Knitting patterns can be found under Downloads in the Resources section

I’ve had the following from SSNAP (Supporting Sick Newborn Babies and their Parents) which helps us provide the right items that will be used in the hospital. Please take note of the things they can’t use, as it must be more difficult to find other outlets.

Please note that “all the knitting on the unit is hot washed at 60 degrees and tumble dried” so I asked at my local wool shop about yarns to use.  She recommended acrylic with a bit of nylon please.

Blankets.

These need to be knitted, not crocheted, without decorative holes, as we have to be extra careful in hospitals that babies do not get their fingers caught and possibly damaged in the holes. Any blankets should ideally be 24 inches square, or larger. Either square or rectangle is fine.

Cardigans.

We use cardigans regularly and any design with at least one button/ fastening is useful. Most commonly these are needed by babies who are big enough to be nursed in a cot and need the extra warmth. These babies are usually 3lb in weight up to full term in size.

Hats.

We are only able to use ‘beanie’ type hats that slip onto a baby’s head. For safety reasons we cannot use hats held on by ribbon or knitted ‘strings’ around the neck. We can use all sizes of hat from one that would fit a baby’s head the size of an orange, up to full term size.

Mittens and Booties.

We only use a small number of these, often to stop babies scratching themselves, or pulling their tubes out. Newborn size please.

Bereavement situations.

Sadly, some babies will not survive to go home from hospital. These babies may be from 300g in size to large full-term babies. We often keep the most beautiful knitting, blankets, toys and allow parents to choose anything they might wish to, for dressing their baby in. This is the only circumstance in which we use very tiny cardigans, hats, booties, etc. We also pass these small items onto the post- natal wards which sometimes need them as well.

What we cannot use.

We do not currently use knitted or fabric ‘bonding squares’, as instead we use a specially designed product for our babies.

Ideally do not send us blankets which are made of joined up squares, because they tend to distort and start falling apart at the seams after only one use. This is because all the knitting on the unit is hot washed at 60°C and tumble dried.

We do not need those hats designed to hold ventilator tubing in place, which often have a knitted ‘flap’ in the top.

We are unable to accept crocheted octopus, or cannula covers.

We never want the knitting or crochet that is donated to us to go to waste, so if we receive items that we are unable to use we will make every effort to pass these on to someone that can use them. This may be other departments in the Women’s Centre, to hospital staff going overseas, or to a charity- either for their use, or for them to sell and raise funds.

If you have any questions then please send me an email (action.outreach@muoxford.org.uk) and I will try to answer them. I have MU labels which I’m sure will be alright on blankets but I’m going to ask about the clothing.

Thanks for your help.

Jean Vaughan