Personal Goals

Hello and welcome back to our Friday installment of yarns and yarns (literal and figurative)!

I'm in a weird mood today.  It doesn't help that I overslept and had bizarre dreams.  And my daughter was mad at me this morning when we left for school, but was fine and dandy when I dropped her off.  It's been a bit of a weird day so far.

Ella was mad at me because I discussed hygiene with her and how she washes her body.  She's almost a teenager and doesn't like me talking about the need to wear a bra, washing her hair properly, deodorant, etc.  But when I find little turdlets on the bath mat in front of the shower door, I have to question how she washes herself!!  So, first strike against mom.  Then I had the audacity to fix a lunch for her and make her take it to school!!  Such evil!!  She didn't want to carry her lunchbox for the first half of the day.  So... I swear I saw smoke emanating from her ears...but we talked in the car on the short drive to school, and by the time I dropped her off, she was fine, and said she loved me and to have a good day.  Kids!!!

It's a windy morning, with gray skies and hints of rain (you can feel the moisture in the air... here in Washington, we get so many different types of rain!  This is a soft, light sprinkling of rain that isn't quite heavy enough to be drizzle.  A friend told me that the native Americans in the region call it "woman rain" because it is soft and gentle).  The Marketing classes are hosting a Trade Show (something they do every year), which is a bit like a vendor fair, but with students presenting their projects.  It involves local businesses, as well, so it's an important project for them, but it does make the school a bit discombobulated.  I'll have kids actively involved in it, so they won't be in class, etc.

Anyway, it's 20 Time day again!  I have made excellent progress this week.  I've been physically tired (there's no tired like end-of-the-year Teacher Tired), but have managed to keep my hands busy while my bod rests.  I made 12 hats this week... I'm very close to my goal of 50 hats.  Instead of taking pictures on my desk at work (where there is fairly good lighting), I took these pictures on my kitchen table with mediocre lighting.

I've also transferred my hat-and-bootie sets into plastic bags, and my storage has now graduated from a fairly large shoe box to a mid-size plastic container.  I organized them by size last night, trying to figure out what sizes I need to make now.  They are fairly well-balanced, so... I kind of feel like I should make larger ones, and some holiday hats.  But... I was also thinking that I could continue doing this all summer, and do another donation in the fall.  I have accumulated a LOT of yarn!

So, what did I make this week?  Here you go...  I've organized them by pattern, so I'll link the pattern to the hats for you.

These bonnets were easy and fun to make.  Although I realized this morning that I'd posted a picture of the pink one earlier.  Still, I'll post the pattern, as it's really pretty.  All of the yarns for these are acrylic.  I used Yarn Bee (Hobby Lobby) baby yarn for the left bonnet. I used "I love this Yarn" sport in white for the blue and white bonnet. I edged it with Universal Yarn's "Uptown Baby Sport" in blue, and used a bright pink of the same yarn for the bonnet on the right.  The two bonnets on the left were made from the "Molly Bonnet" crochet pattern from Momma That Makes.  The one on the right is also from the same blog, called the "Rose Bonnet".  This particular blog has a ton of lovely items to make for preemies and babies.  If any of this kind of thing interests you, have a look at her blog!

I have made several hat and bootie sets from this pattern, the Little Babbity hat and booties from Marianna's Lazy Days.  She has an absolute TON of patterns, both knit and crochet, for babies and preemies.  Check her out on Ravelry or on her blog.  The link for this pattern takes you to her blog.  Her patterns are easy to follow and fun to make!

This is the Little Clusters Beanie pattern from Mamma that Makes.  It's quick, easy, and turns out cute every time.  I can turn out these fairly quickly... less than an hour.  And they don't take a lot of yarn, so you can make multiples while watching your favorite movies, etc.  (personally, I like to listen to audiobooks or podcasts)  I used Yarn Bee Camo print yarn for the hat at the top, and another Yarn Bee print for the one on the bottom right, and Bamboo Pop! yarn for the one on the lower left.

These two hats were made from two different patterns.  The one on the top comes from Mamma that Makes, the Garret beanie pattern, using the same Yarn Bee yarn from the picture above.  It has a slow color change that makes a lovely ombre effect.  The one on the bottom uses the Talia preemie hat pattern, using Cascade Yarns' "Fixation Splash" a cotton yarn that is blended with less than 2% spandex, making it very flexible.  Unfortunately, the stretch is a challenge, because if you don't keep the tension loose, it will be a hard, uncomfortable hat.  I can see it working better in a knit hat.  I picked it up on my visit to The Black Sheep at the beginning of May.

I've used this pattern many times, as it is quick to work up, and has multiple sizes.  I made these using Marianna Mel's Valerie pattern (posted on Ravelry and on her blog).  Both of the yarns I used for these were Baby Bee yarns... the one on the left is a variegated gray-blue-dark blue print, and the larger one on the right used a blue camo print.

Finally, I have one last pair.  This the Kaitlynn beanie from Momma that Makes.  It's a super-fast, easily memorized pattern.  You can change the size of the pattern by changing the yarn and hook.  The one on the right was made using a D hook and fingering yarn (Wool-Free sock yarn I got at Hobby Lobby--I love me a yarn sale!), but I think I miscounted my rows, as it seems rather short in length.  The one on the right uses the same yarn as the hat on the left in the photo above this one, showing you the variation in colors.

Chasing down and linking these patterns led me to discover several more patterns, so I've printed a bunch, and can't wait to try them!  One is a little newsboy-type hat, and another is an aviator style!  I have read, in my research, that boy hats are needed.  As I progress through my patterns, etc., I try to do one in feminine colors, and one in masculine colors, so that I have an equal balance.  But I still plan to make some white "angel baby" hats, too.

Well, time to grab my hook and get started!!  And it's a three-day weekend!!  Hallelujah!!  I'm planning to do some housework, and then work on my sewing room.  I need to rearrange how some things are stored, and then start bringing in bins from the dining room and garage (freeing up space!).  That will make it a functional room again, and I'm planning all kinds of fun projects, including getting back to sewing for dolls.

Have a great weekend, and don't forget to make time to do something creative....

Busy Hands!

Hi there, and Happy Friday!!!  Woot!



It's been another busy, crazy kind of week, but I have actually been productive.  For a few evenings this week, my fingers were flying!  Proof:

Earlier this month, I stopped in at The Black Sheep in west Olympia and picked up some "Bamboo Pop!" and a few other skeins/balls of yarn.  Bamboo Pop is 50/50 Cotton and Bamboo (which is super soft), and works up into a very soft, flexible hat.  The two white hats, the bright pink, and the denim blue hat were made with it.  The multicolored hat on the left may also use that yarn--I can't remember, because the balls for Bamboo Pop and Cotton Fair look exactly the same (and feel very similar).  The blue hat used some yarn I picked up at the Black Sheep, as well.  I think it is a Cascade Yarn acrylic, but can't remember the label.  The light pink one in the upper right is made with a fine cotton chenille I found at either Hobby Lobby or Michael's.  

Patterns-- 

• The three solid-color larger hats use the Robby beanie pattern from Mamma That Makes.  She has several patterns I've tried and liked.  This one took me a bit to figure out on row 5 (I think), but once I figured it out, it was easy.  I liked the interesting pattern, which reminds me of filet crochet.  And it's unisex, so... easy to do in many colors.
• The two hats on the far right use the "Valerie" pattern from Marianna's Lazy Daisy Days. I really like the pattern, but I have only made one of the smallest ones.  It is perfect for a doll with a 5-6" head, but I have a hard time thinking of a baby with a head that tiny.  I will make micro hats soon, however.  I don't want to leave anybody out!  
• The multicolored hat on the lower left corner was made using the Preemie Gaige Hat by Allison Booker.  I found the pattern on Ravelry.  I don't think it turned out well in this color, but it's a cute hat.  I don't think I'll make more of them, as I'm concerned about the open loops on it.  I've read that hospitals prefer hats that don't have a lot of open holes, so that babies don't get their fingers caught in them.  If you've ever watched and infant stretch and curl their hands and feet, it makes sense.
• At center top of the photo is a speckled white knitted hat.  This one is the Jack and Jill hat, also from Marianna's Lazy Daisy days.  I like her patterns.  This is nice and stretchy, so the hat may look like it belongs on a Conehead, it is actually much roomier than it looks!  This pattern is also multi-sized.  Marianna makes all kinds of patterns for babies and preemies--you can find them all on Ravelry.com.  I like that she makes her patterns for two needles, as I struggle with DPNs.  

For more patterns, both Mamma That Makes and Marianna's Lazy Daisy Days have multiple patterns for babies, and thus far, have been pretty easy to do.  I like a pattern that's easy to memorize--it makes the work go faster/easier.

It's my daughter's 12th birthday today--how time flies!  It seems just a minute ago that she was my tiny preemie... she seems so big to me now, but compared to her peers, she's pretty small.  She's been sick lately, and that's putting a damper on birthday plans, but I think she's on the mend.

Have a restful weekend!!

Guidelines regarding charity donations

As promised, this post is about the technical details regarding making hats, booties, and possibly blankets and gowns for preemies, my 20 Time project this spring.

Some questions that I need to explore:

1. Where to donate?  Ella was born at Tacoma General/Mary Bridge Children's Hospital, as were several of my colleagues' children.  My sister's kids were all born early at St. Peter's Hospital in Lacey/Olympia.  I have already contacted TG, and they have given me the information for how to donate (and were thrilled that I was doing this).  I have not contacted St. Pete's yet.
2. How to donate?  For TG, I can bring the completed garments to the main desk on the MLK Jr. Drive entrance (patient services desk).
3. Requirements for donations?  Preemies have delicate skin, so only the softest fibers can be used, and the garments have to be washable.  So, wool is out.  Acrylics are best, although I've found a brand of cotton that's blended with acrylic, so it has give and isn't as hard or lumpy as all-cotton would be (Cotton Fair by Premiere Yarns--I've found it at JoAnn's), and SO soft.  Items must also come from a smoke-free home.  
4. Sizes?  3-5lbs most popular, most needed, 1-3lbs, 6-8lbs, 9-11lbs, Newborn.  Chart below:
5. Resources?  Ravelry is my go-to source for patterns.  I'm only using free patterns, as this is for charity, and nobody should be benefiting from charity patterns other than the recipient of the garment made from said patterns.

I have found most of my information online (of course).  Some of those websites are linked below:

Preemies of the Carolinas provided the sizing chart above, as well as some of the guidelines I have listed above.  They also have patterns linked to their website.

The Preemie Project is another good resource.  They list the best yarns for making garments, as well as further guidelines regarding fibers, etc.  They have many patterns linked on their patterns page!

Bev's size charts gives you some useful information with regards to making hats, and gauging sizes. 

Newborns in Need is a good resource for patterns, etc.

Salty Pearl Crochet has many hat patterns, some of which are really cute.

I have made a few more this week, as well as made booties for them to match.  I'm in the middle of knitting a set right now, in fact.  The hat is done, and now I'm doing booties (because they are adorable, and because all footwear for babies tends to be HUGE for tiny feet... Ella's feet were barely the size of my thumb, and I have a picture of her on the 4th of July her first year with a pair of red fabric sandals that were ridiculously ginormous on her.  But then...she has Cinderella feet: small and somewhat narrow, just like my maternal grandmother, whose nose she has also inherited). 

Here is what I'm currently working on:

The pattern for the hat above is called Babbity Baby Hats (and Booties) for preemies.  Here is a link to the pattern:  Marianna's Lazy Daisy Days.  The yarn is Cherub DK by Cascade yarns.  I also brought the other skein, thinking I'd maybe finish early, but I've had barely any time to work on it today!  The other skein is pretty, and I'm looking forward to working it up.  It's Baby Bee's "Sweet Delight" in feminine pastels (lavender, pale green, white), found at Hobby lobby.  I have only found Cherub DK in two stores:  Craft Warehouse in Boise, ID, and The Black Sheep in west Olympia.  I love it--55% nylon, 45% acrylic.  Soft as buttah. 

Hmm... I believe it has been a while since I visited the Black Sheep... I believe I may make an excursion there this afternoon!  I have to go to JoAnn's, and it's in the same area.  Shopping!!! 

Well, folks, that's it for today.  I will find that picture of Ella and post it this weekend.  Till then, have a great day!