Charity Hat Knitting and Crocheting

Premature babies.  Nigeria

Years ago (30 or so) my local radio station had a request for "caps for Casey's kids".  It was for the local NICU unit.  Size was not really specified because as we know babies come in all sizes.  However, they were looking for fairly large baby head sizes for babies who are only a month or two premature rather than truly tiny premature babies.  But as only knitters and crocheters can be, we took to the internet to find hats for these babies.  "unloved" babies had to make do with the stockinette tube that is used for arms and legs under casts rather than those who are "loved" and receive knit and crochet hats from everyone.  This is patently false but from the remembrance, this is the vibe given.  However, they got so many hats that they were sent around the country to NICUs far and wide.  They also encountered many that were unusable here in the US.  You will see why later.

More recently I came in contact with a woman from Nigeria who teaches knitting and possibly crocheting to local school children in Nigeria.  She had taken the Craft Yarn Council's certification courses.  She is also looking for hats for premature babies.  She has the children making hats because it seems there is a need in each family whether a sibling or a cousin or further in the family and friend circle.

The premature Nigerian babies are much smaller than most American preemie but have a higher survival rate.  This is due to the kangaroo care the baby receives.  After the baby is released from the hospital, they are kept skin to skin with Mom and Dad wearing nothing more than an oversize hat (it's ribbed and long so it can grow with the baby for a few months) and a diaper.    The hats are folded and doubled which keeps them warm and the skin to skin allows baby to feel comforted and hear a heartbeat.  The baby is not left alone for very long, except for sleeping by the parents.

The hats are simple to make.  Using DK weight or worsted weight cast on loosely 20 to 40 stitches in an even number.  Knit 1, purl 1 across the row for enough rows to make 12 inches.  Run the tail through the stitches, pull tight, and seam carefully using the mattress stitch and between the first and second stitches on each side.  Weave in the ends.  Now cuff almost in half and fold up the cuff a bit again.  No pompom because the weight can be too much for the weak neck muscles and do more harm than good.  This is a smaller hat that doesn't have all the turns 

a knitting library

What is a knitting library?  When I first saw this concept in an email, I thought I knew what it was all about.  I thought a knitting library was the books that are on the shelf full of techniques, full of patterns and possibilities, and full of stories.  But the more I thought about what a library could include, the more my mind went to all kinds of things.  A library could include not only books and magazines but also needles and hooks and notions, yarn, and videos of patterns and techniques.

 I have a library worth of knitting needles and crochet hooks.  To me, this means straight needles in all lengths and in all sizes, not to mention a wide variety of materials.  Straight needles come in a variety of lengths from 14 inches down to 5 inches.  They also are made from a variety of materials.  Some of the materials used yesteryear are not used today such as ivory and powder coating and Parkesine and bakelite.  Aluminum, plastic, bamboo, and wood are still available.  And don't forget all these choices are available for the double point needles too. They come in sets of 4, 5, or 6 needles in a set.

  Likewise, circular needles have different lengths of needles and different lengths of cables.  To add to their function, there are interchangeable sets with usually just different lengths of cables that can be used as is or joined to create custom lengths.  An ultimate set would have all lengths of needles and all the different lengths of cables.  The manufacturers are continuing to improve these sets.  Who knows what may come in future incarnations.

Crochet hooks also have some fascinating choices these days.  Not only can hooks be found in the same materials as knitting needles but they have different types of handles (something knitting needles can't have) and hook styles.  They come in different lengths and colors and materials.

I think I might have a good start on a library of tools and notions.  But it's the books that get me.  I really want to be able to go through my books and cull books that I know I will never use, keep the stitch books, the technique books (who knew you could have whole books for one technique!), the patterns I will actually use.  But for now, the library is tucked in boxes and boxes and boxes and will remain there until some home improvement things are done in my studio.

Don't get me started on the yarns.  Those are like the throwaway magazines in your public library.  I'm not suggesting you throw away your yarn.  I'm saying it is the part that is used up and no longer available for knitting.  

What does a knitting library entail in your mind?

An FO from yesteryear.