Oddball Baby Blankets - SOFT, Worsted Weight Yarn

#1

Hello, friendly knitters! :waving:

A few months ago, Snowbear started a project in our forum where we made baby blankets to donate to a hospital in her area.

[B]Children’s Mercy Hospital, in Kansas City, MO. -[/B]
[B]http://www.childrensmercy.org/[/B]

We got off to a great start, and then life got in the way.

Snowbear has been dealing with a major health issue, so we have decided to continue her project on our own until she is better. (The knitters involved with the project asked me to handle it for now.)

Our goal is to give the blankets to the hospital near her home. If we get lots of knitters involved, we’ll give blankets to other hospitals as well.

Here are the guidelines for the blankets:
[B]* Small Snuggly size (20-25 inches)[/B]
[B]* Knit with SOFT Worsted Weight Acrylic yarn[/B]
(the blankets will be washed in hot water at the hospital)
[B]* Use UNISEX colors for the blankets[/B]
(preferably bright primary colors)

The blankets are started by casting on 90 - 110 stitches, using a size 7, 8, or 9 long circular needle. The first 3 to 6 rows are all knit stitches.

(See detailed guidelines for starting an Oddball Baby Blanket here: http://www.knittinghelp.com/forum/showthread.php?t=79558)
Each knitter will knit for 4 inches, then forward the blanket to the next knitter. Each row should begin and end with 3 knit stitches, so the blanket will have a nice even border.

When the last knitter adds their section, they will end the blanket with 3 to 6 rows of all knit stitches, then bind off all the stitches loosely.

There should be a small greeting card kept with each blanket, where we can write our name, and the state we live in. We must avoid saying “Get Well”, because sometimes the children don’t get well. :pout: We should also avoid any religious statements, because the children and their families have many different beliefs.

Here is a stitch pattern we have used successfully for some of the blankets:

[B]Row 1: Knit [/B]
[B]Row 2: K3, Purl to last 3 stitches, K3[/B]
[B]Row 3: K3, K1, P1 (repeat between *s to last 3 sts), K3 [/B]
[B]Row 4: K3, Purl to last 3 stitches, K3[/B]

Here is an example of a blanket knit with the above pattern throughout:

You are free to use any stitch pattern you want for your section. Just be sure to begin and end each row with 3 knit stitches.

Here is an example of a blanket knit with different stitch patterns throughout:

Several forum members were involved in the project earlier.
[B]If you have one of the blankets we started earlier, just post a message here, and we will find another knitter to work on it next.[/B]

We have recently updated our list, so the list of knitters has changed. If anyone else would like to join, just post a message here, or send me a private message.

[B][U]Oddball Baby Blanket Knitters[/U][/B]
beekaync
debinoz
Doodknitwit
HollyP
jhelanee
jjminarcik
losnana
rissa
Secksiebrat
Shandeh
Stirsmommy
Suziehomemaker
Tobinknit

[B]Here is our list of knitters for the blankets that are getting started the last week of October, 2007:[/B]

[B][U]Blanket #1 - Primary Colors[/U][/B]
Shandeh - NC
Suziehomemaker - NY
Stirsmommy - MN
debinoz - KS
jjminarcik - TX
Secksiebrat - TX

[U][B]Blanket #2 - Pastel Colors[/B][/U]
Shandeh - NC
Doodknitwit - NC
beekaync - NC
rissa - ID
jhelanee - WA
Tobinknit - WA

#2

Here is Snowbear’s original message about where the blankets will be donated:

[B][I]The blankets will be donated to our local children’s hospital. They specialize in infants & children. They have the dauting task of helping those infants who have been abused, injured, and extremely ill. I have been giving them blankets… 1-2 every other month for quite a long time, and they are deeply appreciative of the gifts.

When some of these babies come in they have nothing, and to have a blanket that is theirs be able to stay with them, gives them a sense of security.

The nursing staff is very carefull to make sure the blanket stays with that infant and they become very attached to it. The toddlers themselves are allowed to pick a blanket if there is a choice.

The procedures and medical testing that some go through is aided by having an item that is theirs… and isn’t taken away each time.[/I][/B]

#3

Sign me up! Thanks!

#4

I would like to be on this list too. Have you heard how snowbear is doing??

#5

Thank you both for joining! :muah:

No, I haven’t, and I’m really worried about her! :pout:

#6

I think I remember that she was going on a vacation during the secret theme swap. Maybe Jeanie would have a way to check on her.

#7

debinoz told me that she believes the blankets Snowbear donated went to Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City.

I’ll try to contact them to confirm. :thumbsup:

#8

test

#9

I’m still here… waiting… I think the regular blankets would be a lot easier. Last I read the log cabins were sent to kellycarr05. I have no idea what happened to them after that.

#10

I’m in! I really liked doing this before!

#11

Thanks so much Deb. :hug:

I’m only going to handle the regular blankets. I’ve asked Yarnlady to do the Log Cabin blankets in another thread. That will make things a lot less complicated in here. :slight_smile:

Thanks! :heart:

I’m going to wait a couple more days to see if there are any regular blankets still out there that didn’t get finished. If I don’t hear anything by Monday, we’ll start another blanket or two. :thumbsup:

#12

I’m pretty sure Sanibelle said she wasn’t able to be a part of this for a while. I am 99.9% sure I replaced her on the log cabin blankets.

I agree with DebinOz maybe the regular blankets would be easier. They didn’t seem to get stuck at people house as much as the log cabins have.

#13

Thanks Holly.

The two projects will be completely separate things. Our regular blankets will be handled here, and the log cabin blankets will be taken care of by Yarnlady.

I’m thinking it would be good to have 2 blankets going at a time. One can be primary colors and the other pastels. Would that be okay with everyone?

#14

OK, if anyone has any more questions about the Log Cabin blankets, you can discuss it with Yarnlady here:
http://www.knittinghelp.com/knitting/forum/showthread.php?t=68072

Thanks! :thumbsup:

#15

I’d love to participate in this! :smiley: :muah:

#16

Thank you so much, rissa! :hug:

#17

So do we need to do something so that we can participate? Since I have never done this I am a bit (ok completely) with out a clue.

#18

Stirsmommy all you have to do is knit a portion and send it to the next person. If you want to sign up send Shandeh a PM with your address.

The color scheme is a great idea! It will look so pulled together.

#19

Count me in. I would love to help with the baby blankets too.

#20

I’ll participate too! Sandy, I think I sent you my new address mid-Sept. Let me know if you are unsure if you have the right one.

~Jennifer