It's been nearly a year since I started working on Angel Baby outfits. If you want to know why I do this, you can read that HERE. I started writing patterns to help anyone else who wanted to do this too. By now those posts are all over the blog so I thought I'd try to get them all in a place all together. I have gotten most of my information from THIS blog. Heidi Vawdrey is the one who keeps the blog up. She has a room full of Angel Baby things. Let me know if you need her contact information. I send all the outfits I make to her and she distributes them.
Full set - kimono, diaper, hat, blanket
These outfits are donated to families who have lost a baby prematurely. The outfits I make generally fit a baby born between 20 and 30 weeks. We crochet they tiniest outfits made for these sweet little babies. Bigger outfits are sewn but there is only so small that the machines can sew things. That's where these outfits are needed. These outfits can be crocheted bigger, but it takes a LOT more time and the main need we fill is for the tinier outfits.
Here is a picture of a sweet angel wearing one of these crocheted outfits:
Photo used with permission from Mom and the photographer - please do not share without permission
I am hoping to get a few more pictures like these to post. I know these are personal pictures, but if you feel you could share your pictures let me know. I would be grateful to have some pictures to show why I do this. If you would like to share your story let me know. I can add links on this page for angel stories.
Yarn: I use the Caron Simply Soft yarn for these outfits. It is a thinner yarn but really soft. Walmart usually has a decent price on this type of yarn. They will also price match any ad so you can get an even better deal if you're watching. Places like Joann's and Michaels also carry this yarn. They're usually more expensive but they do have sales. You can make these outfits out of almost any yarn - I just prefer how soft these are. If you use a thicker yarn your outfit will turn out bigger. If you use a thinner yarn they will turn out smaller. Outfits of all sizes are needed.
Kimono Outfit
Colors: We do a lot of white and cream outfits. These are gender neutral which work really well for any baby. Light blue and light pink are also colors we use a lot. Many angel babies are born with bruised or discolored skin. Certain colors really don't good next to that sweet baby skin. Some Heidi has warned me to stay away from are fuchsia, turquoise, bright yellow, orange, green, royal blue, and in general, really bright colors. Another thing she warns against using is variegated yarn - or yarn with more than one color. In these tiny outfits it generally turns out looking blotchy and just doesn't work well when photographing these tiny angels. If you do want to use variegated yarn, use it as more of an accent rather than the main yarn. Or just stick mostly to the basics of white, cream, blue, and pink. Simple, muted, solid colors work best.
Kimono Sets - kimono and diaper - small, medium, and large patterns shown above
Hats: Hats should be stretchy - very stretchy. The pattern I have on here has good stretch to it. Head are about these sizes: A small plum, an apple, a navel orange, a grapefruit, and a normal newborn size. Hats are always needed in every size. I try to make a hat or headband to match every outfit. But you could just send hats and headbands. They are very needed and basic colored hats can go with any outfit. I make the hats a little longer than I think they will need to be. Then the brim can be rolled up if needed.
16 week(small) set - with ruffles on the sleeves and on the bottom of the kimono, bauble blanket
Blankets: Crochet blankets that match the outfits are great but not necessary. Blankets can be used any size between 12 inches X 12 inches and 24 inches by 24 inches. Blankets with tiny or no holes are best because tiny fingers and toes get caught in them. The easiest way I've found to test if a blanket will be the right size for the outfit is to fold the blanket in quarters, then lay the outfit over the blanket. The outfits should be about the same length as the blanket folded in quarters. It's not a perfect measurement, but it generally works. Note: long lacy gowns don't really work this exact same way - but if they have long sleeves the quarter should be about the same as the distance from the end of one sleeve to the other sleeve.
Outfit set - Kimono, diaper, hat/headband
The patterns I use most commonly are at the bottom of this page. I didn't come up with the original ideas behind any of these patterns. I got general ideas from websites and friends. These patterns are just how I changed them to fit what we needed for angel babies. My goal for 2013 is to make 10 outfits to donate every month - here is one month:
All the outfits with matching hats or bonnets and 2 diapers (Teeny Tears sends one for using and one for keeping) - some with blankets. Notice not all the colors are just the basics - but a majority are
I put each outfit into a separate ziploc baggie right after I make them. This keeps them from getting dusty if it's a while before I get them sent off or before they are used. It also helps to make sure no sticky fingers get a hold of them before I get them sent. It also helps to keep all the pieces together. And this time I added a tag (best if it's in the bag with the outfit) in honor of the angels who's lives started me working on this project. You can read their story HERE.
I now have a template made for these tags. If you want me to send that to you I can. If you want help making tags I can help with that too. 8 tags print on one page.
Diaper Pattern - all sizes
Teeny Tears small crochet diaper pattern - PDF File here
Teeny Tears crochet large diaper pattern
Large Kimono Pattern
Kimono Dress Pattern
Kimono Variations
Large Kimono Pattern w/ pictures
Medium & Small Kimono Pattern
Extra Large Kimono Pattern - goes with the TT Large diapers
Large Bunting Gown Pattern
Large Bonnet pattern
Medium (& small) bonnet pattern
Crochet Hat Pattern
Loom Knit Hats
No-Sew Hats - from Sew Much to Share
Bobble Blanket Pattern
Jacob's Ladder Blanket Pattern
Basket Weave Blanket Pattern
Hidden Color Blanket Pattern
Wavy Blanket Pattern
Headband Pattern - there isn't much need for these and sometimes they overwhelm the tiny baby heads - so we're working on phasing this pattern out.
Diaper Shirt Pattern - This is the pattern we started with. We are trying to phase out this pattern though since it fits only a limited number of babies. We are moving to making more of the kimono patterns.
Diaper Shirt Pattern with pictures - This is a pattern we started with. We are trying to phase out this pattern though since it fits only a limited number of babies. We are moving to making more of the kimono patterns.
Diaper Shirt with Dress & Ruffles pattern - This is a pattern we started with. We are trying to phase out this pattern though since it fits only a limited number of babies. We are moving to making more of the kimono patterns.
If you or someone you know is in need of a tiny outfit please feel free to let me know. The outfits I crochet fit a baby between 15 and 25 weeks. Heidi has lots of other outfits donated that fit babies that are bigger. Both of us are willing to ship so please let us know if there is a specific need. Right now neither of us are set up to donate to hospitals or large groups - we can only help on an individual basis. If you are looking to donate you can talk to the bereavement specialist at your local hospital. They can tell you what things they need/want. Some places are pretty specific about what they will accept. If your hospital won't/can't accept outfits you've made let me know. We can always use more outfits.
16 week size kimono with ruffles on the bottom, no-sew hat (smallest size), 2 small diapers, Jacob's Ladder blanket pattern- click HERE for more info on embellishing
Close up of a large kimono and bonnet - with crab stitch edge
For the Terms of Use for all our patterns - click HERE
UPDATE: Jan 2013 - There is now an Angel Baby Crafter Facebook page - a great place to share ideas and ask questions!!! This page will have links for all kinds of Angel baby crafts, not just crochet.
Outfits I have donated in 2013: Jan - 13, Feb - 13, March - 10
