PROJECT LINUS BABY BLANKET
Our next project is to knit or crochet baby blankets for Project Linus, which provides blankets to critically ill children.
We will meet on March 19, April 16, and May 21 from 10am-2pm to work on the blankets. You don’t have to come to every session, or stay for the whole time! Come for all or part, or just work on this at home.
Basic guidelines:
- Size can flexible. Small would be about 36” by 36”, most are 40” by 60”.
- Blankets must be handmade and washable.
- Blankets should be made & stored in a smoke-free environment, and be free from animal hair and chemical contaminants.
- The blankets should be free of buttons or other possible choking hazards.
- Blankets are due at the last session (May 21) but can be dropped off any time.
- If you don’t have time to work on a whole blanket, you can come to work on a worsted weight crochet granny square or a knitted mitered square. You can use any washable yarn scraps in worsted weight. Please meet the overall size for the patterns. The knitted mitered square is “Mitered Squares” by Very Pink. The crochet granny square pattern is “Circle in a Square Block” by GourmetCrochet.com by Carolyn Christmas. These patterns are free on Ravelry.
For patterns you can:
- Google Project Linus patterns. (Or use this URL: http://www.projectlinus.org/patterns/)
- Go to Ravelry.com, search for “Bazaar Girls” under People. Go to the Favorites (heart icon), and look for the 2017 Project Linus Baby Blanket bundle of patterns. (Or use this URL http://www.ravelry.com/bundles/2017-project-linus-baby-blanket-2)
More detailed notes from the Project Linus website on guidelines for the project are below:
Project Linus donates blankets to children, infants through teens. Many sizes are appropriate depending on chapter need. For example, blankets could be as small as 36″ × 36.” The majority of Project Linus blankets are about 40″ × 60″, or what is called “crib size.” Blankets could be as large as twin size for teens.
Our chapter coordinators accept NEW, HANDMADE, WASHABLE, blankets and afghans for giving to children ages 0-18 years. Project Linus blankets are not donated to adults. As a national policy we accept all sizes and styles, although some chapters may have more narrow requirements based on the needs of the facilities to which they donate. Project Linus has a non-smoking policy for chapter coordinators. Coordinators must be non-smokers and live and store blankets in a smoke free environment. Project Linus blankets must be of excellent quality and free from contaminants. Special care should be taken to ensure that blankets are free of smoky smells or any chemicals which could cause problems for a child. Ensure that blankets are free of pet or animal hair. Hospitals will not accept these blankets, and they will most likely be discarded. Recent studies show that laundering these blankets does not remove contamination, and in some cases can even make it worse. Always check blankets carefully for pins, and remove any embellishments such as buttons that could be swallowed.
Project Linus chapter coordinators are instructed to reject blankets that are not of excellent quality. In addition they must be free from contaminants. Special care should be taken to insure all blankets are free of smoky smells or any chemicals which could cause problems for a child. Hospitals will not accept these blankets, and they will most likely be discarded. Recent studies show laundering such blankets does not remove contamination, and in some cases can even make it worse. Again, if unusually strong smells due to chemicals used in detergents, fabric softeners and dryer sheets, mold and mildew or smoking products are apparent, most hospitals will discard the blanket rather than jeopardize the health of a patient. Always check blankets carefully for pins, and remove any embellishments such as buttons that could be swallowed. Thank you for helping to make sure that Project Linus blankets are safe and healthy, and will bring only comfort and security to a child in need!