Preemie donna–Free Pattern of the Month!!
There’s no reason why a preemie can’t rock the sass while in the NICU! Knit up one of these baby hats for your little preemie donna or preemie donno (substitute LOVE’s Harold & Maude brown instead of pink for a more masculine look), to show that Life & Style, ain’t just a magazine.
Here’s to your little peanut growing out of this cap faster than you can knit it! xoxo, Vic
MATERIALS
1 Ball Vickie Howell Collection’s LOVE (will make 3-4 hats) in color: Clarence & Alabama
Scraps Vickie Howell Collection’s VEGAS in colors: Blue Hawaiian & Martini
Size US 5 (3.5mm) dpns
Size US 6 (4.0mm) dpns
Large-eyed embroidery needle
SIZE
Way Wee (Wee)
Stretches to fit up to 10″(12″) head
25-30 week delivery (31-36 week delivery)
DIRECTIONS
With Smaller needles and LOVE, CO 40(48 sts). Join, taking care not to twist.
Knit 1 round.
Purl 1 round.
Repeat last 2 rows, 2 more times.
Switch to larger needles. Knit every round until piece measures 3″(3 1/2″).
Next round: *K3, k2tog. Repeat from * to end. 30(36)sts.
Knit 1(2) rounds.
Next round: *K2, k2tog. Repeat from * to end. 20(24)sts.
Knit 1 round.
Next round: K2tog. Repeat to end. 10(12) sts.
Repeat last row. 5 (6)sts.
Cut yarn leaving a 6″ in tail. Using embroidery needle, weave tail through live stitches on needles, set aside needles and cinch shut. Poke embroidery needle through top of hat, drawing the yarn inside. Weave in all ends.
EMBELLISHMENTS
Leaves (Make 12)
With crochet hook and one color of VEGAS, ch 6.
Sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in next ch, dc in next ch, hdc in next ch, sc in next ch. Tie off. Weave in one of the tails.
Pair 2 leaves together, alternating which direction they face around perimeter of hat. The Wee version will have a bit more space between each set than the Way Wee version. Pin in place first, to be safe. Use 2nd tail and embroidery needle to hand-sew each leaf into place.
Berries (Embroider 18)
Using 2nd color of VEGAS and embroidery needle, stitch 3 French knots per leaf pair.
(For knitting How-to instructions and Abbreviations List, click here.)
Get more great knit & crochet patterns and kits here!
Vicki, it is INCREDIBLE! What a darling little hat, I love it!!
My partner and I are involved in a charity that does non-prof photography for requesting families that have lost an infant at birth. The photos are all they have left of their precious angels. Might I ask that anyone who would love to make one of these sweet hats and donate it to my charity WEE ANGELS would check out my blog at http://www.knittingcontessa.blogspot.com? The details are there if you follow the blurb at the top of the blog. It would be awesome, thanks!
tina
AWW!! If only this had come out one year prior, I would have totally knitted this up for my teensy preemie! He’s got a real big head now, though.
Ah well… I’m still bookmarking this one! Too precious!!
Tina, I would love to give to you charity and Vicki, thanks for the patterns, etc.
Way back in 1959, I was a preemie. I weighed 2lb7oz. Back then it was a miracle I lived.
I think I will try and make some of these hats.
ADORABLE!!!
What an adorable – and unique! – baby hat!
love this hat! i linked to it over at craftandfound.com, and i’ll probably make a ton of these for the preemies in my area!
Baby Ava loves her premiedonna cap! She is all the talk at the NICU! Thanks Vickie!
As a mom of a now thriving 10-year old micro-preemie (955 grams or 2 lbs 1 oz at birth), I truly appreciated the gift of 2 precious hats that were made my the NICU nurses for “their” babies. I still have them and am reminded of the lovely angels who created something beautiful to help keep my daughter warm while we held her outside her incubator.
Thanks for creating a pattern for those of us who want to give back.
Diane
San Jose, CA
What a beautiful hat.
Absolutely adorable. As a NICU nurse and NNP for the last 24 years, I think I am an authority on preemie fashion, and this hat totally rocks! I’ll have to make some for our babies!
melissa
Temple, TX
This might be the cutest preemie hat I’ve ever seen! Wish I had one of these when my 30-weeker was in the NICU. You can read a little about our journey at http://thepreemieshop.wordpress.com/
Wow this hat is AMAZING! I would love to make one like this but I can only knit in a line….would not know how to knit in a circle! Is there anyway this can be made so I can sew two pieces together at the end?? I know it would not look as good but until my Mum comes to visit me again…I would be lost at attempting this pattern!!
Such a great post.
I have been knitting preemie hats for the hospitals in my area I am definitely going to knit this one. thank you