If anyone would like to knit a baby blanket for a neonatal unit…

pm sent

pm from me

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202302/medium-52847-457478b4-8e6c-4432-8676-e8481e827038.jpeg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202302/medium-190903-d2c74918-4f8e-4cc6-9d62-df09c719c4ee.jpeg

For those who’ve PM’d me, this is the pattern on the Lovecrafts site, free to download. You’ll find it under free baby patterns.

It’s a bit bigger than they’re asking for but I’ve worked out that about 84 sts instead of 100 should come out about right for width, length obvs. adjusted accordingly.

And this is the original message, forwarded by dd1 (all her 3 were born at the JR). If you tap on it, should be easy to read, but if not, please PM me.

I might have a go can I just ask if you did use 2 strands of DK as in the pattern? I just thought it might be a bit thick.

Meant to add I have lots of odd balls of DK but mostly different colours so doubling up a bit odd.

I have forwarded your link to a contact who has a group of sixty knitters, Oxfordshire. I feel sure there will be some response from them. Also fwd to my daughter, as one of her children was in the JR unit for poorly babies. She still has his tiny knitted hat. Sorry I can no longer knit courtesy of arthritis.

Witzend Is there a particular kind of yarn required or can any be used? ie acrylic, cotton, wool, etc

The pattern recommends Stylecraft Special DK, which is acrylic. I use a lot of it - it comes in about 100 colours.

Yes, it’s double DK on 6 mm needles (pattern says US 10 so I had to check). I think if you didn’t use the yarn double the knitting would be ‘holey’ and likely to trap very tiny little fingers - the original plea does mention this.

Tanith, I’m sure a rainbow coloured one would be fine!

Thanks Witzend I’ll see how it goes.

Thanks for this. I’ve checked with the Unit’s Facebook site and in comments they’ve said that crochet blankets are also welcome provided they don’t have holes (despite their Facebook photo of holey crocheted blankets!)

I think it would be worth checking with whichever Neonatal Intensive Care Unit what their specific requirement is. A blanket knitted in double strand DK is going to be very thick and firm and while lovely on a pram or Moses Basket for an average weight baby, the most usual occupants of NICU are tiny and frail and would require something which conforms better around their little bodies. Any yarn chosen needs to be machine washable and suitable for tumble drying.

GrannyLaine, I happen to have made dolls’ blankets for a Gdd using double DK and 6 mm needles (nice and quick!) which is what the pattern I quoted uses. They do come out nice and soft and ‘wrappable’, not thick or firm, so I do think they’d be fine for very small babies.

Of course the end product would be much firmer and less conformable if rather smaller needles were used.
The only thing the original ‘ask’ says, is that there should be no holes that might trap very tiny fingers.,

PM sent.

Witzend

*GrannyLaine*, I happen to have made dolls’ blankets for a Gdd using double DK and 6 mm needles (nice and quick!) which is what the pattern I quoted uses. They do come out nice and soft and ‘wrappable’, not thick or firm, so I do think they’d be fine for very small babies.

Of course the end product would be much firmer and less conformable if rather smaller needles were used.
The only thing the original ‘ask’ says, is that there should be no holes that might trap very tiny fingers.,

No offence was meant Witzend, simply that if someone is going to the trouble of knitting blankets, it's worth getting it just right. I've worked in special care units and not everything that is donated is useable, despite being made with the best of intentions. There's also the consideration that they are used in incubators where thermoregulation is a priority.