Ann's Hand Knitting.

It may take some time but it will get here



"When you have 5 minutes to spare"

It is now several years since we started supplying premature baby garments for the little people at St. Mary's Special Care Baby Unit in Manchester where Jean Bent formerly Jean Brittain works.During this time thanks to the many people who have helped (especially Anne Kettle's Auntie Doreen who has knitted over a thousand herself) we have been able to send a continual supply which were welcomed by the hospital.

Since late 2009 St Mary's due to staff changes no longer require these garments but many other hospitals certainly do and I am now sending garments to the Specialist Unit at Stepping Hill Maternity Hospital in Stockport who are delighted to receive them.

BUT - if anyone else can spare a few moments to knit, I will be delighted to collect and send them off. If you need a copy of the pattern we use please print it from the link below or e mail me .

If you would prefer to donate to a hospital near to you please feel free to do so but I would be interested to know where they are sent to.

Thank you, on behalf of these tiny people.

The place for printing these patterns is from this print friendly link

Handknitted Cardigans for premature Babies.

The instructions are for 4ply yarn. Instructions for DK yarn are in brackets.

Back.

Using size 12(10) needles, cast on 40(32) sts.
Work 6(4) rows K1 P1 rib.
Change to size 10(8) needles and work in stocking stitch for 48(38) rows.
Cast off.

Fronts.

Using size 12(10) needles, cast on 20(16) sts.
Work rib as back.
Change to size 10(8) needles.
Work 22(18) rows st. st..
Dec at front edge on the next row.
Work 3 rows st.st..
Repeat the last 4 rows to 14(11) sts.
Cast off.

Sleeves.

Using size12(10) needles, cast on 26(22) sts..
Work rib as back.
Change to size 10(8) needles and st.st.
Increase at both ends of 5th and every following 4th row to 40(32)sts.
Work to row 32(24).
Cast off.

Making up and front band.

Join shoulder seams. Place a shoulder seam to centre of the top of each sleeve. Attach sleeve. Join side and sleeve seam in one.
Mark positions for 3 buttons on front edge.
Using size 12(10) needles cast on 7(5) sts. Work in K1 P1 rib until the band
is long enough to fit all round the front of the cardigan, making buttonholes
to correspond with the positions marked for the buttons. Attach band and buttons.

Helmet for premature babies.

Using size 10 needles and DK yarn, cast on 50sts. and work 4 rows K1,
P1rib. Change to size 8 needles and starting with a knit row, work 10 rows in st.st.

Shape top.
Next row:[k4, k2 tog] 8 times, K2.(42sts)
Next row: P.
Next row[K3, K2tog] 8 times, K2.(34sts)
Next row P.
Next row: [K2, K2tog] 8 times, k2 (26sts)
Next row P.
Next row : [K1, K2tog] 8 times K2. (18sts)
Next row P.
Next row K2 tog to end. (9sts)
Break off yarn leaving a long end, thread end through sts and then pull up
and secure.

Making up.


Bonnet for premature babies.

Using size 12 needles and 4ply yarn, cast on 65 sts. using 2 needle method.
K2 rows.
Next row: P1,*yrn,P2tog, rep from8 to end. K2 rows.
Change to size 10 needles and, starting with a K row work 20 rows st.st.

Shape top.

1st row: [K6, K2tog] 8 times, K1.(57sts)
2nd and every alternate row: P.
3rd row: [K5, K2tog] 8 times, K1.(49sts)
5th row: [K4, K2tog] 8 times, K1. (41sts)
7th row: [K3, K2tog] 8 times, K1. (33sts)
9th row: [K2, K2tog] 8 times, K1. (25sts)
11th row: [K1, K2tog] 8 times, K1.(17sts)
13th row: K2 tog to the last st, K1.(9sts).
Break off yarn, leaving a long end, thread end through sts. Pull up sts and secure.

Making up.

Join seam for 4.5cm, or 2". Make 2 crochet cords and attach to front edges.
New patterns January 2006

Bigger 'tiny' cardigans.


The instructions are for 4ply yarn. Instructions for DK yarn are in brackets.

Back

Using size 12(10) needles, cast on 48(40) sts.
Work 10(8) rows K1 P1 rib.
Change to size 10(8) needles and work in stocking stitch for 56(48) rows.
Cast off.

Fronts.

Using size 12(10) needles, cast on 24(20) sts.
Work rib as back.
Change to size 10(8) needles.
Work 24(22) rows st. st..
Dec at front edge on the next row.
Work 3 rows st.st..
Repeat the last 4 rows to 16(14) sts.
Work to row 56(48).

Cast off.

Sleeves

. Using size12(10) needles, cast on 30 (26) sts..
Work rib as back.
Change to size 10(8) needles and st.st.
Increase at both ends of 5th and every following 4th row to 46(40)sts.
Work to row 40(32).

Cast off.

Making up and front band.

Join shoulder seams. Place a shoulder seam to centre of the top of each sleeve. Attach sleeve. Join side and sleeve seam in one.
Mark positions for 3 buttons on front edge.
Using size 12(10) needles cast on 7(5) sts. Work in K1 P1 rib until the band is long enough to fit all round the front of the cardigan, making buttonholes to correspond with the positions marked for the buttons. Attach band and buttons.


Hat for premature babies.

( As requested by St. Mary's Special Care Baby Unit, UK.)

4 ply.
Using size 12 (2.75mm) needles, cast on 68sts.
Work 24 rows K1, P1 rib.
Change to size 10 (3.25mm) needles and work 12 rows st.st.
Shape top.
Next row: K10 [K2tog, K9] to last 3 sts. K2tog, K1.(62sts)
Next and alternate rows: P.
Next row: K9 [k2tog,K8] to last 3sts. K2tog, K1(56sts)
Next row: K8 [K2tog,K7] to last 3sts. K2tog, K1(50sts)
Next row: K7 [K2tog,K6] to last 3sts. K2tog, K1(44sts)
Next row: K6 [K2tog,K5] to last 3sts. K2tog, K1(38sts)
Next row: K5 [K2tog,K4] to last 3sts. K2tog, K1(32sts)
Next row: K4 [K2tog,K3] to last 3sts. K2tog, K1(26sts)
Next row: K2tog to end. (13sts.)
Break off yarn leaving a long end, thread through sts and then pull up and secure.

Making up.

Join the seam and turn back half of the rib.

Hat for premature babies.

(As requested by St. Mary's SCBU.)
DK.
Using size 10 (3.25mm) needles, cast on 50sts.
Work 20 rows K1, P1 rib.
Change to size 8 (4mm) needles and work 10 rows st.st.
Shape top.
Next row: [K4,K2tog,] 8 times, K2.(42sts)
Next and alternate rows: P.
Next row: [K3,k2tog] 8 times,K2.(34sts)
Next row: [K2,K2tog] 8 times,K2.(26sts)
Next row: [K1,K2tog] 8 times,K2.(18sts)
Next row: K2tog to end. (9sts.)
Break off yarn leaving a long end, thread through sts and then pull up and secure.
Making up.
Join the seam and turn back half of the rib.


Print the patterns from this link



These patterns have been sent to me by Suzanna Barnes in Nottingham.

Bonnet with vent.

3ply (12 needles) 4ply (10 needles) DK (8 needles) (The yarn thickness makes a difference to the size.)
The flap.
Cast on 15 sts and K 2 rows
Next row. K7 wool fwd, K2tog, K6
Work 15 rows garter st.
Cast off 2 sts at beg of next 2 rows (11sts)
Break wool and leave sts on a spare needle.

Main bonnet.

Cast on 53sts and work 6 rows K1 P1 rib
Next row. (eyelet row). P1, (wool round needle P2tog) to the end of the row.
(This row allows tubes to be attached, giving them an anchor)
St. st 6 rows.

Divide for flap

K21, cast off 11sts, K 20. turn and work on the first 21 sts.
Row 1. P19, K2
Row 2. K
Repeat these 2 rows 5 times and row 1 once more.
Break wool and rejoin to the other sts on the needle and continue as follows.
Row 1. K2, P19
Row 2. K
Repeat these 2 rows 5 times and row 1 once more.

Next row. Knit the first 21 sts, then the 11 from the spare needle, then the last 21 sts (53sts)
Work 5 rows st.st.

Shape crown.

Row 1. K4,(K2tog, K5) 7 times.
Next and alt rows P
Row 3. K4, (K2tog, K4) 7 times
Row 5. K4 (K2tog, K3) 7 times
Row 6. P
Row 7. K2tog to end.
Break wool and thread through sts. , pull up and fasten off.

To make up.

Sew up the back seam and stitch a button on the main part to correspond with the buttonhole on the flap. Add crocheted or twisted ties to enable staff to fasten the hat securely to the baby.

Mittens and socks.

(These do not need ties to keep them on, making it easier for staff)
Mittens (make 2)
4ply (12/11 needles) DK (10/8 needles)
With the smaller needles cast on 22sts and work 16 rows K1 P1 rib.
Change to bigger needles and work 10 rows st st.
Shape top.
(Sl 1, K1, psso, K7, K2tog) twice
Next row. P
(Sl 1, K1, psso, K5, K2tog) twice
Next row. P
Cast off.

Join seam from bottom to side and turn the top over to form a cuff.

Socks (make 2)

With smaller needles cast on 23sts and work 16 rows K1, P1 rib.
Change to bigger needles and st. st 2 rows.

Shape instep.

Next row. K15, turn
Next row. P7
Work 8 rows st st on these 7sts

Break wool and with right side facing rejoin at right side of instep. Pick up 8 sts up the side, K 7 sts from the top and pick up 8 sts down the left side. Knit the remaining 8 sts(39sts)
Starting with a P row, work 3 rows st st.

Shape foot

K1, K 2tog, K11, K3tog, K5, K3tog, K11, K2tog, K1
Next row. P
K1, K2tog, K9, K3tog, K3, K3tog, K9, K2tog, K1
Next row. P
Cast off.

Join seam from toe to top and turn cuff over.



The place for printing these patterns is from this print friendly link