit 6, K2tog;

2: Knit 5, K2tog;

Continue decreasing in the manner, one less stitch between K2tog until there are 12 stitches remaining. Cut yarn, pull through stitches and fasten securely. Weave in ends.

*this one skein was a gift from someone on KnitU and if I knew how to get bags and bags of it, I would! It is sooo soft!


g. 1 skein DK weight yarn (I used Sublime merino)
US 5 double point needles (set of 5)
US 5 circular needles (at least 24 inches in length) [optional - you can knit the entire thing with double points]

Size: Small - medium
With the dpns cast on 4 stitches,
slide stitches to opposite end of needle and knit (Icord)
repeat until the Icord is as long as you want it to be [I like to make mine about 2 inches so I can tie a knot in it]
Now comes the tricky part: increase one stitch in each stitch (8 sts)
divide the sts so that there are two on a needle and knit in the round using the 5th needle.
knit one round,
increase 1 stitch at the end of each needle, every round until you have
15 sts per needle 60 sts total (4 increases per round)
place a marker close to the last increase to mark end of rounds
knit every round even until hat is as long as you want [about 5 inches after the increases]
bind off loosely, weave in ends, and allow the edge to roll up.

Monday, September 8, 2008

preemie noggins!

http://www.savethechildren.org/programs/health/child-survival/survive-to-5/knit-one-save-one.html

Save the Children is having a campaign for knitters and crocheters to make a cap -- 9-11 inches/23-28 cm in diameter to be sent to regions of the world where babies die at an alarming rate because there is no way to keep them warm. Something as simple as a knit cap can change that! These caps will go first to the president-elect in hopes that he will use this information to shape his priorities for the coming years.

In 2007 knitters across the United States participated and sent in thousands of caps. Auntie Gail of KnitU was a champion of this cause and set up a drop-off point at one of the Stitches events. Hopefully something like that can be arranged again.

Watch this space for patterns.

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

shawl, part 1


Here is the first half of the purple shawl for afghans for Afghans blocked and [hopefully] drying! Not sure how well that will go with Tofu helping. ;) And it is rainy today.

I may have to find someone to work for me on Friday so that I can finish this! I have been given a few days grace to finish it; the campaign officially ends Thursday.

I am not sure I realized that it was sport weight when I agreed to make a shawl with it. It is beautiful yarn however and will probably make myself one someday!

I also did not know we would have a mini-population explosion at work! Preemies coming in twos and threes! Oh well, job security, I guess.

Here is a close-up of the edging:

Saturday, January 5, 2008

Easy baby blanket




Stegs


This blanket came about when afghans for Afghans (http://www.afghansforafghans.org/) was having a drive to get baby items to Afghanistan and I wanted a baby blanket that would be quick, easy and warm. In order to get the most mileage out of my yarn I started with a basic corner to corner “dishcloth;” beginning the decreases when I had used half my yarn. When the blanket was completed, it looked pretty boring, so I played around with edgings and colors until I found the saw tooth border that reminded me of stegosaurus’ spines; and so Stegs was born.

Photo credit [photographer: Michael Harding]

SIZE

one

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
40 X 40 inches, exclusive of edging

MATERIALS

[MC] Naturally Alpine 10 ply (Aran weight) [100% Pure NZ wool; 364 yds/333 m per 200g skein]; color: Shade 2008 Teal; 3 skeins
[CC] Trendsetter yarns Tonalita [52% wool/48% acrylic; 100 yd/91 m per 50g skein]; color: Color # 2376; 2 skeins

1 set US #9/5.5mm double-point needles

32-40-inch US #10.5/6.5mm circular needle to accommodate the large number of stitches

Notions required:

Yarn needle for weaving in ends

GAUGE

14.5 sts/19 rows = 4"(10 cm) in stockinette stitch with MC and larger needle

PATTERN NOTES

I knit the edging right onto the blanket for ease in finishing, but the edging may also be knit separately and sewn on, if preferred.

Always slip stitches as if to purl with yarn in front.

I increase 1 by putting my needle into the loop of the stitch below and knitting that.

PATTERN

Blanket:

With MC and circular needle CO 2 stitches.

Inc 1 stitch in each stitch. (4 sts)

*Slip 1, inc 1, knit to end of row.*

Repeat until there are 182 stitches. (one side will be approx 40 inches.)

*Slip 1, K2tog, knit to end of row.*

Repeat until there are 4 stitches remaining.

(K2tog) twice, slip first stitch over last stitch.

Cut yarn and pull through remaining stitch, fasten securely.

Edging:

With CC and dpns CO 4 stitches.

Row1: Knit, knitting last stitch together with first slipped stitch of blanket at corner.

Row 2: Slip 1, inc 1, knit 3. (5 sts)

Rows 3, 5, 7, 9, & 11: repeat row 1.

Row 4: Slip 1, inc 1, knit4. (6 sts)

Row 6: Slip 1, inc 1, knit 5. (7 sts)

Row 8: Slip 1, inc 1, knit 6. (8 sts)

Row 10: Slip 1, inc 1, knit 7. (9 sts)

Row 12: Slip 1, inc 1, knit 8. (10 sts)

Row 13: Bind off 6, knit 4. (4 sts)

These 13 rows make one point. Repeat until you are all the way around; 15 points per side.

FINISHING

Weave in ends and secure. Give to your favorite baby, toddler or charity.