Tiny Beanies for Tiny Babies
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381760)
Rockingham, Australia
July 7, 2016 5:11am CST
In a previous life, I used to do a lot of crochet, selling much of it in tourist and craft outlets. I have recently gone back to doing crocheting, mainly just to have something to do in the evenings. At the moment, I am keen to use up all the scraps of baby wool I have.
I discovered there is a need for beanies for babies born prematurely. These prem babies have heads quite large in proportion to their overall size and a lot of body heat is lost through the head. So often these tiny mites are supplied with little beanies to help reduce heat loss.
Each beanie takes less than a ball of wool so is ideal for using up scraps. I average about two an evening and I vary the pattern and colours to stop myself becoming bored. It's also nice to think someone will benefit from my efforts.
33 people like this
36 responses
@puddleglum (1380)
• United States
7 Jul 16
These are very well done. My local hospital has a program that allows volunteers to knit beanies for premature infants. As you pointed out, it's very important for their health.,
4 people like this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Jul 16
@puddleglum Maybe they get the sort and size they want by supplying the materials. They possible supply a pattern as well.
1 person likes this
@puddleglum (1380)
• United States
8 Jul 16
@JudyEv I have seen them. Personally, I think the crocheted look warmer, just by looking at your photo. Also, the hospital I'm thinking of provides the materials for the volunteers to use in the beanies, so they are uniform, but don't have much character. I like the different colors and designs in yours.
2 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
8 Jul 16
my aunt, mom and grandmother and I used to do that, and make small blankets, like small small just big enough for a wee one in a car seat
3 people like this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Jul 16
@Jessicalynnt I have all this yellow wool in different shades and it's no good for prem beanies - makes babies look jaundiced apparently. Maybe I could make bootees - other end of the child shouldn't matter so much.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
7 Jul 16
what a most worthy cause, ms. judy! so proud that'cha found a way to benefit others whilst keepin' yer boredom't bay. no doubt the families'll be most thrilled to get those. they're so danged cute!
4 people like this
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
7 Jul 16
Yes I have seen those little beanies on premies and they're adorable. It's a great cause and you can clean up all that wool too!
3 people like this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Jul 16
@MarymargII It would have been a very patchwork blanket with all different shades of white, yellow, pink and blue! :)
1 person likes this
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
8 Jul 16
@JudyEv You could have saved them all and made me a blanket for when I visit and have to sleep on the cot!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Jul 16
Usually 3 or 4 ply. Most of my scraps are 4 ply. It takes a longer time to get anywhere with 3 ply. But the beanies can be made in any ply. You just adjust the number of stitches and rows so the finished item is about 4 1/2 inches circumference and 4 inches high.
2 people like this
@suziecat7 (3349)
• Asheville, North Carolina
7 Jul 16
What a good thing you're doing there. And they are so cute.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Jul 16
Thanks. :) It's a very simple thing for me as I've done so much crochet in my lifetime.
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
7 Jul 16
I might not have agreed on this - These prem babies have heads quite large in proportion to their overall size and a lot of body heat is lost through the head. - but now that I am a dad of a 6 months old baby girl, I have no reason to disagree. The cap we used for her during her very initial days, were nowhere good for reducing heat loss. So reading this discussion and specially seeing what these caps should have been on your wonderful work above, I feel sad that we had no idea about it when she needed these caps. On the up side, the coming winters we will be better prepared.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Jul 16
I guess it depends on the weather. Once these tiny babies are progressing well, there is probably not such a need for them to be wearing beanies. I know when we were new parents we knew very little. It's a wonder we didn't make more mistakes than we did.
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
8 Jul 16
great use for the material - I often wear beanies in winter myself
3 people like this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
8 Jul 16
That is an excellent use for the leftover yard. I used to make a lot for my church fair.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Jul 16
I have odd balls of this and that but I'm getting rid of them at a great rate now. It is interesting that they don't really like yellow ones as it makes the babies look jaundiced. I'd done a couple of yellow before I found this out. Now I sometimes put just a couple of rows of yellow but in the middle of the beanie, not near the face.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
8 Jul 16
@JudyEv Yes I think just adding a band or maybe the crown in yellow might be acceptable.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Jul 16
If it helps keep a little one warm, all will be good.
@rosekiss (30413)
• Eugene, Oregon
7 Jul 16
They are really nice, and it does feel good to do things for others. I am also crocheting baby items for a gal in my church who is expecting the end of September. I am having a blast as she is having a gril and I haven['t been makign things for girls lately, as the others have been having boys. I did however, crochet baby things for her when she was expecting her son, and I loved doing it. I am not here all that much as I want to get the things made before the baby shower.
2 people like this
@toniganzon (77064)
• Philippines
7 Jul 16
Those are so cute. Though I've learned basic crochet back in school, I never learned to make anything like baby clothing and such.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Jul 16
I really wanted to use up my scraps of wool and someone suggested the beanies so it was ideal.
@Marilynda1225 (91013)
• United States
7 Jul 16
That sounds like a wonderful way to use your time but is there an organization that you donate them to?
3 people like this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Jul 16
Yes, they'll go to a hospital that a friend of a friend supports. At some stage I'll get them to the lady and she'll take them to where they're needed.
@BettyB (4117)
• Summerville, South Carolina
7 Jul 16
I thought about doing that as I love to crochet. Right now I'm making a couple of Granny Square afghans to use up left over yarn. Last years I donated two to My Sister's House, a shelter for abused women. I'm not sure who will get the two afghans this year. I will probably give them to our pastor and let him pass them on to whoever needs it.
2 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (91013)
• United States
7 Jul 16
I love making afghans but my family all have too many from my efforts. I never thought to donate them to a shelter so maybe when I start my next one I'll keep them in mind. Great idea!!
2 people like this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Jul 16
@Marilynda1225 I had a friend who did dozens of afghans and donated them to nursing homes. They were very acceptable to the older people.
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Jul 16
I've just commented to @Marilynda1225 that my friend donated many knee rugs to nursing homes. It's a great idea.
