Sewing for Charity

 Calvin’s Hats provides hand knit or crocheted hats to individuals and hospitals for babies born preterm and don’t make it. There is no cost to those who request one or for the hospitals. At first a lady in their town made all their hats, but now she can’t keep up with all the requests and they are looking for people to make some. Right now they have over 700 people worldwide who have said they will make some, but it’s an ongoing process.  Click on the picture above to visit the site and get all the specific information on where to send them.  There are some patterns on the site, but they don’t care what pattern you use. They just need to be small…about golf ball size!!

 

Thanks for any way you can help!  And, if you could spread the word to your friends who crochet or knit, that would be wonderful!  Thanks!

 

 

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On July 9, 2006, my cousin gave birth to twins, Ryan Scott and Ashley Morgan.  They were born at 24 weeks gestation (16 weeks premature). Ryan weighed 1 pound 9 ounces and was 12 inches long and Ashley weighed only 1 pound 2 ounces and was 8 inches long.  They were in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for 5 1/2 months. They underwent several surgeries, blood transfusions, head scans, countless heel sticks and so much more.

I am so proud of both of them and the courage and fight they have to not simply exist but to thrive!  Every time we get together, their smiles and joy shine through.  I am also so very proud of my cousin.  In addition to the twins, she also has a newborn little girl and tackles each day’s therapy sessions, dance classes, preschool classes, infant feedings and diaper changes, and errands with grace and a positive attitude.

When the twins were born, I searched the internet for a pattern for preemie swaddlers that I could make them while they were in the hospital.  This pattern is my own spin on this.  There are certainly many other patterns on the internet that you could use.

This swaddler takes only 1/2 yard of fleece and was a perfect size for the twins until they were able to leave the hospital.  Many premature babies are not able to be held for the first few weeks of their life.  Any human touch would send their nervous system into sensory overload. The slightest touch would also injure their fragile bodies.  I have a picture ofPaige able to hold her babies for the first time when they were six weeks old!  So, this swaddler provides them with a little bit of warmth and coziness while still keeping the babies easily accessible to nurses and doctors.

I hope that you will be able to use this to bless families who are currently walking on this road with their baby or babies in the NICU.  Each pattern takes 1/2 yard of fleece and probably only 1/2 hour to do (depending on the amount of embellishing you choose to do.)

 

I would love to see pictures if you make one and please feel free to copy this pattern as much as you like and give to your sewing guilds or post on your blog.  (The pattern can be found in my FREE PATTERNS & PROJECTS.)

 

 

 

 

 

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There is a wonderful project going this month on her website, Hopeful Threads.  Here is what Kristy wrote on her blog:

“For the April 2012 Monthly Project, we will be making dresses in support of Dress A Girl Around the World! While normally I encourage that you look within your own communities and connections to find someone who can use your sewn items, this time I want to ask you to be a part of a collaborative effort to make a BIG IMPACT for Dress A Girl! 

Let’s sew 100 Dresses together!”

Please visit her website for more information on how to help and where to send the dresses.

Here are links to the free dress patterns I have listed in my Free Patterns & Projects section that could be used for this effort: