Preemie hats and quilts

We make small quilts and preemie hats for several hospitals to use in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit.

Preemie Quilts

• Quilts should measure between 12" x 12" and can be as large as 24" x 24".
• Quilts do not have to be square.
• Cotton batting and fabric are required.
• They can be machine or hand quilted.
• They can be bound in the customary way or make the sandwich like a pillow (fabric right sides together with batting on top of one piece of fabric; stitch around quilt leaving opening large enough to turn right side out; slipstitch opening closed and then machine or hand quilt).
• Quilts are taken up at every meeting.
• Labels will be attached by the committee.

Preemie Hats - Knitted

Supplies: Sport Weight or Baby Yarn & size 5 or 8 needles

1. With thicker yarn, use size 8 needles and cast on 30 stitches.
2. Knit 1, Purl 1 for 1 inch (rib stitch)
3. Work stockinette stitch for 2 more inches (Knit 1 row, Purl 1 row)
4. Start decrease:
   1st row: knit 4, knit 2 tog, knit 4, etc.
   2nd row: purl
   3rd row: knit 3, knit 2 tog, knit 3 etc.
   4th row: purl
   5th row: knit 2, knit 2 tog, knit 2, etc.
   6th row: purl
   7th row: knit 2 tog all way across
   8th row: purl
5. Cut yarn long enough to pull up top and sew up seam.
   Put thread in large-eyed needle.
   Run thread across front of cap and run needle through stitches and pull off of needle.
   Pull up thread and sew sides together.
   Hide thread up the seam on the wrong side.

Options: With smaller yarn, use size 5 needles and cast on 42 stitches. For larger size hat, cast on 70 stitches using size 5 needles.

Preemie Hats - Crocheted
(This pattern courtesy of Crochet 'N' More)

Bernat Baby Coordinates
Hook Size H
Gauge: 6 double crochets worked between stitches = 2"
5 rows = 2"
Stitches: ch, dc, rev sc.

CHAIN

With the slip knot on your hook, yarn over and draw the loop already on your hook. Continue this for how many chains you need to begin your project.
The first row of a crochet project begins in a chain.
Always work in the second chain from the hook for a single crochet. Always work in the third chain from the hook for a half or double crochet. When working into the chain you can either insert your hook under the top strand of each chain (the method most people use) or into the back ridge, "the hump", of each chain (sometimes referred to as camel crochet).

DOUBLE CROCHET

Yarn over and insert your hook into the stitch or space indicated, yarn over again and pull up a loop. (You should have three loops on your hook.) Yarn over again and draw through two of the loops on the hook. (You should have two loops on your hook.) Yarn over again and draw through the last two of the loops on the hook.

REV SC

A reverse single crochet is worked from left to right; whereas a regular single crochet stitch is worked from right to left. Insert your hook into the stitch or space indicated, then yarn over and pull up a loop. (You should have two loops on your hook.) Yarn over and draw through both of the loops on your hook.

Difficulty: EASY

• R1: Ch4. 11 dc in 4th ch from hook. Join with sl st in top of beg ch4. (12dc) Do not turn.
• R2: Sl st bet next 2 sts. Ch3, dc in same sp. 2dc bet all other sts. (24dc) Join with sl st in top of beg ch3. Do not turn.
• R3: Sl st bet next 2sts. Ch3, dc in same sp. Dc bet next 2 sts. (2dc bet next 2 sts. Dc bet next 2 sts) around. (36dc) Join with sl st in top of beg ch3. Do not turn.
• Rs4-12: Sl st bet next 2 sts. Ch3 (counts as dc for this space)
  (Dc bet next 2 sts) around. Join with sl st in top of beg ch3. (36dc)
  Do not turn.
• R13: Rev sc around placing one st bet all sts like previous rounds.
• Fasten Off.

School Service Project

This is one of our big service projects. We make a child's resting quilt for the underprivileged kindergarten students at Shwab Elementary School on Dickerson Pike. We need at least 60 quilts each year.

• The size is approximately 44" by 54". The quilts can be made from a printed panel, pieced, appliqued, or a combination (religious themes are not permitted by the school).
• Medium or dark colors are recommended for the back.
• Quilts can be bound in the customary way or finish it in an envelope style.
• Labels to be sewn on the quilt back are available in our Library cabinet.
• Quilts need to be completed by the end of July and turned in at the August Guild meeting so they can be delivered when school starts.

Soldier Blocks

Quilt blocks are made using Civil War Reproduction fabrics and sent to TVQA. The blocks are made into lap quilts and given to families of fallen soldiers. Patterns are available at the monthly meeting.