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!

Yarn Embellishments

Embellishing a hat or headband with a pom-pom, bow, heart, duckie, or flower is a creative way to express your unique flair on your item and bring an additional smile to your recipient.  Here are some items we love:

POM-POMS


​​POM-POM Sizes:
  • Hats/headbands 6"-7.5": Use the Dark Pink 3/4" (20 mm) and Dark Purple 1" (25 mm) pom-pom makers.
  • Hats/headbands 8"-10": Use the Light Pink 1-3/8" (35 mm) and Yellow 1-5/8" (45 mm) pom-pom makers.
  • Hats sized 11"-13": Use the Teal 
    2-1/2" (65 mm) and 3-3/8" (85 mm)  pom-pom makers.
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After wrapping yarn and cutting in the channel, wrap a new string around the center of pom-pom.
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Pull the knot very tight or else the cut yarn fibers will become loose (endangering baby).
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Repeat with another tight knot. Do not cut the long strings (these are used to tie pom-pom onto the hat). Then remove the pom-pom maker.

BOWS

Video: We love this YouTube bow tutorial for a crocheted bow, which yields a 2" bow. Perfect for hats or headbands!
  • Here are written instructions (with abbreviations) to accompany the video tutorial:
  1. Make a magic circle (tutorial on website)
  2. Begin with 5 chains from the magic circle
  3. Complete 6 double treble crochets
  4. Chain 6 and slip stitch to the magic circle
  5. Repeat steps 2-4 above until you have another bow half
  6. Close the magic circle by pulling the small end of  yarn until the circle closes 
  7. Wrap the center of the bow: Take the yarn attached to the yarn ball and wrap the middle of the bow to make a center. Wrap how you see fit – a few rows.
  8. Tie off loose ends together
  9. Cut the ends long for embellishing

HEARTS

  • Video: We love this YouTube heart tutorial for small crocheted hearts.
  • Here are written instructions (with abbreviations) to accompany the video tutorial:
  1. Foundation: Create Magic Ring.
  2. Chain (Ch) 2, place 3 Treble Crochet (TR) inside the magic ring. 
  3. 3 Double Crochet (DC) inside the magic ring. Ch 1. 
  4. 1 TR in the magic ring. Ch 1. (You have completed half the heart) 
  5. 3 DC inside the magic ring. 
  6. 3 TR inside the magic ring. Ch 2.
  7. Slip Stitch (Sl St) into the magic ring. Ch 1. 
  8. Cut yarn, leaving long tail. Pull tail tight.
  9. Close magic ring. 
  10. Weave in any loose ends!

FLOWERS

Video: We love this YouTube flower tutorial for a crocheted flower adornment.

1.  Make magic circle
2.  Chain 3
3.  3 half double crochet
4.  Chain 3
5.  Slip stitch into magic circle
6.  Repeat steps 1-5 four times
7.  Close magic circle
8. Tie off loose ends together
9. Cut the ends long for embellishing
10. Attach to hat by inserting each loose end into a different hole and tying a knot on the inside of the hat or headband.
11. Weave in any loose ends with a plastic yarn needle.

BABY CHICK

To Start:
  1. Make a magic circle using yellow yarn.
  2. Chain 3, while going around the circle make 14 Treble Crochet.
  3. Pull string to close the inner circle.
  4. Slip stitch to close top of the circle.
  5. To Make Head:
  6. 1 Single Crochet, 1 half Double Crochet in first stitch.
  7. 2 Double Crochet in next stitch.
  8. 1 Half Double Crochet, 1 Single Crochet, 1 Slip Stitch in next stitch. 
  9. Stretch loop to set down
  10. To Make Beak:
  11. Change yarn to orange.
  12. Pull yarn through top to form a loop on top side.
  13. Chain 3, by going down the chain to the 2nd chain.
  14. Slip Stitch in the 2nd chain (forming tip of beak).
  15. 1 single crochet in 3rd chain.
  16. Slip Stitch to the yellow body in next stitch.
  17. Secure the beak to the back of chicken using a darning needle trimming the ends
  18. To Make Body:
  19. Pick up the loose yellow yarn of the body with your crochet hook.
  20. Chain 2, go under the beak and slip stitch in next stitch.
  21. Continue slip stitches around the body to the tail position.
  22. To Make Tail:
  23. 1 single crochet, 1 double crochet, 1 chain in same stitch.
  24. Slip Stitch to body and continue slip stitches to the head position, and tie off.
  25. To Make Eye:
  26. Use black yarn for the eye and sew in a stitch with darning needle.

SHAMROCK

  1. Chain 4
  2. Join with a slip stitch in the first chain to form a ring.
  3. Petal (make 3): Chain 3, trc, dc, trc, ch 3, slip stitch in ring.
  4. Stem: Chain 6, sc in 2nd chain from hook, and slip stitch in remaining four chains.
  5. Fasten to hat or headband. 
  6. Weave in ends.

STAR

​Video Link: See YouTube
​Stitch Terms/Abbreviations:
  • MR - Magic Ring
  • sc - Single Crochet
  • dc - Double Crochet
  • ch - chain
  • Repeat the pattern between the asterisk * …. * X times
Instructions:
  1. into MR, ch1, *sc, dc, ch2, dc * x 5.
  2. Then sc, slip stitch to 1st sc of the round.
  3. Close MR.
  4. Weave in ends or knot, and use the tails to sew/attach it to hat. 

PANDA

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