Do you knit or crochet? Are you a wizard at sewing?
If you answered yes to any of the above questions, then, you are in the perfect position to help reinforce education on Shaken Baby and the Period of Purple Crying National Health Initiative.
The VA medical center in Minneapolis is looking for knitters, crocheters and sewers to create 100 hats for babies ages 0-6 months for this important initiative. You can use dark purple yarn, stretchy knit and colorfast cotton to create these hats.
Number of hats needed: 100
Size: 0-6months
Color: dark purple
Material: yarn, stretchy knit and colorfast cotton.
Contact: info@arterey.net or contact Cheryl Patterson directly at Cheryl.Patterson@va.gov
Mail the hats to: The VA medical center. 1 Veterans Dr. Minneapolis. Minnesota. 55417. ℅ Cheryl Patterson or Goldie Voluntary services 4G-109
The hats will be distributed to women veterans who are new moms and will be included with a bottle of lavender essential oil for mom to help her calm down and a small note letting the new parents know that they are not alone in this journey.
What is the period of purple crying?
This period begins when a baby is 2 weeks old and ends at around 3-4 months of age. It usually starts in the evening and can last for hours. This is a normal phase of growing and all babies go through it. Some cry more and some cry less but they all go through this period in their development.
During this phase, babies tend to cry for hours. Parents naturally worry about this and try unsuccessfully to console their little ones.
Dr. Ronald Barr, a developmental pediatrician, derived the phrase, Period of PURPLE crying. His goal was to let parents of new born babies know that this is a period of normal development and that it would end soon. The word PURPLE does not stand for the color the baby turns while he/she is crying, but instead is an acronym which stands for the following:
P- Peak of crying – peaks at month 2
U– Unexpected- you have no idea why the baby is crying
R– Resists soothing- no soothing can calm him/her down
P– Pain like face- baby might look like they are in pain, but they are not
L– Long lasting- crying can last as long as 5 hours
E-Evening- crying is more common in the late afternoon and evening hours.
More information on this important topic can be found at http://purplecrying.info/what-is-the-period-of-purple-crying.php
The goal of this initiative is to educate parents of newborn babies, that this is a normal period of development in their baby’s life and that they should not get frustrated or second guess their parenting style.
In order to make it easy for you, here is a FREE crochet pattern for a beanie for a baby size 0-3 months and 3-6 months.
Materials:
Lion Brand, Heartland yarn – click on the image below to purchase
(Weight: 4/Medium, 5 oz/142g, 251 yds/230 m). (You will use less than half a skein for any size of this pattern)
Size 4mm crochet hook – click on the image below to purchase
Tapestry needle. – click on the image below to purchase
Scissors – click on the image below to purchase
Terms used in this pattern
MC- Magic circle – click on this link to see how to make a MC
dc- double crochet- Yarn over and pull through chain. (3 loops on hook). Yarn over and pull through (2 loops on the hook).Yarn over again and pull through remaining 2 loops. One double crochet has been made.
Fpdc- front post double crochet- Insert hook from front to back and work around the post of the stitch – see pic
Bpdc- back post double crochet- insert hook from back to front and work around the post of the stitch -see pic
Sc- single crochet- yarn over the hook from back to front. Draw yarn through chain and up onto the working area of the crochet hook (two loops on the hook). Yarn over the hook from back to front, and draw it through both loops on the crochet hook .
** important- each round will begin with a ch 2. This is your turning stitch and should not be counted in your stitch count. You will start with a dc in the same stich as the ch2. At the end of the round, you will slip stitch in the beginning of the ch 2 that you started with.
This will make it much easier for you to keep count of your rounds.
0-3 Months
Crochet Baby Hat
Magic circle
Round 1:10 dc in magic ring, join to first dc, chain 2
Round 2: 2 dc around, join, chain 2 (20 dc)
Round 3: 2 dc in first, dc in next; repeat around, join, chain 2 (30 dc)
Round 4: 2 dc in first, dc in next 2, repeat around, join, chain 2 (40 dc)
Round 5: 2dc, dc in the next 3, repeat around, join, chain 2 (50dc)
Round 6: 2dc, dc in the next 4, repeat around, join, chain 2 (60dc)
Rounds 7-11: dc around, join, chain 2 (60 dc)
Round 12: fpdc, bpdc alternatively. (60dc)
Fasten and weave in ends using tapestry needle.
3-6 Months
Crochet Baby Hat
Magic circle
Round 1:11 dc in magic ring, join to first dc, chain 2
Round 2: 2 dc around, join, chain 2 (22 dc)
Round 3: 2 dc in first, dc in next, repeat around, join, chain 2 (33 dc)
Round 4: 2 dc in first, dc in next 2, repeat around, join, chain 2 (44 dc)
Round 5: 2dc, dc in the next 3, repeat around, join, chain 2 (55dc)
Round 6: 2dc, dc in the next 4, repeat around, join, chain 2 (66dc)
Rounds 7-12: dc around, join, chain 2 (66 dc)
Round 13: fpdc, bpdc alternatively. (60dc)
Fasten and weave in ends using tapestry needle.