Any other popular ring-dyed fabrics besides denim?
Thank You for the great thread, Diana!
Website:
ITCHIN4STITCHN - Preemie Crochet Bonding Squares· FREE CROCHET PATTERN
Excerpt from link:
Bonding squares are simple crochet or knit squares, typically about 5″x 5″ / 12.5cm x 12.5cm, but I have seen them a bit smaller at 4″ x 4″ or 3.5″ x 3.5″.
The squares are made in matching pairs, one square is placed with the preemie baby, who is, upon birth, often immediately taken to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the hospital. The second square remains with the baby’s parent(s).
The squares are worn or placed close to the skin and each day they are swapped so that the baby receives the parent(s) scent and the parent(s) receive the baby’s scent.
Believe it or not, scent is one of the most developed senses in premature infants, so bonding squares are intended to help NICU families to bond with their babies through smell.
Because these squares are placed on or near the skin of the most delicate of little beings, bonding squares need to be created using “baby soft” hypoallergenic yarn (i.e. 100% cotton or 100% acrylic – if possible).
What the heck is a "Qiviut"?
Qiviut = The soft wool lying beneath the long coat of the muskox, valued for its use as a fiber.
Qiviut is truly an amazing fiber. The delicate underwool of the muskox is like no other and the highest quality fiber in the world. It is cherished because of its rarity, softness and exceptional warmth. Qiviut is stronger and warmer than sheeps wool and softer than cashmere wool. Its an insulating fiber and is comfortable to wear in any weather.
Pure qiviut is unshrinkable, non-felting and non-abrasive. The more you handle and wash qiviut, the softer it feels.
Today, I finished the 3rd lace baby blanket using yarn I already had - Simply Soft in light peach. This was the 4th time I’d tried to make something with this particular yarn/color! It turned out well ... the big issue with knitting is cast on/bind off (IMO). I found a “stretchy” cast on so my beginning edge wouldn’t be constricted. The pattern called for a regular “knit” bind off (last couple of border rows were just garter stitch). Well, that is an unforgiving bind off - no stretch. I found a stretchy bind off a while back that I use for my fingerless mitten cuffs. The only issue is that it tends to “flare” which is not a look I wanted for one of the blanket edges. I did a test swatch & used the stretchy bindoff with the next size down needles to see if it would minimize the flare ... worked great! The blanket is now off my needles.
Unfortunately, I gave away another pair of mittens the other day - pair #4. They are all in shades of rose pink or pink with a beige fleck. All have gone to women recently diagnosed with breast cancer to help keep their hands warm during chemo treatments. Three are friends of my niece, 2 in her Bible class ... both early 30’s with little kids. The 3rd one is a former co-worker, a little older, maybe 40’s. The 4th went to a friend of my mom’s at church. There seems to be an “epidemic” going on with my niece’s acquaintances.
Since I have given away all my pink mittens (my niece specifically requested something in the pink family of colors), I am going to make up a couple more to have on hand - praying I don’t need to give them away.
So I decided to see if I could figure out how to do 2 at the same time, using magic loop (which I use on single mittens). I found a great video ... the secret is in the cast on. I got it all figured out & I'm knitting away ... 2 mitts at the same time! Boy, will this make mittens 'easier'! :-)
KnitFreedom | Cast-Ons | Two-at-a-Time - Liat's Limitless Cast-On for Two-at-a-Time ANYthing