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Arts & crafts

Premature baby patterns - knitting

(18 Posts)
ayse Sat 19-Jul-14 16:41:00

I can do basic knitting and my daughter has suggested I could make a couple of baby jackets. She is expecting twins (not identical) and I understand our local twins unit always induces at about 36 weeks. I hope the pregnancy goes this long so the question is can anyone recommend any knitting patterns for babies about 4 lbs. in weight. Has anyone got any other recommendations?

HollyDaze Sat 19-Jul-14 21:24:30

My knitting skills were okay but not good enough to be able to knit without a pattern. My daughter was born prematurely but I bought doll's clothes for her to begin with.

I've had a quick google and found this site: news.bbc.co.uk/local/stoke/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8674000/8674298.stm

I hope that helps, it looks like they have some nice patterns. If you click on the items you're interested in, it will bring the pattern up there and then - no need to send off for anything.

rosequartz Sat 19-Jul-14 23:50:24

Some of the baby patterns I have seen go down to a 16"chest
(40.6 cms). Would that be small enough? I think they were sirdar or patons.

rosequartz Sat 19-Jul-14 23:56:06

www.blacksheepwools.com/knitting-patterns/for/premature-baby-knitting-patterns.html

Don't be tempted by sirdar tiny tots yarn as it feels quite rough. Very soft 4ply might be best.

rosequartz Sat 19-Jul-14 23:58:50

I am surprised the first picture shows cardi or hat with ribbons - a no no as they can be sucked and baby could choke!

mcem Sun 20-Jul-14 13:55:57

I'll check out my patterns but I remember I had to 'devise' one for DDG3 as she needed various tubes and normal styles didn't suit - eg cuffs too tight. A wide straight sleeve on a t-shaped cardi was ideal. Knitting apart, Boots had sleepsuits in Tiny Baby size (4-5lbs I think) which fitted quite well. Good luck and try not to worry - it's amazing how quickly tiny ones grow - you see a difference every day. Our 4lb baby is a beautiful bright little girl who turned 4 last week and was a star as flowergirl at wedding on Friday!

Galen Sun 20-Jul-14 14:25:30

My aunt when she was born weighed 1 1/2 lbs.
She was dressed in dolls clothes.
Patterns for dolls clothes perhaps?

ayse Sun 20-Jul-14 18:26:47

Thank you all for those helpful comments. I'll check out the websites mentioned Rosequartz and HollyDaze. Mcem, I've bought some 'tiny baby' gear from Asda as they were on offer. Dolls clothes is a smashing idea as well. I actually saw some dolls knitting patterns Galen and thought they might be too small.
I'm just trying my best to prepare as much as I can so my DD and SiL have all the help they need when the time comes. We are all keeping our fingers crossed that all goes well and she keeps the babies for as long as possible.
This week I'm going with my daughter to her first TAMBA meeting and her first visit to the midwife. I might also get to go to her next scan in the middle of August. This is the first time grandchildren are being born close by and I will be able to be a hand on Gran for their childhood. (The others are in NZ and OZ).
Thank you again smile smile

grandma60 Sun 20-Jul-14 18:51:28

Ayse my Dil had premature twins earlier this year and found that the Asda prem clothes were the easiest to get on and off. Try not to worry though, they may not be that early, ours are at home doing well now.
Enjoy getting ready for yours smile

rosequartz Sun 20-Jul-14 19:42:23

Of course, they could be bigger than you think, depending on how long they manage to stay there. My friend had twins many years ago now, one was over 6lbs and the other nearly 6lbs. Friend is 4' 11"!

Jennypops Sun 20-Jul-14 22:12:02

My twins born in 40 years ago,before the days of scans etc were 6lbs 12 ozs and 5 lbs 3ozs. Rather large for the one breach baby the doctor told me I was going to have!! I found I needed smaller size baby grows etc for the smaller one and my mother knitted small cardigans but she only needed them for about 4 -6 weeks.

ayse Mon 21-Jul-14 10:20:24

I've just been on Mumsnet and realised that twins can come in a huge variety of sizes. I'm going with my daughter to her first midwife appointment at the hospital tomorrow.
I think I'll have a poke round the net for free patterns and take another look in ASDA at small size cardigans. (last time I looked they didn't have any). I did buy to identical teddies in Mothercare yesterday; bargain at £5.00 each and lovely and squashy. I'll wait till they are born before deciding how to differentiate them. DD and SIL want to ensure they are treated as individuals from day one.
Yes, it is exciting and lovely to be able to be involved.

grandma60 Mon 21-Jul-14 16:38:23

Yes it is exciting and even more special to be having 2. My son and Dil.want them treated as individuals as well (they are 2 boys). I couldn't resist getting some identical.outfits but one is somewhat smaller than the other so he is getting to wear his brothers hand me downs at the moment.

whenim64 Mon 21-Jul-14 16:46:25

Mine used to have the same knitted outfits in different, or coordinating colours. If you see something you really like for them, sometimes you don't necessarily see another outfit that you like, too. I'd dress them the same some days, different other days, and they'd often wear each other's clothes till they got to the age they could shout 'that's mine!' It wasn't long before they wanted completely different clothes, either. We only ever referred to them as twins outside the family - forgot they were most of the time.

rosequartz Tue 22-Jul-14 19:11:38

sublimeyarns.com/books/fourth-irresistibly-sublime-baby-4-ply-hand-knit-book-sublime-baby-cashmere-merino-silk-4-ply-18-designs-girls-boys-premature-1-year/

This just came up on my Facebook page; from premature to 1 year and some of the designs look quite easy.

rosequartz Tue 22-Jul-14 19:12:49

Am I allowed to put this link in? I hope so, as this book and the yarn can be bought in many different outlets.

Nanban Fri 24-Oct-14 10:52:41

Knit the smallest size on finer wool and smaller needles x

Marelli Sat 25-Oct-14 15:02:22

John Lewis (in Edinburgh and probably other areas) have patterns for premature baby-knits.