Changes to Our Sewing Group

Changes

We've had a few changes in our little sewing group- the main one being that I (Carrie) have moved 230 miles away from Vernal, so the organization has changed a bit. A kind volunteer (Aja) has taken over the memory box program and has sent boxes to both of the Uintah Basin Hospitals (Vernal & Roosevelt)! These can be so helpful as parents are faced with leaving the hospital empty handed.

The sewing days have changed a bit, with the volunteers in the Basin deciding to make clothing for local needs only, and I'll be working on the needs of the other small hospitals in Utah. A new opportunity has come for me as well. I'll be meeting with parents in the hospital in Box Elder County (North West Utah). This will be different than sending clothing and memory boxes alone. In Uintah County, there is already a parents' group set up, so we only needed to supply them with clothing and things, but now I'll be meeting with parents in person, and will be able to make sure they get the items sent. I'm a bit nervous, hoping I don't say the wrong things, but I am also willing to do what is needed in my new area. It's a good thing that the name of our group says "Small Town Support," because we are still able to serve the small towns in Utah, no matter which part of the state we live in. We hope that hospitals and nurses will still be supported as they try to serve their patients, and we hope that parents will be given a measure of peace to know they are not alone in their grief.
Thanks for your support everyone!

Bracelets

Bracelets, just in case the other blog ends service-

Baby bracelets are threaded on stretchy cord.  .7mm diameter is a durable thickness.  You may either knot/glue the ends or crimp bead.  I have found that I personally prefer the crimp bead ends.  The smallest bracelets should be able to slide easily onto an adult woman's index finger without stretching.  The bigger bracelets should fit a newborn wrist, about 3" in length.

Total finished length on an adult bracelet should be between 7 1/2" to 8", with an average of 7 3/4".  [You can just use the stretchy cord for adult bracelets too, they are easier to fit all sizes]

 Moms bracelets: All of the supplies laid out:  Accuflex beading wire (.46 mm/.019 inch diameter), lobster claw clasp, split ring (to hook the clasp into), two crimp beads, 4 mm jump ring and charm, 8 mm crystals and 8 mm glass pearls.

Cut a 9" length of beading wire.  Thread one end through a crimp bead, then the split ring, then back through the crimp bead the opposite direction.  Slide the crimp bead down until there is just a small loop at the end, and smash flat with pliers.  Snip off the excess tail.  String half of the pearls, then a crystal.  Bend the jump ring open, slide the charm on, and bend it back shut.  String it on to the bracelet, then the other crystal and remaining beads followed by the other crimp bead and lobster claw.  Bend the end of the beading wire around to go back through the crimp bead in the opposite direction, tug on the wire to cinch it down until there is just a small loop for the clasp to wiggle around in, and smash the crimp bead flat with pliers.  Snip the excess end, and tuck any remaining tail into the first bead hole.  Ta da!  Done!
from http://angelbabiesinfo.blogspot.com/2013/01/bracelet-sets.html

New Gown Pattern!

I found this cute pattern from a group in Australia, then added length so you can tie the bottom for boys, add a tie for boys, or leave it as a dress and add lace for a girl. I love this pattern for boys! There are two layers of fabric on each side (like the diapers) for wet little bodies, snaps on the sleeves to make it easier to get around fragile skin on arms, and with a drawstring it's not so "dressy looking." Sewing the pattern is pretty time consuming, but I think the end results are worth it.  Feel free to try :D  https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6luM46oAMzneUlUbUtMcXR6UG8/view?usp=sharing

Original  with instructions, follow those then add a drawstring for boys http://www.tinysparkswa.org.au/blog/2015/3/24/sewing-volunteers-for-nicu-outfits

Before snaps attached  

 Girl's with some pretty yet simple additions. 

Itty Bitty Hospitals

     I called the nurse in Panguitch, UT, and they have maybe 1 loss per year, but they said they could use one of each size item we give.  We sent some white things and some blanket like buntings to them.  Kanab is also a small hospital, but with a few more losses.  We had mostly girl clothing, but I put in some white things that can work for either gender.

Panguitch

 Kanab

Buntings, large and small

 

Small Diaper Packages 

Large TT Diaper Packages,

     We haven't had a work day for awhile, so I was grateful to some ladies who were willing to take cut outs home to sew for us! We've got two new volunteers, who actually have ties to Panguitch which I thought it was a pretty good coincidence.  Thanks to Rachel, Ruth, Christine, and Cynthia for these.
     We're also starting to send larger size gowns and diapers!  I found a preemie pattern and I hope it will work, because I'm used to having information like the gestational ages, weight, etc.  There aren't any nationwide organizations that make this size (like Teeny Tears or Angel Outfitters) so it's a little new, but these preemie diapers should fit angels between 30 and 35 weeks.  We now send things (at least locally) for babies between 4 to 35 weeks!  Things can always improve little by little I think.
 

 Preemie size next to the Large Teeny Tears Diaper. 

Preemie (instead of micro preemie) Outfit

Clothing Packages- what's inside?

We like to send doubles of things, so that parents can have one to put on their baby, and one to take home as a keepsake.  So far we haven't sent two gowns because they take more time and are more difficult to sew. For patterns, see http://thesmalltownsewers.blogspot.com/p/patterns.html

Large Gown Packages (30-35 weeks gestation)
We haven't made many of this size, but we are going to start since not everyone has access to preemie clothes, especially in small towns. I have patterns for Med. gowns and just found a pattern for diapers (I hope they fit, it just says "Preemie" but doesn't tell me the information for ages and weight that I'm used to) receiving blankets should be the right size, so we'll probably just put in a gown and diapers, mom and baby bracelets, and maybe a stuffed animal.

Med Gown Packages (24-29 weeks gestation):
2 18x18" blankets, 2 large Teeny tears diapers, 2 large no-sew hats, mom & baby bracelets, 1 small gown, and 1 small bear (4").

boys

Small Gown Packages (18-23 weeks gestation):
2 12"x12" blankets, 2 small Teeny Tears diapers, 2 med. no-sew or crocheted hats, mom & baby bracelets, 1 mini gown and 1 tiny bear (2").


Large Bunting Packages (16-19 weeks gestation)
2 med. no-sew hats (3"), 1 large bunting, and 1 tiny bear (2").  We're working on getting a pin to put on the bunting that matches a bracelet for the mom.  Babies this small are usually too fragile for clothes or bracelets.

Small Bunting Packages (14-16 weeks gestation)
2 small no-sew hats (2"), 1 small bunting, and a tiny bear, we're also working on bracelets for the mom and matching pins/ribbons to attach to the bunting.

Early Loss Packages- (they go inside the miscarriage packets)
KEEPSAKE ONLY- a small no-sew hat (2") and a itty bitty felt diaper.  The diaper is waaay too thin for a baby, so these are only for parents to have in memory of their little one.

Specialty Clothing

We don't get a lot of these, but when we do they are wonderful! 

Wedding dress-now angel baby gowns

Crocheted or Knitted Outfits

 

 

OB Postcards, Cassidy's Heavenly Birthday, and Gowns Sent

We delivered some miscarriage packets to local OB offices today, after taking them our cool new Grief Post Cards- to give to parents when they first learn that their baby has (or will shortly pass) away. We hope these things will help parents at the very beginning of the loss journey.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1z1H8cLWa3qRsAARzln8aV25q387uPqZtYf6PP4_uuDE/edit

We had a sewing day for Cassidy's Heavenly Birthday, and it finally dawned on me that we can make white clothing! I always thought that it had to be frilly and formal to be white, but I really like these simple ones too. We're sending these items to Price, UT, a small town in Eastern UT.

We sent the last of our gowns tohttps://www.facebook.com/gabrielsmemoryboxes in Connecticut. We love memory box programs! They are so needed, and when we find a new one, we try to support them however we can.

Deliveries and a Workday

We've sent a couple of personalized miscarriage packets recently, sadly to moms who have experienced multiple early losses.  For times like this, we include extra memorial diapers and hats, for each little one, and Ivy made a special donation card with all of one mom's babies' names.  We hope that these small things will help in their healing process.

Roosevelt Hospital was out of large buntings last time I checked so I sent some over there along with one of the miscarriage packets.

        We also sent some full packages and bunting packages to Brigham City and Tremonton, by sending them to Box Elder Share Parents.  That group has people who meet with parents in the hospital and they will give them the clothing we have sent.  We haven't had a sewing day in a few months, so I used what we had on hand and made some outfits.  For this delivery, we had bracelets from Jeanette, blankets from a few different people, gowns from Alisa, and diapers/buntings from various sewing days in the past.  It's a lot of work to put things together!  Hopefully we'll have a sewing day soon, but I have to say that I love these patterns!  Aren't the owls cute?
        This is the thank you note we received from SHARE:  "I just received both your boxes, and it's like Christmas. These are so precious and I know will make precious memories for these families who have lost loved ones. Thank you so much for your time and dedication. I love the packets and bunting packets." From Kim with Box Elder County (Brigham City) Share Parents.

We did have a work day recently, and made lots of journals for our memory boxes!  These will go to local angel families.  

New Idea for Miscarriage Packets!

      Here is a new idea for our miscarriage packet keepsakes. Right now for keepsakes we put in a tiny Angel Outfitters hat http://teenytears.blogspot.com/2015/10/stockinette-hats.html and a small Teeny Tears Diaper http://teenytears.blogspot.com/2011/10/diapers.html. The diapers are too big for this size of hat (compare in the picture), so I've been looking for ideas for a smaller diaper that wouldn't be hard to to flip inside out. Here is a pattern/idea I came up with all by myself! It's the easiest thing ever, just cut the diaper out of felt and pin, no flipping or sewing needed grin emoticon
      I thought of adding two layers to make it thicker and stitching around it, but I think this works just fine, especially since it's just for a keepsake and won't be worn.

Pattern: Please note, the pattern I posted printed out too large- I'm working on getting a new one posted, so if you'd like to make these diapers, please let me know. 

Prayer Flags for Angel Babies

We have a new page for sharing angel baby prayer flags!  When I heard of the idea a few months after we lost Cassidy, I thought it was a lovely idea.  You make a flag to hang in the breeze, and your angel's name is carried throughout the world on the wind.  This year will be the fourth year that the prayer flag event will take place.  If you'd like to see people's flags and read their angel children(s)'s stories, or if you'd like to share you own, see this page: http://smallangelbabies.blogspot.com/p/prayer-flags-for-angel-babies.html
     Carly Marie Dudley has helped many hurting souls to heal through her artwork and projects for baby-loss parents.  One of her projects (my personal favorite) has been a yearly Prayer Flag event  http://carlymarieprojectheal.com/2014/06/august-19th-day-of-hope-the-prayer-flag-project.html, where families can make flags in memory of their little angels, then hang them so that the prayer of their child(ren)'s names can be "spoken" in the wind. This is a short movie of hanging a few of the hundreds of flags sent to her from around the world the first year.  Now you are invited to hang your own and share a picture on August 19, Day of Hope.

Deliveries Since January

We've had one sewing day since January, when my husband and I found out we are expecting our second rainbow baby.  Since then I haven't felt well enough to get together, but hopefully soon we'll be back to creating and chatting together as we sew for angel babies.  Here are some deliveries we've sent with items we've made.

From the fb page: March 20
I finally felt well enough to take some packages to the post office- we sent a big box of buntings and full packages (with blankets, diapers, hats, bracelets, a gown, and tiny teddy bear) to Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George, UT. Then some blankets and a few outfits to Chloe's Closet in Sandy, UT, some full term-size crocheted hats (from Enoch West Stake) to Pennsylvania, and some buntings and hats to Hot Springs National Park Medical Center in AR. This is the only picture I got, but you get the idea...

March 6, The Enoch UT West Stake, of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons), had a service day for angel babies! After donating things to their local Share group, they sent buntings, diapers, no-sew hats, and some crocheted hats to us! We are sending some buntings and hats from this to Dixie Regional Medical Center, in St. George Utah. And sending the crocheted hats to Pennsylvania. Thanks ladies!

Feb 23, We recently sent 30 sets, some of the 100(!) crocheted hats that we received from Sue Hayworth, to the Cache Valley Chapter of SHARE. They requested clothing for angels 22 weeks gestation or younger, so these were PERFECT! We also sent some diapers and hats to Preston Idaho since the SHARE chapter was running low. I forgot to take a picture of that one, but we sent 4 large and 4 small sets with hats.

Feb. 9, D (Delivery) Day today! We sent some diapers and hats to Mississippi, and some gown packages to Texas. Then when I got home from the post office, there was another package waiting for me! We received a BIG bag of crocheted hats that will fit angels around 20 weeks (perfect for Logan SHARE's needs), along with some blankets. Thank you Sue Hayworth, who lives in Texas. Sending and receiving things from the same state today. Nice.

Jan. 23, We received some blankets from Elsie Oaks!