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    Home » Guest Post

    Special Guest Post: Crochet NICU Challenge!

    Published: Nov 23, 2014 by Tamara Kelly · 36 Comments

    This morning's post is a very special one - a guest post by Bonnie of Sunset Family Living. She has asked me to share some info on an incredible project she is leading - crocheting for the NICU! So I'll let her get to it...

    Sunset Family Living NICU Challenge

    Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) take care of the world’s littlest patients:  preemies and newborns who need a little bit of extra help to survive. These tiniest of babies are often fighters, despite weighing no more than a couple of bananas! Even full-term  babies may end up in the NICU, because they have troubles like breathing adequately, staying warm, or regulating their blood sugar.

    Whatever the reason for the intervention, NICUs are a huge blessing to these little ones and their families. It’s also a very stressful time for everyone involved.  Most mothers envision a day of snuggles and get-to-know-you time on their baby’s  birthday, not seeing their baby attached to tubes, wires, monitors, and behind the glass of an isolette. It can be very lonely and very frightening. In many NICUs, the only personal touch that the babies get is a little hat they can wear. However, because a NICU stay usually comes as a surprise, many families don’t have such little hats for their new babies. This little personal touch can mean the world to a mom!

    Sunset Family Living NICU Challenge

    Sunset Family Living’s annual NICU charity challenge goes along with the 12 days of Christmas. The challenge is to make 12 preemie or newborn hats – one for each of the 12 days of Christmas and donate them to your nearest NICU.  Last year, well over 26,000 hats were donated to NICUs all over the world.

    Twenty incredible designers have each contributed patterns to this challenge that you'll get simply for joining the challenge. These hats are adorable!! When you join the challenge, you'll receive each of the patterns via email. You are welcome to use all of the patterns, only one of the patterns, or any combination of repeats (or your own patterns) to make your 12 hats. We ask that you share a photo of your finished hats with us before you drop them off to your local hospital/birthing center/NICU. You can post the photos to Sunset Family Living’s Facebook page or you can email them.

    Check out this year's beautiful challenge patterns:

    Sunset Family Living NICU Challenge

    The links below take you to each designer's Facebook page. If you "like" all of the pages at once, Facebook may delete your likes and you won't be connected to the designer. Each designer will be featured over the next few days, so you can "like" their page when they are featured as well.

     

    Sunset Family Living NICU Challenge

    Sunset Crochet, KT and the Squid, Cre8tion Crochet, RAKJ Patterns, Little Monkeys Crochet, Danyel Pink Designs, My Sweet Potato 3, Blackstone Designs, The Hooked Haberdasher, Sincerely Pam, Crochet by Jennifer, Charmed by Ewe, Susie J Crochet, Ashley Designs Corner, Knit in the Womb Designs, Hatched with Love, Two Brothers Blankets, The Stitchin' Mommy, Mamachee * Crochet makes me happy!, and the Frayed Knot

    Sunset Family Living NICU Challenge

    When you sign up, you'll immediately be emailed the first pattern. You'll then receive one pattern each day via email. That email will also link you to a blog post about the designer with links to designer's blog, shop, and other information. (Many of the designers included a coupon code, too!)

    Sunset Family Living NICU Challenge

    When you finish your hats, take them to your nearest birthing center or hospital that delivers babies (they’ll usually have a relationship with a nearby NICU). That way each participant is making a difference in his/her own community. You'll get to go into the NICU and see the reaction of the nurses and, in some cases, the moms of little patients as they fish out a brand new hat to put on their little one. It feels incredible when you realize what a difference your gift makes.

    Some fun info on who's joined so far!

    From the United States, we have 3 stitchers stationed on US military bases overseas, 5 from Alaska, 29 from Alabama, 8 from Arkansas, 22 from Arizona, 125 from California, 16 from Colorado, 21 from Connecticut, 3 from D.C., 1 from Delaware, 41 from Florida, 47 from Georgia, 17 from Iowa, 18 from Idaho, 82 from Illinois, 47 from Indiana, 39 from Kentucky, 16 from Louisiana, 22 from Massachusetts, 17 from Maryland, 9 from Maine, 85 from Michigan, 44 from Minnesota, 31 from Missouri, 9 from Mississippi, 4 from Montana, 58 from North Carolina, 10 from North Dakota, 12 from Nebraska, 5 from New Hampshire, 19 from New Jersey, 6 from New Mexico, 9 from Nevada, 62 from New York, 63 from Ohio, 29 from Oklahoma, 35 from Oregon, 48 from Pennsylvania, 4 from Rhode Island, 28 from South Carolina, 8 from South Dakota, 26 from Tennessee, 110 from Texas, 68 from Utah, 37 from Virginia, 2 from Vermont, 54 from Washington, 52 from Wisconsin, 6 from West Virginia, 7 from Wyoming, and another 119 from the United States who didn’t specify a city or state.

    Worldwide, there are 134 stitchers from Canada, with 27 from Alberta, 15 from British Columbia, 7 from Manitoba, 6 from New Brunswick, 7 from Nova Scotia, 1 from Newfoundland, 60 from Ontario, 1 from Prince Edward Island, 7 from Quebec City, and 4 from Saskatchewan

    48 stitchers from Australia, including at least five from each of Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide.

    46 stitchers from the United Kingdom, with Manchester, Bristol, Leeds, London, and Scotland being the most mentioned areas.

    4 stitchers from both New Zealand and South Africa

    3 stitchers from Spain

    2 stitchers each from Germany, Japan, Mexico, Puerto Rico

    1 stitcher each from Bermuda, Cyprus, Greece, India, Italy, Philippines

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. 1

      Dorothy Stein

      November 23, 2014 at 10:09 am

      I really want to do this but it will not let me put my email in in lower case. so it keeps coming up as wrong e mail format.

      Reply
      • 2

        Tamara Kelly

        November 24, 2014 at 7:58 am

        Hi Dorothy! I'm guessing might be the au at the end. Please contact Bonnie at Sunset Family Living (linked in the first sentence of the post here) to sign up. I've removed your email address from your post so you don't get picked up by spammers. 🙂

        Reply
    2. 3

      Fabienne

      November 23, 2014 at 10:24 am

      Great idea! I've joined in, not sure it works in France, but I'll ring up, otherwise I can post them overseas!

      Reply
    3. 4

      Nancy

      November 23, 2014 at 10:45 am

      Are all of the hats crochet? I do not knit. And secondly, are the patterns in the easy to intermediate range. I would love to do this, but don't knit and need uncomplicated patterns. Thank you for answering. Nancy

      Reply
      • 5

        Bonnie

        November 23, 2014 at 11:19 am

        All but one of the hats are crocheted. Most are beginner patterns. We'd love to have you join us!

        Reply
        • 6

          Beverly Edmonds

          November 27, 2014 at 2:16 pm

          I would like to join but I don't crochet. I am, however, an intermediate knitter. Is there any chance of a knitting challenge?

          Reply
          • 7

            Tamara Kelly

            November 28, 2014 at 12:52 pm

            I believe they are taking knitting as well! 🙂

            Reply
      • 8

        Tamara Kelly

        November 24, 2014 at 7:39 am

        It looks like you can donate whichever you prefer. 🙂

        Reply
    4. 9

      Katie

      November 23, 2014 at 11:44 am

      Did I miss when this is? Traditionally the 12 days of Christmas are after Christmas. Which I could commit to. Otherwise last minute gifts might get in the way.

      Reply
      • 10

        Tamara Kelly

        November 24, 2014 at 8:01 am

        Hi Katie! More info including dates is at http://www.sunsetfamilyliving.com/2014-challenge/

        Reply
    5. 11

      Brandy

      November 23, 2014 at 2:09 pm

      Hello I am so happy to sign up for this challenge, I called Mercy Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa and they weren't aware of the challenge, do you happen to know here in Des Moines who might be participants (Blank's maybe) or I see your in my state, I could mail them your way and send them to the hospitals that participate in your area? Maybe I could get a few local friends to sign up and talk to an activities director here and see if they'd be interested in receiving ~ if I had enough to offer? Let me know what you think please 🙂 I'd really like to participate, I was a preemie ~ born 4 months early in 72 and had very little chance of survival, this is something near and dear to my heart <3

      Reply
      • 12

        Tamara Kelly

        November 24, 2014 at 9:39 am

        I don't know that any hospitals per se are participating? It's just donate to your local place. 🙂

        Reply
        • 13

          Christine

          November 25, 2014 at 7:55 am

          Do you know how you do that? I can't find any online info for the group that knits and crochets for the local NICU, and I have no idea how I would get into contact with them.

          Reply
          • 14

            Tamara Kelly

            November 25, 2014 at 8:36 am

            I would just call the NICU or local birthing center, or even the main hospital line - they should know where to direct you. 🙂

            Reply
    6. 15

      Cassie

      November 23, 2014 at 3:55 pm

      I am signing up now!! And I also want to say that I have worked as a labor and delivery nurse and I have worked in the nursery, NICU and pediatrics and every time someone brings in hats it is amazing!! Then when we get to put a special hat on a baby, not the generic pink and blue hat, the parents are ecstatic!! As you said often times the only personal touch these babies get is the hat, and sometimes putting a hat on their baby is the first time a parent gets to touch their baby!! Thank you for sharing!!

      Reply
      • 16

        Tamara Kelly

        November 24, 2014 at 7:56 am

        <3 Thank you Cassie!

        Reply
    7. 17

      Michelle

      November 23, 2014 at 7:37 pm

      Can you please tell me where I can send my hats? I have a local hospital I could donate too, but I don't know if I can just send them without a contact person.

      Reply
      • 18

        Tamara Kelly

        November 24, 2014 at 7:40 am

        I would call your nearest birthing center or hospital that delivers babies (they’ll usually have a relationship with a nearby NICU).

        Reply
    8. 19

      Kathy

      November 24, 2014 at 8:46 am

      I would love to join. I make hat all the time and give them to kids, but have never given them to my local NICU.

      Reply
    9. 20

      Tara

      November 24, 2014 at 12:38 pm

      I signed up on 11/23 when I saw Moogly's posting on Facebook. Will the patterns be emailed daily? I haven't seen anything arrive in my inbox yet. I do see on Sunset Crochet's Facebook page the daily pattern is pictured, but I do not see a link to it. I'm anxious to get started! Thanks!

      Reply
      • 21

        Tamara Kelly

        November 24, 2014 at 3:36 pm

        Hi Tara! I'm sorry, but I'll have to have you ask on Sunset Crochet - I'm not running any of it, just hosting the guest post. 🙂

        Reply
    10. 22

      Jimmye Dorman

      November 24, 2014 at 1:21 pm

      I usually make hats all winter and donate them to a homeless outreach here in Indianapolis. This will be a nice change.
      I am really excited to join in on this challenge, especially since I work in an office that bills for a large group of pediatric specilists, including the neonatologists. A LOT of our patients are preemies, so it will be great to give back in a tangible way.
      I am going to follow up with one of my contacts at the hospital to see if they have special requirements for hats (which fiber, etc) so I can get started. Somehow, I have to fit these in with my Christmas gifts I am crocheting, yikes!
      Thanks for the opportunity!

      Reply
      • 23

        Tamara Kelly

        November 24, 2014 at 3:35 pm

        <3

        Reply
    11. 24

      Stacey

      November 25, 2014 at 10:47 am

      I was wondering if I can use this to make hats for a local preemie charity that sends hats to NICU? The hospitals local to me don't accept hats outside of charities.

      Reply
      • 25

        Tamara Kelly

        November 25, 2014 at 2:30 pm

        I'm not in charge, but I think that sounds wonderful! <3

        Reply
    12. 26

      Christine

      November 28, 2014 at 2:40 pm

      I just signed up, but I will be knitting instead of crocheting them. They only have a knit pattern for the preemie hats. (I contacted to check requirements, and was told that they'd send me the pattern).

      Reply
      • 27

        Tammy

        November 29, 2014 at 10:26 am

        If you go to clickforbabies.org you will find links to free knitted and crocheted hat patterns. They collect purple hats for their hat distributions to involved hospitals, so the hats are "hospital" approved.

        The most important thing is the hat is made with soft, baby friendly yarns; and while some hospitals don't mind if they have flowers or appliques, some want them plain.

        I will be sending mine to Rosie's Cozies. Betsy is collecting hats to take to the NICU at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital .

        Reply
        • 28

          Tamara Kelly

          November 30, 2014 at 12:22 pm

          Thank you Tammy!

          Reply
    13. 29

      CHERYL MIDDLETON

      December 18, 2014 at 3:23 pm

      i took my challenge hats to our local hospital and was informed they o longer accept them . So i hace a gallon bag full and nowhere to donate them

      Reply
      • 30

        Tamara Kelly

        December 18, 2014 at 8:15 pm

        Oh dear! Cheryl, I'm sure there's an organization out there that would love to have them. A good place to start is here: http://www.crochet.org/default.asp?page=charity

        Reply
        • 31

          Gail giarrusso

          December 20, 2014 at 2:15 pm

          Where do you live? Anyone live near the Boston, MA area, Tufts Medical Center was very pleased when I contacted them about donating hats.

          Reply
    14. 32

      Gail giarrusso

      December 20, 2014 at 8:42 am

      Just finished 40 hats that I am sending off to New England Medical Center today. I already had a hat that I had designed from combining several other patterns. I call them my Snowbabies. I chose New England Medical Center because they had cared for my brother more than 30 years ago and his twin sons almost 20 years ago.

      Reply
    15. 33

      Isabella V.

      May 15, 2015 at 7:45 am

      Do we have to donate the hats to you and you give them to an organization or do we donate them to any hosptial?

      Reply
      • 34

        Tamara Kelly

        May 15, 2015 at 8:00 am

        No, I'm not gathering them! Please follow the link to Sunset Family Living for more info. 🙂 She's the one who put it all together.

        Reply
    16. 35

      Isabell

      September 04, 2016 at 4:45 pm

      I tried to sign up and can't find patterns - no does the link work - can u please sign me up for Vancouver bc - thank you - can u email me the links -

      Reply
      • 36

        Tamara Kelly

        September 06, 2016 at 10:33 am

        Hello Isabell, and thank you for wanting to help! This was a guest post so I don't have any info myself - I would recommend clicking on the link in the article where it says to "email them" for more info.

        Reply

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