Preemie Hat, Mitts and Booties (for donating)

[StripyPixieSocks]

Well, I finally managed to work out how to make booties so I have been feverishly working away on completing my first set of 24 packs of preemie items. I finished the hats and mitts a couple of weeks ago but the booties patterns somehow eluded me and it wasn't until I watched a superb video on YouTube I finally managed to learn!!!

Anyway, here is the first SUPER cute set of teeny preemie items ready for the other 23 sets to be completed and boxed up for donating to my local hospital premature baby ward :)

I enjoyed doing it so much I decided to turn it into a regular thing, maybe not always donating preemie stuff but raising money by selling crochet items which in turn will be used to buy materials and used to make more things to donate... it's nice to give something back!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/skyblue1971/4664071843/

[becks77]

They are sooo lovely, and that's a super idea to donate, good on yer

[thesunflowergal]

I would check that your local ward will accept them, as some SCBUs do not. Its all to do with the boil washing of the items that the babys wear and the cot sheets, to stop passing on germs and bugs . There used to be something about this on the Bliss website.
Our SCBU does and they are put to very good use, they also keep some of the items and put them into the babies sockings from Father Christmas. Its so wonderful that these babies get remembered on their first christmas, and I know it put a smile on my face on a very differcult day.
Its fab that you are doing something so kind. My daughter lived in knitted clothes for quite a while, as it was so hard to get anything else that was small enough other than dolls clothes

[MuddyWitch]

They are beautiful, I especially love the bright colour!

Good on you.

MW

[StripyPixieSocks]

Hee hee, thanks all!

Yep, I checked with my local hospital and they take them and next time will call and ask any other hospitals also just incase :)

I want to make other things too... knitted knockers (or croched in my case) for women who have had mastectomies, burial bunting for preemies who aren't with us long enough... helmet liners / gloves etc for troops and on and on... I just want to do something worthwhile

[thesunflowergal]

It might be worth asking if your Childrens ward need any cardis etc, I know that they are always really welcome here. Everyone knits for the babies but not for any of the older kids.

[StripyPixieSocks]

YAY thanks for that idea, I will check it out :)

[Millymollymandy]

Wow they look brilliant and you are very kind to be doing such a nice thing.

Love all your Cornwall photos and your flower on the wall is Campanula Muralis and the other teeny little plant is Cymbalaria Muralis which is also known as Ivyleaf Toadflax and is edible (I learnt those last two facts from Andy, having never heard of Toadflax I had to google it only to find it's the 'weed' growing out of my house walls - and it doesn't taste very nice!). Oh and muralis means 'wall' which is why they love growing in stone walls.

[StripyPixieSocks]

WOW thankyou so much for the ID on the flowers, I had looked all over the internet and not found what they were and it was driving me crazy! You are an absolute angel, thankyou :D

[Millymollymandy]

My pleasure and keep taking those photos!

[MuddyWitch]

If you contact your local pet rescue centre they may really welcome some dog or cat blankets, (which can be made of second hand wool). The ideal way to use up oddments too.

MW

[Touchwood]

If you contact your local pet rescue centre they may really welcome some dog or cat blankets, (which can be made of second hand wool). The ideal way to use up oddments too.

MW

Also doggie coats, especially in the cold weather. We foster for a local rescue and often the poor dogs are in such a state they have to cut most of their fur off

[Mr and Mrs luvpie]

I know that a couple of weeks ago sands put out an appeal for white blankets for memory boxes of babies, which made me wish i could knit well enough to do some for them. I'll try and find a link tonight if your interested. But i think your doing a fantastic job i can only try and imagine how special clothes that someone has gone to the trouble to hand make must be for the mums x

[StripyPixieSocks]

Yes please, that link would be wonderful :) If I can out a smile on someones face when they need it the most then I'm happy and it keeps me busy and out of trouble :D

Yep, animal related crochet items has been added to the list of donatable items... can't forget my feathered and furry friends :)

Thanks so much for your suggestions, I really appreciate it!!

[mrsflibble]

lovely items and a lovely idea.

can you sew? if so people who provide foster care often need duffel bags and things for kids who turn up with nothing. a personal duffel bag is so much nicer than a bin bag for keeping your own things in, and they make the children feel special even if they're made from your scrappiest bits of left over fabric.

don't forget to line any crocheted burial gowns for little people. cotton blends and especially brushed cotton are best as they not only hide any problems or lines left in situ on the little body, but they also soak up any fluidsand a crocheted top layer of the gown helps to disguise fluid loss.

also, dont make booties of any less than an inch and a half long because the smaller the little feet, the harder to get booties on.