Patterns

Project Linus Blankets

/ Project Linus UK

Handmade blankets are useful for coordinators to give to many organisations and make a lovely gift for babies, children and teenagers ‘in need of a hug’.

Check with your local coordinator whether they distribute blankets and, if so, for the sizes they find most useful. Don’t forget that we need as many made in colours suitable for boys as we do for girls! Many of the patterns can be adapted to use for any size of blanket. You may use our patterns – or make us one using your own favourite pattern. We love variety!

Pile of knitted blankets

Baby blankets
Use soft DK baby yarn in white or pastel colours. Please ensure there are no holes, hard ridges or anything to catch tiny fingers and that all ends are sewn in securely. Blankets made in one piece are ideally suited for giving to premature babies.

Children’s blankets
Children up to around 5 years of age get comfort from having a blanket to cuddle. These blankets can be made in lovely bright colours or even use the colours of your local football teams!

Teenager’s blankets
Large blankets are great for teenagers and again bright colours go down well.

Man made yarns are the most suitable as there is less risk of a child being allergic to these. Aran weight yarn can be used for a larger, thicker blanket. It is impossible to give an accurate quantity of yarn required as the yardage varies between brands. However, lots of the patterns look good made using remnants of yarn in a variety of colours. Charity shops often have yarn they cannot sell – the balls may have missing labels or be part used. They usually send it to the textile skip so it’s worth asking.

Simple weighted quilt

/ Project Linus UK

This is to comfort children with severe sleeping problem such as those caused by autism or various conditions where the sensory system is disturbed. A smaller version can also be used as a lap quilt for children who cannot sit still.

The use of a weighted quilt and the size and weight should be at the recommendation of a doctor or medical social worker. Three typical sizes are given but they can be adjusted to suit the needs of the child. A false back is sewn on to a quilt with the result being a cross between a quilt and duvet stitched to its cover. The weight is provided by sandbags stitched into pockets which are velcro’d to the back of the quilt and covered by the false back. These can be removed when the quilt is washed.

Materials
Economy mattress protector or similar ready quilted base. 2’ x 3’, 3’ x 4’6” or 4’6” x 6’. Good quality sheeting or lightweight curtain fabric – two pieces slightly larger than the finished size. Velcro type fastening – approx 3m, 6m or 10m. Old sheeting or offcuts. Kiln dried sand – 2kg, 4kg or 7kg approx.

Method
Sew strips of the smooth Velcro across the better side of the mattress protector, 3-6” in from the edge and about 9” apart. Lay the bottom piece of fabric face up and the top piece of fabric face down with the mattress protector Velcro side up on top. Line them up and pin. Stitch the layers together along the sides and top and part way in from the bottom corners, leaving enough open to turn right sides out once the seams have been trimmed. Once it is right side out, stitch again ½” in from the edge to hold the layers firmly in place. Sew Velcro across the open end, taking care to stitch both the mattress protector and the top fabric to one piece of Velcro and turn in the edges of the bottom fabric under the other piece. This is to close the quilt in use.

Cut strips of sheeting 9” deep and a little wider than the Velcro strips. Make a small hem along the long edges. Sew a strip of the rough Velcro 2” from one long edge. Fold with the Velcro inside and stitch the short ends. Turn right side out and sew across at intervals to make pockets roughly 4-6” wide. Cut sheeting, or offcuts, into rectangles 8” x 3.5”, fold widthways and stitch the two sides to make a bag. Turn right side out. Spoon in enough sand to nearly fill it. Turn the top over and hand stitch to close. Put a sandbag into each pocket and sew across the top of the pockets. Use the Velcro to attach the filled pockets to the inside of the quilt.

A video showing a similar method of making the quilts is available here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndwjSkVfV1g

Disappearing Nine Patch

/ Project Linus UK

Disappearing nine patch

This quilt looks intricate and impressive, but is actually very simple and quick to make. It’s perfect for beginners, and also a great pattern for anyone who wants to whip up a baby quilt quickly. The finished quilt measures 40″ by 40″ and requires 81 charm squares. (click the photo to view larger image)

This lovely quilt was made by Janice Ryan, and a free pattern is available on the Craftsy website.

Incubator covers

/ Project Linus UK

Incubator covers are designed to protect the baby from the bright hospital lights and to create a homely atmosphere. There are two different patterns below, based on the requirements of hospitals in different areas. Please check with your local Linus coordinator about which is best in your area before sewing.

Pattern One

This pattern is used for the Royal Worcester Neo-Natal Unit, and is kindly provided by local coordinator Lynne Adams.

Linus incubator cover

The incubator cover is essentially a roundcornered rectangle measuring approx 94 x 127cm (37 x 50in). A quarter-circle template with a radius of approx 38cm (15in) is ideal for rounding the corners.

The covers must be machine washable up to 60 degrees, so cotton fabrics are ideal. Any colour is fine, but please don’t use plain white fabric as a backing because it reflects the light which can be quite harsh. Polyester wadding can be used; quilting thread should be cotton or polyester. The quilting should not be too dense. As the corners are rounded, you will need to use bias binding.

If you are short of time, or don’t wish to bind your cover before quilting it, you can use the ‘bagging out’ or ‘pillowcase’ method to finish the quilt edges. If you wish to use the ‘bagging out’ or ‘pillowcase’ method instead of binding your quilt, the rectangles need to be cut 38 x 51in to provide a 1⁄2in seam allowance. With the cover top and back right sides together, place the wadding on top of wrong side of the cover top. Pin to secure and then stitch all round leaving a gap of approx 12in.

Remove the pins and turn the quilt through to the right side. Turn the raw edges of the gap under and slipstitch closed, or topstitch the gap closed approx 1⁄8in from the edge. Then quilt the cover.Linus incubator cover pattern

Pattern Two

This pattern is used in Birmingham and the West Midlands, and was kindly provided by local coordinator Joy Edgington.

Quilt Top: 60” x 44” child friendly cotton print fabric
Quilt wadding: 40” x 20”
Quilt back: 60” x 44” white/cream cotton fabric or sheeting

Incubator cover measurements

 

To Make
Assemble layers. The quilted area sits on top of the incubator, so the wadding goes in the centre with 10” either end of the long side and 12” either side on the width. You can quilt this top area as you like and also the sides, avoiding the slits.

Please note that there are slits required on either side of the cover for observation purposes. There are 4 slits each 10 “ long and 9” from the end of the wadding. The centre 22” of each side can thus be lifted up, allowing the nurse a clear view of the baby.