The American Heart Association is looking for knitters around the country to make red hats for babies. One of our local hospitals, Upper Chesapeake Medical Center, Bel Air and several others are participating throughout Maryland. The red hats will be given to babies born in February as part of the association’s Little Hats, Big Hearts project. Details on donations and contact information of project coordinators in your area can be found on the Project’s Website, Little Hats, Big Hearts Project.
For those looking to donate to the Maryland area, this contact and mailing address for submissions has been confirmed: Ms. Fay L. Brooke, Program Coordinator, 217 E. Redwood St., Suite 1100, Baltimore, MD 21202
The Little Hats, Big Hearts project is meant to raise awareness of heart disease, which is the number-one killer of Americans, and congenital heart defects, which are the most common type of birth defects in the country. AHA cites that more than 40,000 babies a year are born with congenital heart disease.
February is designated as American Heart Month, and through the Little Hats, Big Hearts project, all babies born that month receive a locally knitted or crocheted red baby hat along with a kit that provides resources and educational material for families.
The American Heart Association accepts donated yarn and baby hats from Aug. 1 to Dec. 31.
This project was a perfect use for the remainder of my Jessie Wig red yarn!
Supplies used for this project:
- Red Heart Super Saver Jumbo Yarn, Cherry Red
- US Size 8 – Straight Knitting Needles
- Darning Needle or Crochet Hook for Stitching
- FREE PATTERN: Sea Trail Grandma’s – Easy Newborn Hat Knitting Pattern – Flat Knit Pattern
- FREE PATTERN: Hands Occupied – Newborn Hearts Hat Pattern
Links to additional FREE patterns can be found on Little Hats, Big Hearts Project. Admittedly, my attempt at Hands Occupied Newborn Hearts Hat did not go as well as I had hoped, but I’ve found my groove with Sea Trail Grandma’s Easy Newborn Hat (knit flat version). For the past week, I’ve been averaging one of these every two days during my nightly couch time.
Cheers! –L8Dtremaine @ST3AMpunks