Tight-knit twosome deliver more beanies for babies at RBWH
Di and Pat pictured with some of the many beanies they delivered to RBWH maternity.
It’s been a decade of hand-knitting beanies for newborn babies at Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, and local legends Di and Pat still get a kick out of dropping off bundles of their creations.
The 87-year-old pals recently delivered hundreds of beanies to replenish maternity ward stocks.
It’s estimated that together they have knitted around 8,000 beanies for our littlest patients over the years – mixing up the colours and sizes to give parents a choice when picking a beanie for their newborn.
Pat first picked up a pair of knitting needles when her family member Helen suggested she get involved to keep herself busy.
“Helen worked here as a nurse, and one day she posted me a pattern and said I should make beanies for the babies,” Pat said.
“I photocopied the pattern and gave it to Di, and then we started giving it to our friends with a ball of wool and some needles, so they had no excuse not to start!
“We brought in about 500 beanies at Christmas time, but we always bring a lot when we come, and I’ve personally stitched them all up.”
Currently Pat and Di knit with three other friends in their spare time and can often be spotted knitting together at the Aspley Leagues Club.
The venue is the perfect spot to get crafty for sports-fan Di, who is known for her sporting team beanies which are said to be some of the most desired.
“I’m a big Brisbane Broncos and Brisbane Lions fan, but I knit all the team colours for the parents who barrack for other teams – I’m told the fathers love picking these ones,” Di said
“We all put our own spin on the beanies, but anyone interested in knitting can pick up the pattern and get started themselves.”
Pat and Di have shared the pattern below for keen knitters who are interested in making baby beanies.
Knitting pattern for a newborn beanie
Materials:
- 8 Ply acrylic yarn
- Number 10 and number 8 knitting needles
Steps:
*This pattern is knitted flat
Cast 72 stitches with number 10 needles
Knit rib stitch using 2 plain, 2 purl for 12 rows
Change to number 8 needles and work 14 rows in stocking stitch (knit one row, purl one row)
*K6, K2 together – repeat from * to end of row, purl one row
*K5, K2 together – repeat from * to end of row, purl one row
*K4, K2 together – repeat from * to end of row, purl one row
*K3, K2 together – repeat from * to end of row, purl one row
*K2, K2 together – repeat from * to end of row, purl one row
*K2 together, repeat from * to end of row
Break off wool leaving a tail to thread through remaining stitches. Sew up your seam.