Shaken Baby Syndrome Purple Hat

Knitted "Shaken Baby Syndrome Purple Hats"  

One of my virtual knit/crochet friends shared with several of us, knitters, a link (see below) about donating purple hats for Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS). Furthermore, I found an article that talks about the science behind SBS - click HERE if you'd like to read it. It's quite a fascinating read about what happens to a shaken baby, supplied with images.
The color of the hat is purple because it represents the abbreviation for "period of P.U.R.P.L.E. crying."
Click HERE for another article about SBS (on the Mayo Clinic web page) that talks about this issue - print it for new parents to read. Spread the word. Help them be educated even before their baby is born.
Watch THIS  EXCELLENT VIDEO to understand this crying period, which is explained by Dr. Ron Barr, a world expert on infant crying.
THIS VIDEO explains more about SBS and how to prevent it.


Articles, videos, and P.U.R.P.L.E. hats could help parents to prepare for this difficult time, especially new parents whose babies are more vulnerable. Some children never cry, some cry a little, some cry a lot. And parents of infants that cry a lot will have to train themselves to have a lot of patience.
The purple hat, if worn by a child, could remind parents to stay "calm" when frustrated, and find ways how to deal with the situation. If you know of any new parents, share the links above with them and knit a purple hat as a gift.

I decided to knit few hats for the cause mentioned above. See a couple of links below for places that need P.U.R.P.L.E. hats. I hear that hats should be preferably unisex, from relatively soft yarn (not to scratch babies' skin), hats must fit newborn babies, and they should be minimum 50% purple.

For visual knitters, I made a video of a simple hat (for my right-handed video click HERE and if you are a left-handed knitter click HERE) so if you prefer knitting along click on these links. I made three hats using three different yarns: a sports yarn (#3 - light weight) for babies, and two types of worsted yarn (#4 - medium weight). All same unisex style to be worn by a boy or a girl.

Places where hats are needed at this time (August 2017) as I write this post:

• Oklahoma (several drop-off towns)
• Providence, Oregon

Abbreviations:
CO - cast on
K - knit
P - purl
DPN - double pointed needles
K2tog - knit 2 stitches together
BO - bind off

Gauge:
My gauge corresponds to a manufacturer's gauge on any yarn label


PATTERN #1 FOR 

Both hats were knitted with same knitting needles

Hat #1 & Hat #2 

Purple Hat #1 from Snuggly Wuggly yarn (Sof Lilac color)

Hat #2 from Shawl in a Ball yarn (Mindful Mauve color - use purple part)

Materials (if you shop online via my affiliated links below, I would get few pennies, which would help to fund my future projects TXS):
Michaels online store, OR Hobby Lobby, OR Jo-Ann Fabrics, OR Walmart 

Yarn for Hat #1: about 1/4 ball of Loops & Threads, Snuggly Wuggly; color Soft Lilac; 100% acrylic; 5 oz/141 g; 446yrds/408 m

Yarn for Hat #2: the purple part of Lion Brand; Shawl in a Ball; color: Mindful Mauve; 58% cotton/39% acrylic; 3 % other fiber; 5.3 oz/150 g; 518 yd/473 m; Note: I made 2 hats from one purple part of the yarn; this yarn is surprisingly soft to the touch

Double Pointed Needles or circular needles - size #5 (3.75mm), and #6 (4mm)
Hook - size #D
Yarn Needle (for weaving in the tail)
Scissors

Size:
Circumference: 13"-14"
Height: 6" (without the antennae)


Step-by-Step:

CO 70 sts on #5 (3.75 mm) long (or circular) needles and knit ribbing

Row 1              *(K1, P1)* - repeat to end (35x); then distribute stitches evenly among 3 DPNs (24-24-22 sts on each needle), connect into circle (make sure stitches are not twisted)

Rnd 2-14         *(K1, P1)* - repeat 35x in each row

Note: Switch to #6 (4 mm) knitting needles and finish knitting the entire hat with this size

Rnd 15-28       K70

Decreasing for top:

Round 29          *[K8, K2tog]* - 7x

Round 30          K63

Round 31          *[K7, K2tog]* - 7x
Round 32           K56

Round 33          *[K6, K2tog]* - 7x; (total 49 sts)

Round 34          *[K5, K2tog]* - 7x; (total 42 sts)

Round 35          *[K4, K2tog]* - 7x; (total 35 sts)

Round 36          *[K3, K2tog]* - 7x; (total 28 sts)

Round 37          *[K2, K2tog]* - 7x; (total 21 sts)

Round 38          *[K1, K2tog]* - 7x; (total 14 sts)
Round 39          *[K5, K2tog]* - 2x; (total 12 sts)
Round 40          *[K4, K2tog]* - 2x; (total 10 sts)
Round 41          *[K3, K2tog]* - 2x; (total 8 sts)
Round 42          *[K2, K2tog]* - 2x; (total 6 sts)
Round 43-?       K6 in each row until your tube measures about 4 inches.

BO by pulling yarn through all stitches, weave in the ends. Tie the knot and give it to some one.

PATTERN #2 

Materials For Hat #3

Purple hat #3 - from Caron Cakes (Bumbleberry color)

Caron Cakes worsted yarn #4; Bumbleberry (purple variegated) color; 80% acrylic/20% wool; 7.1 oz/200g; 383 yd/350 m
Double Pointed Needles or circular needles - size #8 (5mm)
Hook - size #F
Yarn Needle (for weaving in the tail)
Scissors

Size:
Circumference: 13"-14"
Height: 5" (without the antennae)


Step-by-Step:

CO 60 sts on long (or circular) needles (5mm)

Row 1              *(K1, P1)* - repeat to end; then distribute stitches evenly among 3 DPNs (20-20-20 sts on each needle), connect into circle (make sure stitches are not twisted)

Rnd 2-12         *(K1, P1)* - repeat 30x in each row

Rnd 13-24       K60

Decreasing for top:

Round 25          *[K8, K2tog]* - 6x

Round 26          K54

Round 27          *[K7, K2tog]* - 6x

Round 28          *[K6, K2tog]* - 6x; (total 42 sts)

Round 29          *[K5, K2tog]* - 6x; (total 36 sts)

Round 30          *[K4, K2tog]* - 6x; (total 30 sts)

Round 31          *[K3, K2tog]* - 6x; (total 24 sts)

Round 32          *[K2, K2tog]* - 6x; (total 18 sts)

Round 33          *[K1, K2tog]* - 6x; (total 12 sts)
Round 34          K12
Round 35          K2tog - 6x; (total 6 sts)
Round 36-?       K6 in each row until your tube measures about 4 inches.

BO by pulling yarn through all stitches, weave in the ends. Tie the knot and give it to some one.

***

DID YOU FIND ERRORS? Let me know on what page of my blog, and in which row by clicking HERE, and I will fix it as soon as I get to it. You can PM me on my FB Page HERE as well. Txs!

Also if you haven't subscribed to my HandmadeRukodelky Channel, you can do it HERE. There are many videos to be seen, too.

*******************************************************************************

Copyright page - click HERE

PLEASE, COMMENT ON YOUTUBE BELOW MY VIDEOS, AND/OR SHARE YOUR IMAGES OF YOUR RECREATED WORKS ON MY FB PAGE HERE :-)

Note: Most of the time I work as fast as I can to keep up with knitting and crocheting requests. I have to videotape, edit videos, then convert them & upload them to my channel. After that often I post on my blog patterns. I answer many questions, which means that often I work up to 16 hours a day. I would tremendously appreciate IF anyone of you who finds an error in the written pattern, so please, let me know - where (what rows) and what may be the problem. Many future knitters & crocheters from our artsy and crafty virtual world will thank you for your good deed, including myself.