http://www.thepreemieproject.com/index.php/blog The Preemie Project Community Blog en andreaknepper@thepreemieproject.com Copyright 2008 2008-01-12T16:28:00-06:00 http://www.thepreemieproject.com/blog/comments/craft_a_thon/ http://www.thepreemieproject.com/blog/comments/craft_a_thon/#When:17:28:00Z More details about Craft-a-Thon 2008 have been posted on the TPP website! http://www.thepreemieproject.com/craftathon We are excited and humbled to announce that Betty Christiansen, author of Knitting for Peace, will be attending our event. We hope to see you on 2/8/2008. Please feel free to post any questions. Consider submitting a project to the Crafting for Preemies contest. The prizes will be announced soon and I assure you they are FABULOUS!  You DO NOT have to be present to win. Therefore you don’t even have to live in Iowa! We are hoping that this event will help spread the word about TPP.  Event flyers will be available soon. Please let know if you would like to help with this event! We can always use more volunteers! Events & Announcements, General Blogging, Volunteer Opportunities 2008-01-12T17:28:00-06:00 http://www.thepreemieproject.com/blog/comments/tpp_annual_holiday_craft_and_bake_sale1/ http://www.thepreemieproject.com/blog/comments/tpp_annual_holiday_craft_and_bake_sale1/#When:01:41:00Z Our largest fundraiser of the year, the second annual Holiday Craft and Bake Sale, is just weeks away!  Holiday Craft and Bake Sale Tuesday, November 27, 2007 University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (Iowa City, Iowa) 10am-4pm Volunteers Needed! Our largest fundraiser of the year, the second annual Holiday Craft and Bake Sale, is just weeks away!  Holiday Craft and Bake Sale Tuesday, November 27, 2007 University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (Iowa City, Iowa) 10am-4pm Volunteers Needed! 1. Crafters-Make and donate your handmade items 2. Bakers-Make and donate baked goods 3. Event Volunteer-Donate your time.  Help price and organize baked goods the day before of the sale.  Help organize craft items in the weeks before the sale.  Of course you can always help the day of.  We need workers from 6am to 5pm. We need your support to make this event successful!  Please contact if you are interested in any of the 3 volunteer positions listed above. Events & Announcements 2007-11-08T01:41:00-06:00 http://www.thepreemieproject.com/blog/comments/tpp_in_local_newspaper/ http://www.thepreemieproject.com/blog/comments/tpp_in_local_newspaper/#When:01:28:00Z The Preemie Project is thrilled to have been featured in a local newspaper, The Daily Iowan.  Click Here to read the article! Events & Announcements 2007-11-08T01:28:00-06:00 http://www.thepreemieproject.com/blog/comments/the_preemie_project_in_the_news/ http://www.thepreemieproject.com/blog/comments/the_preemie_project_in_the_news/#When:22:06:00Z For those of you who live in the Iowa City area, DITV (Daily Iowa TV)is doing a news segment on The Preemie Project. It will air tonight at 9:30pm. The DITV reporter was able to gain permission to enter the UIHC NICU, film some babies wearing TPP pumpkin hats and speak to two mothers! DITV posts the newscast online after they’ve aired.  Those who are out of the area may see the newscast on the Daily Iowan website.  Click the Daily Iowan Television box in the right-hand column to view. General Blogging 2007-10-31T22:06:00-06:00 http://www.thepreemieproject.com/blog/comments/the_preemie_project_and_march_of_dimes_special_collaboration/ http://www.thepreemieproject.com/blog/comments/the_preemie_project_and_march_of_dimes_special_collaboration/#When:17:57:00Z The Preemie Project and March of Dimes have joined forces to raise money for prematurity. The Preemie Project was invited to participate with March of Dimes in a special way at their annual Chefs Auction event on November 1.  The Preemie Project donated sets of hats, booties and blankets for the "Fund the Mission" segment of Chefs Auction. Fund the Mission is a special fundraiser for March of Dimes.  The spokesfamily speaks about the importance of the work of March of Dimes, then invites attendees to make a tax-free donation.  This year, The Preemie Project is helping with this project.  People who make a donation during Fund the Mission, will have their name included on a card with a special TPP donated set.  These sets will be specially wrapped for the event and donated in their fancy packaging.  So, along with The Preemie Project’s donation tag will be a March of Dimes card saying who the set is being donated in honor of. Special thanks to Marcia Williams, Nancy Miller, Sandra Auld, Susan P. and Chris Miller who made the sets that will be used for this special project. In addition to The Preemie Project’s involvement in the Fund the Mission portion of Chefs Auction, a basket of handmade items was put together for the silent auction. Special thanks to Tracy Batchelder, Judy Carpenter, Debbie Cowherd, Michele Hogue, Nancy Miller and Libby Wilson for making these special items. The Preemie Project has a reserved table at Chefs Auction.  Two tickets are still available at $100/each.  If you are interested in attending, contact for more information. General Blogging 2007-10-18T17:57:00-06:00 http://www.thepreemieproject.com/blog/comments/photo_gallery_launched/ http://www.thepreemieproject.com/blog/comments/photo_gallery_launched/#When:22:33:00Z Today, we are proud to launch The Preemie Project Photo Gallery!  You can view photos of our events, donations & much, much more! You can navigate to the photo gallery by clicking on “Photo Gallery” in the dropdown box under “Media,” find it on our site map, or find it through this link. Enjoy! General Blogging 2007-09-12T22:33:00-06:00 http://www.thepreemieproject.com/blog/comments/crochet_sleeper_sack/ http://www.thepreemieproject.com/blog/comments/crochet_sleeper_sack/#When:03:54:00Z I recently put out a plea on the Yahoo group for members to help create a crochet sleeper sack that buttons all the way down the front. Chris Miller went right to work on adapting a pattern to fit our needs. I was so excited to receive several of her creations today.  Sherrie Null and I worked today putting together bereavement packages.  I thought I would share with you all a picture of this sweet little pink bunting and the items that will be included with it in the package.  I was especially taken with how feminine the pattern in the skirt is.  The pattern is lacy but not so much so that it would be too see through.  I am hoping that Chris will be able to put her pattern down on paper for us.  Like many crafters, Chris creates as she is working on a project so putting it down on paper is not always an easy task.  There are several others working on this project.  I am anxious to see what they come up with.  General Blogging 2007-09-09T03:54:00-06:00 http://www.thepreemieproject.com/blog/comments/sleeper_sack_crochet_version/ http://www.thepreemieproject.com/blog/comments/sleeper_sack_crochet_version/#When:02:26:00Z Recently Linda put out a request for sleeper sack patterns written for crocheters.  I’m not much of a crocheter, but my knit sleeper sack pattern is pretty simple and so I attempted to convert it to crochet pattern.  This is a VERY rough draft, I’ve never written a crochet pattern before, and my technique is pretty basic.  I’m sure more experienced crocheters will have more elegant construction methods. If you try this pattern I would very much appreciate feedback to make the pattern easier to follow and to suggest any improvements in the design.  Here it is: CROCHET SLEEPER SACK Materials: Baby Yarn (I used Baby Bee Sweet Delight Baby) 4.25 mm hook (US size G) Size:  Chest is approx 8 to 8-1/2 inches around so should fit a 1-3 lb baby. (I’ll work on other sizes, but you should be able to adapt this pattern pretty readily on your own.) Abbreviations: dc= double crochet hdc= half double crochet sc= single crochet ch= chain sl= slip stitch st/sts= stitch/stitches inc= hdc twice in st pm= place marker (I use a short length of scrap yarn and just lay it between stitches, but you can use stitch markers or safety pins) Notes:  I envision these sleepers being used with the buttons in the back for ease in dressing the baby, but most people see the button side as the front, so the sleeper is designed to be reversible to allow the person dressing the baby to use whichever side is easiest. Gauge is not critical, whatever size it turns out to be will fit some baby.  Because these sleepers are intended to dress the tiniest, most fragile babies, please choose a gauge that results in a loose, supple fabric, but does not leave holes for the baby’s hands and feet to get caught on, or to be seen through.  Families prefer that the baby looks “warm” in the garment, so there should be no open holes.  This sleeper is crocheted using half double crochet throughout, but obviously other stitch patterns could be used, especially for the body of the gown—just make sure it’s not too lacy. Starting from neck, form bodice: Chain 27 Row 1:  hdc in second chain from hook and each remaining chain, placing markers after 5, 4, 7, and 4 sts (25 sts); ch 2, turn. Row 2:  hdc across, increasing in st before and after each marker (moving markers to current row as you go); ch 2, turn. Repeat Row 2 until garment measures about 2-1/4 to 2-1/2 inches from neck edge. Next row:  hdc to first marker, join with first stitch after second marker (skipping stitches in between markers), hdc to next marker, join with stitch after fourth marker (again skipping stitches in between markers), hdc to end; ch 2, turn.  (Skipped stitches form sleeve caps and will be picked up later to form sleeves). Body: Row 1:  Hdc across; ch 2, turn. Repeat row 1 until body measures about 10” from neck edge.  On last row ch 3 instead of 2, turn. Eyelet row:  *dc, ch 1 (skip hdc); repeat from * to end of row.  Fasten off. Sleeve: Row 1:  Hdc in each stitch around, picking up one or two sts under arm to avoid holes; sl into first stitch of round, ch 2, turn. Row 2:  Hdc in each stitch around; sl into first stitch of round, ch 2, turn. Repeat row 2 until sleeve measures approx 3-1/2 inches.  Fasten off. Repeat for second sleeve. Single crochet evenly around all edges (except sleeves), ending with buttonhole band edge (right front); ch 1, turn. sc back along buttonhole band edge, placing button holes at even intervals along band (ch 1, skip sc to make button hole).  Fasten off. Sew buttons on opposite front edge to match buttonhole placement.  Insert ribbon or crocheted tie in eyelet row at bottom. Patterns 2007-09-02T02:26:00-06:00 http://www.thepreemieproject.com/blog/comments/im_a_blogger_now_social_services_food_donation/ http://www.thepreemieproject.com/blog/comments/im_a_blogger_now_social_services_food_donation/#When:02:25:00Z This entry is proof that even old dogs can learn new tricks.  Web tzar#2, AKA my son Greg, walked me through how to post on this blog.  This is very exciting.  Not being a regular blogger, I have been craving a way to show fellow TPP volunteers some of what goes on around our house.  I was especially excited today.  Laura received word today from Social Services at UIHC NICU that they had used up most of the food that had been donated earlier this summer.  Because of the generous work of you volunteers, we had funds to be able to go shopping.  The Social Worker identifies mothers and other family members that are facing financial crisis.  One of the ways TPP has been able to help is by providing food packages for these mothers who are caring for their child in the NICU.  This is especially important for the nursing mothers.  So, here are pictures of what we were able to put together thanks to the funds raised at our last bake sale/craft.  We have come a long way in such a short time.  Thanks for all you do. General Blogging 2007-08-29T02:25:00-06:00 http://www.thepreemieproject.com/blog/comments/tpp_flickr_group_page/ http://www.thepreemieproject.com/blog/comments/tpp_flickr_group_page/#When:03:38:00Z Hello, I just wanted everyone to know that we have a TPP Flickr Group setup.  You can check it out here. Events & Announcements 2007-08-28T03:38:00-06:00