Charity Knitting

Each year, our knitting group decides on a project to knit or crochet for a local charity. We have knit chemo caps, blankets, helmet liner, and mittens. This week I heard a troubling account of babies being born to needy mothers who have nothing to dress their babies in to bring them home from the hospital. We, as a group, have decided to make little layettes for these wee babes.

We shall be using a soft superwash worsted weight wool or a worsted weight mercerized cotton. The 5 hour baby sweater may be a good choice as it is a quick knit, and suitable for a little boy or girl. A cap or bonnet, socks and a blanket will complete the ensemble. The blanket will be simply a large rendition of the diagonal dish cloth – probably reaching about 30 inches square. There is a machine knit blanket square that takes about 2 hours to complete, so that also may be an option. I will also be looking for a simple, classic crocheted layette.

Should you have a suggestion for a pattern for any of the pieces in either knitting or crochet, please let me know. After I knit a sample layette, I will publish the details of the yarn and pattern requirements. Knitters are free to embellish the outfits as they desire. This project will be ongoing for the remainder of 2010 with the hope of completing at least 10 layettes.

I hope you can help us out with this project.