48 Crochet World CROCHET-WORLD.COM AUGUST 2019
A Little Bit of Yarn Goes a Long Way
By Randy CavaliereWho among us feels as I do about scrap yarn?
No matter how little you have, you can’t throw it
away. Every little bit needs to be worked up into
something! As a technical editor and designer, I
use these small amounts to test and create designs,
but even that doesn’t always deplete my mini-ball
stash. Let’s use up those little darlings and benefit
someone in need at the same time.BABY HATS
The sight of a newborn baby in a handmade hat
makes everyone smile. Adorableness aside, a hat
is important for babies, especially preemies. Sage
advice to cover one’s head because it keeps body
warmth from escaping is doubly significant for
babies born before they’ve fully developed. Hats
also reduce overstimulating noise that can be
detrimental to their healthy growth.
Hats and clothes make a small baby look normal and
reduce the stress of seeing the child in a neonatal
intensive care unit. When preemies look like “real”
babies, the parents bond more easily and become
more involved in their care.
So dig through your stash and find your little people
patterns. If you don’t have a hat pattern handy, go
to AnniesCraftStore.com. Look for “preemie baby
hats” or “baby hats” for dozens of patterns and kits.
(Booties and hand mitts are great stash-busting
projects too!)
If you’ve never crocheted for newborns, keep these
guidelines in mind:
Use only very soft, washable yarns in acrylic or
cotton. Wash the hat in detergent free of dyes and
fragrance.
Determine sizing with fruit. A hat that fits a
grapefruit will fit a full-term newborn; if it fits an
orange, it’s for a preemie; if it covers a lemon, that’s
for a micro-preemie weighing one to two pounds.
Crochet solid stitch patterns, not lacy stitches that
allow heat to escape or tiny fingers to get caught.
Buttons, appliqués and short ribbons can be tightly
sewn on or tied at the top or front of the hat. Earflaps are suitable but not long chin ties. Consider
leaving the top of a hat open with pull ties so it
can accommodate medical equipment on a
preemie’s head.
If your yarn group, house of worship or community
group doesn’t have a designated organization
that accepts baby items, go to CGOA’s Crochet
for Charity page (www.crochet.org/page/
charity). Contact your local hospital, but be
aware that facilities differ in their acceptance of
handmade clothing. Some will only allow items
from established groups, others will take from
individuals and some won’t accept any donations.S.A.C.K.
We all know that there are three basic needs: food,
clothing and shelter. Let’s add a fourth: (no, not
yarn...) cleanliness! For most, good hygiene is a
“no-brainer,” but for homeless persons and poverty-
stricken families, a bar of soap is not
always affordable.
In 2016, Stacy Weiner of
Allenhurst, N.J., developed
a unique solution for the
underserved in her own
area. She started S.A.C.K.—
Supporting A Community
with Kindness—by
crocheting 4-inch x 6-inch
cotton sacks paired with
bars of soap, and donating
them to local churches and organizations such
as The Salvation Army and United Way. The sacks
double as washcloths and storage for the soap.
Weiner’s efforts have encouraged participation in
43 states. The movement has spread to CambodianStacy Weiner founder of S.A.C.K. —Supporting
A Community with Kindness