SAGA (Smocking Arts Guild of America) is hosting its Convention in Atlanta, GA, October 14-19; visit smocking.org to register for classes. If classes aren’t right for you this time but you are in the Atlanta area, please stop by the Westin Peachtree (the tall round building) downtown. The WEE CARE display is a sight to behold. Over one thousand bonnets, gowns and blankets will be showcased in the Hospitality Suite. Donated pieces will be distributed to Atlanta NICUs after Convention.
Six years ago I offered to provide 100 ready to smock preemie bonnet kits for a sit and smock in the Hospitality Suite the day before SAGA Convention. The only catch was the bonnets had to be turned back in before the end of Convention. Guests were encouraged to take the early flight to join the sit and smock. And they did. We distributed over 75 bonnet kits in the first hour! The Hospitality Suite was buzzing! New and experienced smockers joined the bonnet smock-in. By Banquet, the Hospitality Suite had a pyramid of 90 something smocked preemie bonnets, each in its own clear gift box.
WHY did I start the Wee Care Bonnet Project?
I heard the same story over and over from SAGA members on why they didn’t
participate in WeeCare. It was too sad; it was morbid. I was on a mission to
teach members that WeeCare is more than bereavement gowns. WeeCare is also a
celebration of life! These bonnets are given to parents as their little ones
graduate from the NICU to head home.
The WeeCare Bonnet project has grown by leaps and bound. Various Chapters and Groups pleat and kit bonnets as well as sew blankets and wraps for SAGA members to stitch while at Convention. THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart to each person who has DONATED floss, ribbon, lace or needles and everything else needed to help grow this event! THANK YOU to each VOLUNTEER who has pleated,
rolled & whipped lace, serged or crocheted edges. THANK YOU to our smockers
and embroiderers. You may never know the lives you have touched. Thank You for
thinking of each recipient before they knew they needed our love.
SweeTheart, a precious little design showing the sweetest wee hearts from the front or back view.*
Preemie size: 32-34 weeks gestation. This bonnet will fit a softball, for reference.
Materials:
Batiste rectangle, 5.75” X 31"
Lace edging, 1/4" X 31”
Embroidery floss
Smocking needle
Ribbon, double-faced satin, 24” each of 1⁄4” & 1/8”
Design covers 118 pleats.
Smock with two strands of stripped floss.
Pleat 9 Half Space Rows one full Row from the fabric edge.
Use white thread for thetop and bottom Holding Rows, color for the middle rows.
Colored Rows are referred to as whole rows numbered 1-7.
Leave gathering threads long enough to flatten pleating in order to apply lace
edging.
Roll and Whip a narrow (.25”) cotton lace edging to the long pleated edge.
Remove pleats from the left side, .75”.
Count 118 pleats.
Tie off gathering threads in threes to 6”-7”.
Trim right side down to .75”.
Smock in the following order: center two passes, back two passes, front two passes.
HINT: it will be easier to smock the front two passes up side down. Pull the
gathering threads to the opposite side then hold the lace edge in the palm of
your hand. This is a tight edge especially with the lace attached. Be patient
with these two passes.
~~Center motif:
Begin the top pass with an Over Cable at R3.5.
Half-step trellis down to R4.
Under Cable on R4.
Half-step trellis up to R3.5.
Completing the bottom of the diamond motif with the second pass:
Begin the bottom pass with an Under Cable on R4.5
Half-step trellis up to R4.
Over Cable on R4.
~~Back motif:
Begin the top pass with an Under Cable on R5.5.
Half-step trellis up to R5.
Over Cable on R.5.
Half-step trellis down to R5.5.
Continue this small wave across the entire Row. This will form the top of the WEE hearts
and alternating diamonds.
Begin the bottom pass with an Over Cable on R5.5.
Trellis 3 steps down to R7.
Under Cable on R7.
Trellis 3 steps up to R5.5.
Over Cable on R5.5.
Trellis 1 step down to R6.
Under Cable on R6.
Trellis 1 step up to R5.5.
Trellis 3 steps down to R7.
Under Cable on R7.
~~FRONT motif: NOTE: This is being worked up side down from the rest of the stitching!
Begin the top pass with an Under Cable on R2.5.
Half-step trellis up to R3.
Over Cable on R.3.
Half-step trellis down to R2.5.
Continue this small wave across the entire Row. This will form the top of the WEE hearts
and alternating diamonds.
Begin the bottom pass with an Over Cable on R2.5.
Trellis 3 steps down to R1.
Under Cable on R1.
Trellis 3 steps up to R2.5.
Over Cable on R2.5.
Trellis 1 step down to R2.
Under Cable on R2.
Trellis 1 step up to R2.5.
Trellis 3 steps down to R1.
Under Cable on R1.
Finishing the bonnet:
Finish the side edges by turning under 1⁄4” twice, stitch in place by hand or machine.
Finish the long back edge by turning under 1⁄4” twice, stitch in place by hand or machine.
Run 24” of 1/8” double-faced satin ribbon through the back hem casing.
Draw ribbon up and tie in a bow.
Stitch 24” of 1⁄4” double-faced satin ribbon to the bonnet sides below the baby diamond motif.
Loop this from one side to the other leaving ribbon uncut.
Stitching more repeats and adding a third strand of floss can expand this bonnet design.
Notice of Copyright: ©2008, Maggie Bunch. Materials contained herein are copyrighted
and may not be reproduced by any means without express written consent of the
author.
*NOTE: This design may be printed and stitched by SAGA Chapters to create Bonnets for Donation to WEE CARE.
Thanks, Karin, for asking!
