Replies to This Discussion

BossLadyPermalink Reply by Laurie Wheeler on April 18, 2012 at 1:43pm

For folks who have a hard time working from the top down, sometimes creating a band of crochet in a flat strip and seaming it together gives you a shape to work from. 

In this hat, I made a simple tunisian band then worked the top and the brim.

CroProPermalink Reply by Eva of Hook,Yarn & Needles on May 10, 2012 at 7:39am

Thats a great idea plus I am thinking that tunisian band will give it a stiffer brim which is sometimes just what is needed.  Thanks for the tip.

MemberPermalink Reply by LeeAnn Wilson on August 11, 2012 at 6:34pm

I tend to start at the top, too, though I tried Laurie's construction recently and it's very cool. With both ways, though, I run into the same problem... when and how much to increase/decrease to best fit the curve of the head. I never seem to get it right the first time and have to go by trial & error. I have a big head so if I'm making the hat for someone else, trying it on is not always an option. Anybody else have trouble getting the shape just right, or have any magic formulas for it?

BossLadyPermalink Reply by Laurie Wheeler on August 31, 2012 at 12:38am

I have no magics. Each head is a bit different. I get my own hats just right, because I increase/decrease every three rows until I get close to the end then it's every other row for a few, and then every row/rnd at the the last three or four depending on the hat.

My biggest trick? I put on my hat as I crochet it, sometimes my tension is tight or loose and stitch counts lie when your tension is off ;D

MemberPermalink Reply by Lori Cheney on October 14, 2012 at 6:16pm

Something I learned was how to judge head sizes from micropreemies 2lbs or less to big preemies 4.5 lbs to 6 lbs.
The rule of thumb from NICU nurses is as follows:

Under 2lbs. The size of the hat should fit a large apricot.

2lbs to 3 1/2 lbs. Hat should be the size of a purple plum.

3.5-4 1/4 lbs the size of a large orange

4.25 to 5 lbs size of a Grapefruit

5 lbs and over newborn or size Zero will fit. Approx. 16 inches circum.

A great resource about sizes and needs is: http://www.Graham'sFoundation.org

I am a NICU ambassador and they were started by Baby Graham's parents and offer support and education and supplies to the parents of preemies.

*Please use soft cotton or acrylic baby yarns. Preemies skin is so so fragile. It is also nice to have holes on top of hats for the I.V. Lines, or. Shunts. Please don't use metallic yarns or fuzzy wuzzy yarns as it gets in the monitors and causes mishaps. Also, wool is a no no as baby doesn't have much of a immune system yet and allergies and rashes are often the case.

Each NICU baby goes through a minimum of 3 hats a day. Often falling off during feeding time, they are not allowed to take home and wash these hats due to Infection control of the MERSA bacteria.

Hope this helps !