"Baby Basics is a volunteer-led project aiming to support
new mothers who are struggling to meet the financial
and practical burden of looking after a new baby."
This is how Baby Basics describe themselves on their website baby-basics.org.uk. On a practical level this means: "volunteers lovingly collect, sort and package a ‘Moses Basket’ of clothing, toiletries and essential baby equipment as an attractive gift to new mothers." As explained on the Bolton Branch’s webpage they are a referral only service, ‘working with midwives, health visitors and other professional groups to provide support directly where it is most needed’.
What drew me to this charity is my own experience of having children. I was surrounded by a support network of family and friends, both me and my partner were in full time employment and it was still a very difficult and challenging time. I can’t even begin to imagine how isolating and terrifying it must be to be bringing a baby into the world, unsure how you’re going to cope with even providing your baby with basic essentials. Babies are really, really expensive, we spent hundreds of pounds on clothes, equipment, nappies and so on before our first was even born. Although Baby Basics can’t hope to replace financial stability and a support network of family and friends what it does do is offer a little bit of practical help for the first few months: a safe sleeping place (moses basket), toiletries, nappies, bedding and clothes. What is most important, I feel, is the knowledge these families will have that somebody cares and wants to help them. Feeling alone and isolated can be crippling. Baby Basics is a discreet, gentle helping hand, a message saying that there are people who care.
Here are a few moses baskets that have already been sent out. They remind me of the baby boxes Finnish parents are given. As you can see a lot of love and care goes into each one.
The charity depends on donations and volunteers. Without donations of moses baskets, baby clothes and other essentials they cannot offer help. They gratefully accept donations of new and looked after second hand equipment and clothes, and they really appreciate handmade items too. A hand knitted cardigan or a crocheted hat is a gift that is very tangible gesture of love and care.
Crafters, generally, love sharing the things they make. It's also, believe it or not, helpful for your own mental health and well being to give to charity, here's one of the many articles that argue the case that giving makes you happier. When I learned about the work Baby Basics was doing I wanted to help. I'm sharing their story to hopefully encourage other crafters out there to support them too.
This is my newborn baby hat pattern, which I wrote specifically to make hats for Baby Basics. There are also plenty of free patterns out there if you fancy making a knitted hat, or maybe a blanket or cardigan to donate. This is a nice and simple pattern that won’t take too much time and is quite easy to customize with stripes, pompoms, teddy ears etc.
Find out if you have a Baby Basics nearby by clicking here.
Baby Basics Newborn Crochet
Hat Pattern
Row 1 : Magic circle, ch 2 dc 12 into magic circle*, sl st into first dc (12)
Row 2 : ch 2, 2dc in each st, sl st into first dc (24)
Row 3: ch 2, *1dc in next st, 2dc into next st* rep until round completed and sl st into first dc (36)
Row 4: ch 2, *1dc into next two st, 2dc into next st* repeat until round completed then sl st into first dc (48)
Row 5 to 14: ch 2 and dc around, sl st into first dc (48)
Fasten off and sew in ends.
Notes: the ch 2 on every round is not to be used as a dc, it just brings the yarn up to the right height and if it’s missed out you’ll find a gap in your crochet running down the line of all your slip stitches.
*If you’ve never used a magic circle before I urge you to google and youtube it, it makes a lovely neat start to the top of the hat. If you don’t fancy using one then ch 4, sl st to create a ring and then do your first row into the ring.
It goes without saying that one of these adorable hats also makes a very sweet gift for anyone you know who is welcoming a baby into this bonkers world. I really enjoy making them. I hope you do too.
