the power of handmade - knitters & crocheters join forces to show support for the period of purple crying

August 4, 2010 Very Shannon

ok, all you knitters and crocheters, rally the troops, i've got a project for you! come join needles for a great cause and get your craft on by whipping up anywhere from 5 - 50 wee baby hats in purple, soft, baby-friendly yarn to help support "The Period of Purple Crying" and "Prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome BC". so get your needles & hooks out, your patterns ready, call your knitting group or go solo, and show off the power of handmade!

i've included links throughout this post of some super cute baby patterns for both knitters and crocheters to help get you inspired. for those of you just learning, some of these are great beginner projects and for the more experienced - have fun & show some personal flair. all of the patterns link back to www.ravelry.com (if you're not a member join it's fun) and they're free.

1. Pattern: cat eared baby hat 2. Pattern: berry baby hat

but before we get crafting i wanted to post a bit on what "the period of PURPLE crying" is. i was amazed at the difference in the reading material given to me as a new mom recently as compared to 3 years ago. there was a lot more on post-partum and on the period of purple crying. it was great to see and comforting to know there are a lot more resources and support for new moms on what i feel are very important topics for parents - both men and women.

here's some info on "the period of PURPLE crying":

" The Period of PURPLE Crying® is the phrase used to describe the point in a baby’s life when they cry more than any other time. This period of increased crying is often described as colic, but there have been many misunderstandings about what “colic” really is."

"The Period of PURPLE Crying is a new way to help parents understand this time in their baby’s life, which is a normal part of every infant’s development. It is confusing and concerning to be told your baby “has colic” because it sounds like it is an illness or a condition that is abnormal." ....( read more here)

Pattern: preemie hats for charity

"By knitting and sending PURPLE newborn baby caps to be given to babies across the province, you will make a difference by:

Raising awareness for this life-saving project - Period of PURPLE Crying - Prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome BC - that promotes crucial parenting skills, infant/parent bonding, and understanding of a typical early infancy stage that every baby goes through which is frequently misunderstood. Participating in a growing, province-wide grassroots effort to educate new parents about the normalcy of early infant crying and how to cope with the frustration that can accompany it.

Assist in promoting the Period of PURPLE Crying - Prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome BC so that parents (and all others) learn to understand normal increased early infant crying and that crying is a key trigger to shaking.

The Period of Purple Crying - Prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome BC is a part of the most comprehensive shaken baby syndrome prevention initiative in North America."

so let's get those adorable baby hats made with love! here's how you can help:

please knit and mail your PURPLE caps to BC Children's Hospital at:

C/O Claire Yambao
Provincial Program Coordinator, Prevent SBS BC
BC Children's Hospital
4480 Oak Street, K1-209
Vancouver, BC V6H 3V4
Canada

*PURPLE caps must be received no later than by November 5, 2010.

to learn more, visit http://www.PURPLEcrying.info, follow on twitter @PurpleCrying or join the facebook group.

Pattern: perfect fit baby hat

are you going to join in? what's your favorite baby hat to make for newborns? leave your pattern suggestion here.