Rosie's Cozies is Ready for Action!

Alrighty, I was a busy bee today running around town and making phone calls!  I wanted to make sure that before we started this project that I had all of my bases covered!  First, I got myself a P.O. Box.  No, I do not think that my readers are crazy stalkers ready to hunt me down.  I do, however, feel that there are crazy stalkers out there that I would rather not have find my home address if they happen to stumble upon my blog.

Next, I called Helen DeVos Children's Hospital.  I told the lovely woman on the phone what we were working on and she was was more than ecstatic.  She said that the hospital can use hats from micro-preemie size all the way up through adult size.  I am providing the preemie hat pattern I used for Rosie's hats, but it clearly sounds like hospitals in general need all sizes, so if  you feel so moved please make some hats for all ages.

I have also had a lot of people ask if they could donate money for yarn and things.  I do not need money for yarn (just ask my husband), as I have an insane stash of yarn and these hats take so little.  However, my sister spoke with Rosie's mom, Megan, who said that donating to the hospital would be a great avenue for these funds as there are some families who stay at the hospital while their babies are in the NICU.  Money could help support this program for those families.  I am posting a DONATE link on the side of my blog for anyone interested in donating to Rosie's Cozies, and I can be sure the money makes it to Helen DeVos Children's Hospital.  Or, you can always send the check to them yourself as they can probably give you a receipt for tax purposes. 

For finished hats to be donated to Helen DeVos Children's Hospital as part of Rosie's Cozies, please mail them to me at:

Rosie's Cozies
6026 Kalamazoo Ave SE #119
Kentwood, MI 49508

Okay, so without further ado.....that major basic beanie hat pattern I used for little Miss Rosie, as well as the add-ons to jazz the hats up.  I have not tested any of these patterns since I wrote them up, so please let me know if something is written wrong.

These patterns are not to be rewritten and sold elsewhere.  Please feel free to use them for personal use, for donated items, and items you would like to sell.

Hook: H  (I also used an E hook for one of the hats and it still fit Rosie (1lb 7oz), so please feel free to use different hook sizes to vary the hat sizes)
Yarn:  I used worsted weight, as well as other weighted yarns.  It created different sizes, which I think is just fine for this project as babies are going to have varying head sizes.

Round 1:  Chain 2.   Make 10sc into first chain made.  Join with sl st to first sc.  (10sc)
Round 2:  Chain 2 (this is not considered the first dc).  2dc into same stitch and in each stitch around.  Join to first dc (20 dc)
Round 3:  Chain 2.  1dc in same stitch, 2dc in next stitch, (1dc in next stitch, 2dc in next stitch) around.  Join to first dc. (30dc).
Round 4:  Chain 2:  1dc in same stitch and each stitch around.  Join (30dc)
Rounds 5-7: Repeat Round 4. (if you plan on adding earflaps, skip Round 8)
Round 8: Option A: Chain 1.  Sc in same stitch and each stitch around.  Join. (30sc) 
                   Option B (scalloped edge):  Chain 1.  Sc in same stitch, chain 2, (sc in next stitch, chain 2)around.  Join. (30sc) (see hat below in white and blue to see this edge)

To add earflaps:
Row 1:  Sl st in next 5sc to left of joining seam.  Chain 2.  Dc in same stitch and in next 5 stitches. (5dc)
Row 2:  Chain 2. Turn.   Decrease dc over same stitch and next stitch, 1dc in next stitch, decrease dc over next 2 stitches (3dc)
Row 3:  Chain 2.  Turn.  Decrease dc over same stitch and next stitch.  1dc in last stitch. (2dc)
Row 4:  Chain 2.  Turn.  Decrease dc over same stitch and next stitch.  Finish off (1dc)

Next Earflap:
Sl st in 11sc to the left of first earflap made.  Chain 2.  Dc in same stitch and in next 5 stitches (5dc)
Repeat Rows 2-4.
Sc evenly around bottom of hat edge and earflaps.

FLOWERS:

Flower A:

Chain 4.  Join to make a circle.

Chain 10.  Slst into circle.  Continue this multiple times until you have a ball of petals.  Finish off.

Flower B:

Follow this link for the flower.

Flower C:

This can be found on Ravelry here.

Flower D:

I used a version of this I think.  You can find it here.

Monkey Ears:

Round 1: Chain 2.  6sc in first chain.  Do not join. Continue into next Round.

Round 2:  2sc in each sc (12sc)  Do not join.

Round 3: 1sc in each stitch around.  Finish.  Leave a long tail so you can sew it to the side of the hat.

To make inner ears I just did Round 1 and finished it off and then glued it to the outside ear.

Owl Hat:

Eyes (make 2):
Round 1:With Color A, Chain 2.  7sc in first chain.  Join. (7sc)
Round 2: With Color B, Chain 2.  2 dc in each stitch around.  Join. (14dc)
Round 3: Chain 1.  1 sc in each stitch around.  Join. Finish. (14sc)
I added eyebrows by making a short row of sc with a different color at the top of the eye.

Beak:
Row 1:  Chain 4.  Sc in second chain from hook and in each chain across (3sc)
Row 2:  Chain 1.  Turn.  Decrease sc across same stitch and next.  Sc in last stitch (2 sc)
Row 3.  Chain 1.  Turn.  Decrease sc  across same stitch an next.  Finish. (1sc)

Ears were tied to the top of the hat with 6 strands of yarn.

Let's be sure that we make boy hats, as well as girly hats.  You can make a basic beanie with some stripes to add a bit of pizazz, instead of the flower we add for the girly ones. 

I hope that I have posted enough to inspire and a pattern that is easy enough to follow!  I don't want to put a date for everything to be sent, as I would like this to be an on-going project, however there is a photographer that would love to take some pictures of the hats when we get them in.  I hope to be able to do this in the next month, so if you would like to see your hats in some pics, try to send them by August 15th.

I can't wait to see the hats that are created in honor of this little life gone too soon.