The students in Knots for NICU hand-make numerous items from receiving blankets (which double as incubator crib sheets), to crocheting & knitting beanie hats & headbands, to designing and sewing burial gown sets from donated wedding dresses, as well as scent hearts from leftover blanket fabric. Below are instructions & tutorials we follow, & invite others to join in making these rewarding items!
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Plain headbands or adorned (with a pom-pom or bow, etc.) are all welcomed. (Please avoid button embellishments.)
Tips:
Do not use pastel blue yarn for headbands. Headbands are worn by girls and most moms want their girls to adorn girl colors. Teals and ocean blues may work but try to stick with traditional ‘girl’ colors.
- SIZES - Headband sizes can vary in diameter between 7"-13" (see size chart reference below) because of the vast size difference in all preemies. Remember, a preemie in the NICU can vary from 22 weeks all the way up to full-term babies!
- VIDEOS - Follow this YouTube video for easy instruction and pattern ideas for headbands
- https://youtu.be/Dvye5C2sFvo For crocheting, a good count for preemie-sized headbands is 70 chains (count) in length when using a thinner/baby weight yarn (such as 4oz/113g). It is okay if your finished sizes vary!
- YARN - Smoke-free please!
- The best yarn to use is baby yarn because it’s soft and lightweight (e.g. 5oz/140g; or 4oz/113g). (See yarn label example image above.)
- The yarn should be soft, warm, washable, and hypoallergenic, such as: acrylic, cotton, bamboo, alpaca, and similar soft yarns are good choices - as long as they are labeled washable.
- Wool is not a great idea (unless it says "superwash" wool/merino - which is okay!) because some babies may be sensitive to it.
- SUPPLIES - Additional tools needed for these projects are:
- Crochet hooks (5mm or size US-H-8, -OR- 4mm or size US-G-6); or knitting needles work!
- Crochet hooks (5mm or size US-H-8, -OR- 4mm or size US-G-6); or knitting needles work!
- MAKING A HEADBAND INSTRUCTIONS
Note: Use soft yarn. If you are using very thick yarn, begin with 4 chains, if you are using thin yarn, begin with 4 chains, if your yarn is normal sized, begin with 5 chains.
BEGINNING - Make a slip knot
- To make a slip knot, wrap the yarn around two fingers until the both pieces of yarn meet to make a complete loop.
- Hold the point of connection with your thumb.
- Ensuring to hold with your thumb, slide the yarn off of your two fingers
- After the loop is off your fingers, while still holding with your thumb. Take two fingers into the loop, grab, and pull through the yarn connected to your yarn ball.
- Let go of the yarn with your thumb, and pull the end or attached yarn to adjust the slip knot.
- Insert crochet hook into the loop and size it so the loop is snug around the hook but loose enough so you can pull your hook through.
- Chains
- Begin with 5 chains (or 4 chains if making a very small headband).
- Complete a chain by placing your hook in the loop, grabbing the yarn attached to the yarn ball, and pull through the loop.
- Begin with 5 chains (or 4 chains if making a very small headband).
- Complete this 5 times; then chain 2 more to get to the next row.
- Rows
- Go back down into that 5th one and make 5 half-double crochets into each back stitch.
- Repeat this step for each row until the headband is appropriate length (sizing chart below).
- Turn your project at the end of each row and repeat until you have the desired length (typically between 8”-10”).
- Ending
- After completing your last row of the headband, keep your hook in the yarn loop.
- Cut the attached yarn tail about twice the length of your headband width.
- Using your crochet hook, pull the yarn tail through the yarn loop to create a knot.
- Now, hold both ends of the headband together, and use a crochet hook or darning needle to sew the edges together with your longer yarn tail. Knot the end when completed. Do NOT cut tail ends any shorter until they are tucked (next step).
- Take a crochet hook or a darning needle to tuck in loose ends by feeding it between each stitch in the rows. You should have 2 loose ends to tuck in.
- Ensure the tails are not hanging out of the headband (cut any tails).
- Ensure the tucking of the tails into the headband is as unnoticeable as possible.
- Attach embellishment
- Ensure you are working with the front of the headband (the side without the seam) OR, if large enough, place your embellishment right over the seam to hide it.
- Thread the embellishment ‘tails’ through the headband.
- Flip over and tie two secure knots.
- Snip ends of tails close to knots.
- Send your finished product to the Committee Lead for inspection before the product is packaged.
Tips:
Do not use pastel blue yarn for headbands. Headbands are worn by girls and most moms want their girls to adorn girl colors. Teals and ocean blues may work but try to stick with traditional ‘girl’ colors.
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Our Headbands on Babies
