News

It's Purple Hat Time Again!

May 19, 2017

It's Purple Hat Time Again!

Each summer, from May to the end of September, we take part in the Click! for Babies purple hat campaign. The goal of this campaign is "to increase awareness and educate others about the Period of PURPLE Crying that all infants go through, how to respond to prolonged crying, and the importance of never shaking your child - all in an effort to prevent the shaking and abuse of infants."*

In Vancouver, purple hats are collected by BC Children's Hospital, who distributes the hat to parents in BC maternity hospitals and health units around the province. Caps can be knit or crocheted, and should be at least 50% purple. To ensure your hats will be usable in this program, please follow these guidelines:

  • Yarn should be new, clean, soft-to-the-touch, and machine washable. Some 'value' yarns are scratchy and are not selected by parents (meaning the hats won't get used). Please test the yarn on your cheek to ensure it is very soft.
  • The hats will be worn by 1 to 2 day old infants. Please make sure the hat is between 13" and 15" (33-38cm) around, and 4-6" (10.5-15cm) tall.
  • Colour: the hats need to be at least 50% purple. Please consider the need for 'boy-friendly' hats by using darker purples and/or combining it with grey, orange, blue, or green.
  • A handful of pattern suggestions are available on the CLICKforBabies.org website, and you can find many more on Ravelry.com.
  • Please do not attach decorations like pompoms, tassels, ties, ribbons, bows, buttons, etc.
  • If using a knitting loom, please make sure the stitches are not too loose or too tight. The hats need to keep the baby warm, and also fit comfortably.

Please bring your completed hats to Wet Coast Wools by Wednesday, September 27th so that we can deliver them to Children's Hospital on time.

For more information about the CLICK for Babies campaign please visit their website: www.ClickForBabies.org

(the above image is copyright of the Click for Babies campaign)

 

 *http://clickforbabies.org/about-click-for-babies-campaign.php