🌟 Useful information for members of Emily’s Knitting Army
🌟
Emily’s Star was founded in April 2012 in memory of Emily Elizabeth. Emily was born
weighing 4.5lb and at 2 days old was diagnosed with Trisomy 18 (Edwards Syndrome)
Emily gave her family a wonderful 26 days before she passed away. Her family & friends
created the charity with 3 main aims:
1 – To provide treats, wishes and memory making activities for all local children with a life
limiting or life threatening illness and are cared for by the Children with Complex Needs
Nursing Team.
2 – To raise awareness of Trisomy 18 the UK’s second most common syndrome
3 – To provide Emily’s Gift Neonatal Boxes for babies born underweight or prematurely.
The idea behind our boxes comes directly from Emily’s mummy as she struggled so much to
find clothes to dress Emily in during her short time with us.
All main stream clothing lines started from new-born and this was miles too big for little
Emily.
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The boxes have grown so much since the first days but the idea remains the same, no baby
should be born without clothes that don’t fit, every baby deserves the chance and choice to
be dressed.
Document created by Kathy York and Janet Hall for use by Emily’s Knitting Army, who knit on behalf
of Emily’s Star to provide knitted/crocheted items for Emily's gift neonatal boxes.
01/02/2017
Emily’s Gift Neonatal Boxes come in 3 sizes, 3lb, 4lb
and 5lb and 2 colours, pink and blue.
Included in each box is a blanket, 2 bonding squares,
a hat and a jacket / cardigan, all of which have been
kindly knitted or crocheted and then donated by an
army of volunteers.
The boxes also contains 2 vests, 2 baby grows and a jacket (all fully poppered), as well as
baby oil, shampoo, talc, wipes and wash for once baby is big and strong enough.
We don't forget mum either, it contains a toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, shower gel,
hand cream, lip balm and a flannel. Each box also includes a muslin square, a pack of tissues,
notepad and pen, and a foldable water bottle. Everything in the box apart from the knitting
/ crocheting is funded by our fundraising.
We like to think of the boxes as an emergency hospital bag in a box.
This document contains lots of information that we hope you will find useful and enable you
to join in helping to create much needed items for the boxes.
In each box we add a jacket, hat, blanket and a pair of bonding squares. You are free to
create a complete set or one item. We are grateful for all donations.
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Blankets need to be between 14" - 15" (35.6 – 38.1cm) square and be created using a
pattern with no holes, as tiny fingers and toes can get caught. Hospitals will not accept
blankets with holes in the pattern.
Document created by Kathy York and Janet Hall for use by Emily’s Knitting Army, who knit on behalf
of Emily’s Star to provide knitted/crocheted items for Emily's gift neonatal boxes.
01/02/2017
Bonding Squares need to be 5" (12.7cm) square and be made in matching pairs. Again no
holes please, for fingers and toes to get caught in. Also we ask that you do not add any
embellishments to bonding squares or knit with yarn any thicker than double knitting.
Please do not cut yarn ends off before you have weaved them in, as the knitting / crocheting
could unravel.
Bonding squares are provided to mums whose babies are in a neonatal unit. Each mum is
given two squares, one is kept with baby & one is kept on mum’s body, every 12 hours they
are swapped.... They help mum & baby to bond by smell in cases where they can't physically
touch.
Jackets / cardigans can be either long or short-sleeved and any style suitable for a tiny baby.
Many short-sleeved jackets can easily be converted into ones with long sleeves by just
knitting a few more rows onto each sleeve. Jackets and cardigans can be knitted / crocheted
in either 4ply or double knitting yarn. Please use baby acrylic, as this is most suitable for
delicate skin and multiple washes. Most baby colours are fine to use and we are always in
need of white and cream items.
Jacket / cardigan measurements
Finished chest measurements for the jacket should be –
3lb baby
12" (30.5 cm)
4lb baby
13" (33cm)
5lb baby
14" (35.6 cm)
so that when a jacket or cardigan is laid flat as in the
photo, the chest should measure
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6" (15.2 cm), 6.5" (16.5cm) or 7" (17.8 cm) respectively.
Document created by Kathy York and Janet Hall for use by Emily’s Knitting Army, who knit on behalf
of Emily’s Star to provide knitted/crocheted items for Emily's gift neonatal boxes.
01/02/2017
Hat sizes need to be 3lb circumference 9-10" (without stretch) and height of minimum 4"
4lb circumference 10-11" (without stretch) and height of minimum 4.5"
5lb circumference 11-12" (without stretch) and height of minimum 5"
All the hats will need to have some stretch of
approximately a further 2 inches so they can be
stretched to pop on to babies head, allow for
growing room, or a slightly larger head for the
babies weight.
The cast on edge or foundation row should not be too tight to allow for stretch, if you are a
tight knitter you may find it helps to use a larger needle to cast on with.
If you wish to add pompoms to hats, then please only add these to the 5lb size. The 5lb size is more
likely to be worn once the baby has left the hospital, whereas baby may still be in an incubator at 3lb
or 4lb and medical staff may not want any extras getting in the way of equipment.
We do not require bonnets, ventilator hats or hats used for babies under 3lb in weight, as these are
provided by other charities who work directly with hospitals specialising in very tiny premature
babies.
Bootees and mittens
Although we do not routinely include bootees in the neonatal boxes, if you would like to
knit / crochet them as part of the set you are making, then we will gladly include them too.
Please do not use a pattern with holes, as tiny toes could get caught.
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Knitted / crocheted mittens are not used with premature babies and therefore we do not
require them.
Document created by Kathy York and Janet Hall for use by Emily’s Knitting Army, who knit on behalf
of Emily’s Star to provide knitted/crocheted items for Emily's gift neonatal boxes.
01/02/2017
A complete set of knitted / crocheted items
comprises of –
14" - 15" (35.6 – 38.1cm) blanket
2 matching 5" (12.7cm) bonding squares
Jacket
Hat
For those knitters who prefer not to knit complete sets, we also need smaller / mini sets
consisting of either –
Blanket
14" -15" (35.6 – 38.1cm) square
and
Bonding Squares x2
5" (12.7cm) square (and secured together please)
Or
Jacket and matching hat (secured together before posting please)
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Single blankets, bonding squares, jackets and hats are also very
welcome.
Document created by Kathy York and Janet Hall for use by Emily’s Knitting Army, who knit on behalf
of Emily’s Star to provide knitted/crocheted items for Emily's gift neonatal boxes.
01/02/2017
Knit – Alongs
We run regular Knit-Alongs for members of Emily’s Knitting Army. Each month a member of
the group chooses a pattern for an item or complete set that is needed for E/S boxes and
then posts Day 1 knitting for everyone who wishes to take part. This might be about 20
rows. Then onto Day 2 and so on until the item is complete. Usually a couple of days is left
between posting for people to catch up. There is no pressure for anyone to take part or feel
they have to complete any knitting on a set day. This is meant to be fun and a way to
support knitters to have a go at knitting they might otherwise shy away from. Once the knitAlong is complete the pattern is added to the files.
Suitable Yarn
Baby acrylic in either 4ply or double knitting yarn is ideal to use as it is less likely to irritate
the skin and withstands multiple washing.
Chunky yarn can also be used for blankets, but is too thick for any other items.
Almost all colours that are sold as baby yarn are suitable. White and cream items are always
needed.
Sparkly / glitter yarn is acceptable as long as it is acrylic and not metal based thread, as this
could get hot and burn a baby in an incubator. If you are not certain which type of yarn you
have, then please err on the side of caution and not use it.
Tension and Tension Squares
Please check your tension before starting to knit or crochet your item, as not all makes of
double knit or 4ply yarn knits up to the same size. The best way to do this is to knit a tension
square and instructions on how to do this can be found by following the link http://www.learn2knit.co.uk/knitting/tension.php
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Yarn labels will indicate the tension that the yarn. This label is
saying that using 4mm needles (UK 8), a knitter should expect to
achieve a 10 cm (approx. 4 inch) square, when they have cast on
22 stitches and worked 30 rows of stocking stitch (one row knit
and the next row purl).
Document created by Kathy York and Janet Hall for use by Emily’s Knitting Army, who knit on behalf
of Emily’s Star to provide knitted/crocheted items for Emily's gift neonatal boxes.
01/02/2017
How to block a piece of knitting
You may find you will need to block some work to help flatten it.
If a bonding square or blanket is curling, puckering or not quite square, pin it out to the right
size, either on a foam blocking square, ironing board or even a clean towel on a spare
bedroom floor. Add extra pins to hold down any puckered areas too. Check that all
measurements are correct.
Then either spray lightly with water and hover over your work with a steam iron (do not
press down with the iron, you will 'kill' the wool), or just spray with warm water. Leave your
work to dry and you should find that it then retains a nice shape.
Washing of items
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We rely on knitters' discretion regarding the washing of items. If the yarn is new, kept clean
and away from animals, coffee and smoke, then garments do not necessarily need washing.
However if you feel they could do with freshening up, please use a non-biological detergent.
Document created by Kathy York and Janet Hall for use by Emily’s Knitting Army, who knit on behalf
of Emily’s Star to provide knitted/crocheted items for Emily's gift neonatal boxes.
01/02/2017
Where to send / drop off finished items
Our postal address to send items to is – (Items can be dropped off here too)
Emily's Star
Suite 4/30
Acorn House
381 Midsummer Boulevard
Central Milton Keynes
MK9 3HP
Or our local drop off points are - (items collected weekly )
The Coffee Boutique
94a Redgrave Drive
Milton Keynes
MK4
Opening hours can be found on their website
www.the-coffeeboutique.co.uk
Dobbies Garden Centre
Fenny Stratford – a box to leave items in, is located near the community board
Contacts
If you have any queries regarding knitting / crocheting for Emily’s Gift Neonatal Boxes then
please message on Facebook -
Kathy York
Any queries
Janet Hall
Any queries
Jane Cole
Knitting and crocheting queries and Knit - Alongs
Tricia Hayes
Items of knitting sent directly to office
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Please be patient if we don’t reply immediately as we are all volunteers for Emily’s Star and
also have day jobs.
Patterns that you would like included in the files of Emily’s Knitting Army FB page should
first be emailed to [email protected] and marked for the attention of Kathy York.
Document created by Kathy York and Janet Hall for use by Emily’s Knitting Army, who knit on behalf
of Emily’s Star to provide knitted/crocheted items for Emily's gift neonatal boxes.
01/02/2017
Ollie Octopus
Hospitals have asked if we could provide knitted or crocheted
octopuses.
Research has shown that the arms of the octopus remind
premature babies of the umbilical cord in their mummies’
tummies and make them feel safer.
More information and patterns about knitting or crocheting an octopus can be found –
In the Emily’s Knitting Army files
http://www.emilysstar.co.uk/knitting-patterns.html
http://mynomadhome.com/octopus-for-a-preemie-osmiorniczka-dla-wczesniaka/
Links to suitable patterns to knit / crochet for Emily’s Gift Neonatal Boxes?
(Please note that this list is only a small selection of suitable premature baby patterns)
Look in the Emily’s Knitting Army files on Facebook
http://www.emilysstar.co.uk/knitting-patterns.html
Emily’s Cardigan
http://www.ravelry.com/designers/marianna-mel
http://lindacraftycorner.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/sweet-little-tops.html
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http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/premature-babys-cardigan-hat-and-bootees
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/premature-baby-crochet-sleeveless-jacket
Document created by Kathy York and Janet Hall for use by Emily’s Knitting Army, who knit on behalf
of Emily’s Star to provide knitted/crocheted items for Emily's gift neonatal boxes.
01/02/2017
Emily's Star is extremely proud to support all of these amazing neonatal units in England.
Each one of these units receives a regular supply of boxes from us completely free of
charge....
Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Scunthorpe General Hospital
Southend Hospital
Diana Princess of Wales Hospital
Maternity , Mannor hospital walsall
Gloucester Royal Hospital Womens Centre
Macclesfield District General Hospital
Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust
Birmingham Women's NHS Foundation Trust
St Richard's Hospital
Stoke Mandeville Hospital
George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust
Burnley General Hospital
Coventry & Warwickshire Hospital
James Cook University Hospital
Luton and Dunstable University Hospital
John Radcliffe Hospital
Bedford Hospital
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust / Evelina London Children's Hospital
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Lister Hospital
Document created by Kathy York and Janet Hall for use by Emily’s Knitting Army, who knit on behalf
of Emily’s Star to provide knitted/crocheted items for Emily's gift neonatal boxes.
01/02/2017