charity knitting

Did you know, more than 6,500 babies are delivered at The Ottawa Hospital Campuses each year? When a baby is born at TOH, the team immediately covers their head with a knitted hat to replicate the cozy environment they left, and to prevent heat loss when they enter the world. These hats come in all different colours and patterns, and are extra special, as they are knitted by members of the community and donated to the hospital.

This autumn, Wabi Sabi is pleased to host a couple of events aimed at helping make some of these hats as part of a donation drive.  A staff member will be available to help you through any difficulties -- you'll need to know how to knit or crochet.

Attendance is free, but we do have limited space at the store so please register if you'd like to attend in person.  You are welcome to register for either date, or both!

If you'd prefer to work on a hat at home and would like a kit of the donated yarn for this project and a copy of the patterns, please select the "at home" option for the kit, and we'll let you know when it's ready for pickup.  You may need to reselect “At home’ on the registration screen.  If you'd like it mailed to you, you will need to pay the shipping.

Yarn for crafting at this event has been generously donated by our wonderful friends at Estelle Yarns!  Attendance for either (or both!) dates is free, but we do have limited space at the store, so please register if you would like to attend in person.  

required skills:

• you must be familiar and comfortable with the basics of knitting OR crochet.
• for knitters, this means you should be able to cast on, knit and purl without assistance.
• for crocheters, this means you should be able to chain, single crochet, and double crochet without assistance.

we can help you:

• understand more challenging techniques in any of the provided patterns (knitting in the round, increases or decreases, slipping stitches, etc.)
• learn how to read the patterns provided
• learn how to weave in ends, add finishing touches, etc. to the hats.

what's included:

• a yarn kit to make 1-3 newborn hats (provided FREE so long as the hats you are making will be donated to a hospital.  If you prefer to make the hat for your own baby or for someone you know, we ask that you purchase a ball of your own yarn (here) so that the donated yarn is used as intended.
• a choice of patterns (here).  Free crochet patterns will be recommended at the event, or you can find your own on ravelry that use DK or light worsted yarn.
• (in person) instruction and company while you craft!
• washing and delivery of finished hats to the Ottawa Hospital if dropped off at Wabi Sabi by October 31.

you'll need to bring or purchase:  

• 4mm knitting needles (a pair if you'd like to knit the hat flat, or your preferred needles for circular knitting if you'd like to do the hat in the round, or a crochet hook in a size recommended by your pattern.
• a darning needle for sewing in the ends
  

Hats that are finished at the event or dropped off at the Wabi Sabi by the end of October will be washed and delivered to the Ottawa Hospital.