2014 NICU Charity Challenge

12 Hats.  12 Days.  Are you Ready?

Some babies need help when they are born. They may need extra care because they were born too early, and therefore still need time to be ready to enter the world.  These tiniest of babies are often fighters, despite weighing no more than a couple of bananas!  Even full-term babies may end up in the NICU, because they have troubles like breathing adequately, staying warm, or regulating their blood sugar.

Whatever the reason for the intervention, NICUs are a huge blessing to these little ones and their families. It’s also a very stressful time for everyone involved.  Most mothers envision a day of snuggles and get-to-know-you time on their baby’s birthday, not seeing their baby attached to tubes, wires, monitors, and behind the glass of an isolette.  It can be very lonely and very frightening.

Our annual challenge is to each make 12 hats for these sweet NICU patients.

During their NICU stays, my little ones each wore a little hat crocheted by a stranger.  I can’t begin to express how much those hats meant to me: that a stranger offered a little bit of comfort, knowing that they would likely not ever see the result of their gift, was such a blessing of love to me and my family.  Some of the hats were very simple and some were elaborate, what mattered most was that someone cared about our struggles.  Having now survived three NICU stays, I know that many moms are likewise comforted by this personal touch for their little one.  - Bonnie of Sunset Crochet

This annual NICU charity challenge goes along with the 12 days of Christmas. Your official challenge is to make 12 preemie hats in 12 days that you will donate to your nearest NICU.  

The challenge starts (November 20^th) and officially runs through January 6^th (the traditional end of the 12 days of Christmas).  This gives all participants a few extra days to finish up their 12 hats, since we all know the holidays can be crazy-busy.  It also allows those who wish to make more some extra time to finish many, many hats.  One of our participants last year made 144 hats (12 hats for each of the 12 days), commenting that preemie hats work up so quickly that she could do quite a few while watching a movie with her family.

Last year, we had well over 26,000 hats donated to NICUs all over the world. I hope that this year we will be able to increase that effort!

Fourteen incredible designers have each contributed patterns to this challenge that you'll get simply for joining the challenge.  These hats are adorable!!  When you join the challenge, you'll receive each of the patterns via email.  You are welcome to use all of the patterns, only one of the patterns, or any combination of repeats (or your own patterns) to make your 12 hats.  We ask that you share a photo of your finished hats with us before you drop them off to your local hospital/birthing center/NICU.  You can post the photos to Sunset Crochet's Facebook page or you can email them to her .  The photos will be posted on Facebook so that all participants can enjoy the results.  To receive the patterns and join the challenge, enter your email in the box below to subscribe to the challenge patterns newsletter.  You’ll receive a new pattern each day of the challenge, beginning the day you subscribe.

It's always a good idea to call your local NICU before you actually start stitching.  Some NICUs have strict requirements about what fibers they allow.  Others are happy with just about anything!  If you're unsure, crocheting with cotton is always a pretty safe bet!  It's usually best not to use buttons, flowers, or applique for a NICU hat, as they don't like to have the potential choking hazard for a baby.  The same is true with the braids on the bottom of ear-flaps.  It's better just not to have the risk with these little ones.  If you need a place to donate, Primary Children's Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Utah is always happy to receive the hats.  You can mail them to Primary Children's Hospital NICU / 100 N. Mario Capecchi Dr. / Salt Lake City, UT 84113

You'll find patterns from each of the following designers in the challenge

Sunset Crochet
KT and the Squid 
Cre8tion Crochet 
RAKJ Patterns
Little Monkeys Crochet
Danyel Pink Designs
My Sweet Potato 3
Blackstone Designs 
The Hooked Haberdasher 
Sincerely Pam
Crochet by Jennifer 
Charmed by Ewe
Susie J Crochet
Ashley Designs Corner
Knit in the Womb Designs
Hatch-ed with Love
Mamachee Crochet Makes Me Happy

Merry Christmas to all of you! Thank you for being part of this fantastic community!!

Sign up below to receive the challenge patterns.  Please list your name and email, and if you feel so inclined, the state or country in which you reside.  We'd love to see where all of these little hats are going!