Typical Items Made for Hospitals in Austin, Texas

Item #

Item Description

Material Requirements

1.        receiving blankets and sheets

single layer flannel; 24"-36" sq. for receiving blankets; cute, cotton prints finished to 30"x33" for sheets

yield: ~1/yd. of fabric

2.       quilts/afghans

cloth, knitted, crocheted (from 24"-45" sq.; 45"x60" for larger quilts)

 

3.       hospital shirts  (preemies)

diaper and hospital shirts, caps (cloth, crocheted, knitted), booties (flannel, polar fleece, crocheted, knitted, etc)

 

4.       bereavement layettes

pouches, drawstring gowns, bonnets, blankets (17"-24" square), booties, bonnets; use lace, white, no yellow; instructions for a bereavement layette

bereavement pouches:
10":

yield: ~10 pouches from 12/3 yds. of lace fabric (line eyelet fabric with light-weight cotton)
~44" ruffled lace (less than 1" W) for edging
11/3 yd. of 1/8" ribbon for ties
12":
yield: ~8 pouches from 2 yds. of lace fabric (line eyelet fabric with light-weight cotton)
11/3 yd. of 1/8" ribbon for ties
~52" ruffled lace (less than 1" W) for edging

bonnets:
yield: ~10 bonnets from .5 yd. of lace fabric (line eyelet fabric with light-weight cotton)
ruffled lace for edging
.5 yd. 1/4" ribbon for ties (cut 2 @ 8" each)

blankets:
yield:  2/yd. of lace fabric
17" sq. lace fabric (no need to line eyelet) edged with ruffled lace (2 yds.)

5.       bereavement envelopes

felt or flannel "envelopes" used to hold special items for parents

 

6.       memory boxes

gift box used to hold burial gowns, etc. for parents

 

7.       stuffed animals

 

 

8.       knit/crochet caps and matching booties

caps can be sized to fit babies’ heads, small (lemon-sized), medium (orange-sized), and large (grapefruit-sized); link for a good pattern: Joanne's Preemie Cap Pattern

 

9.       isolette covers

used to keep light and sound from penetrating isolettes

CHOA:                              SDMC
#1: 12/3 yds. ea. fabric     polar fleece (~60" W):
#2: 22/3 yds. ea. fabric    21/8 yds. non-directional print
                                        3 yds. directional  print
SMC:                                2 large buttons (~1.+" diameter) @ slit
#1: (same as #2 for          cotton (44"-45" W):
       CHOA) 1.5 yds.           31/4 – 33/8 yds. total
       polar fleece               15/8 yds. ea. of outer and inner fabrics
                                        batting ~69"x53"
#2: full-front cover          2 large buttons (~1.+" diameter) @ slit
       1 2/3 yds. polar         "tie" cover with crochet thread
       fleece                        alternative:
                                        for inner fabric, use pre-quilted fabric
#3: "giraffe" cover           from Wal-Mart and omit batting
       unknown yardage;      2 large buttons (~1.+" diameter) @ slit
       used scraps                "tie" cover with crochet thread

10.    bibs

simple, terry cloth w/appliqués and binding for ties

 

11.     cloth dolls; two types

(a) cloth dolls used to explain medical procedures to children (instructions for making doll; tips on cutting out 16 gowns from two yards of fabric; instructions for making closed-shoulder gown; instructions for making open-shoulder gown); (b) cloth doll used to comfort mother while child is transported in emergencies, or to absorb mother's scent to comfort baby in hospital, or to absorb baby's scent (in hospital) to stimulate milk production in mother (sometimes called Knotty Doll)

 

12.    preemie socks

preemie sizes; Wal-Mart best source; approx. # of beds in NICU

 

13.    snuggles

Positioning aide used for confining baby

x-small:
yield: ~5-6 per .5 yd of base fabric (base fabric measures 40" wide after washing)
yield: ~5-6 per 1 yd. of support fabric
batting, high loft for supports
knit cotton for ties
small:
yield: ~6/yd. of each fabric (base & support)

14.    positioning aides

"frogs" & rectangular bags used by physical therapists and medical staff as positioning aides

cloth frogs:
yield: 4/yd. of each fabric (outside flannel and inside ticking; Wal-Mart good source of ticking)
yield: 2/bag of Polypellets (Wal-Mart best source; $2.97/bag)

vinyl frogs:
use 8 gauge vinyl (JoAnn’s good source, $2.49/yd.)
yield: 7.5 frogs/yd. of 54" vinyl
2/bag of Polypellets (Wal-Mart best source; $2.97/bag)

vinyl frog covers:
use flannel (look for good sales)
yield: 4/yd.

long bean bag and flannel cover:

yield for bag: 1 per 1/3 yd. of cloth-backed, 16-gauge vinyl (JoAnn's Fabric good source); long bean bag cover: 2/yd of flannel

15.    crib covers

used to cover head of crib for light and noise reduction

~1 1/8 yds. fabric (preferably two-sided; dark on "inside")
~12/3 yds. of 3/16" ribbon (cut 2 @ 28" each)

16.    crib pads

Thin, cotton batting sandwiched between two flannel pieces (12"x18"), edged with lace

 

17.    gel pillow covers

flannel; used for square and round gel pillows (used by physical therapists and medical staff); instructions for rectangular gel pad cover

rectangular:
yield: 8/yd. of fabric (preferably flannel)

round:
yield: 8/yd. of fabric (preferably flannel)

18.    eye covers

strip of flannel (or silk?) to block light placed over baby’s face when working with baby outside of isolette

~ 4"x8" or 5"x10"; can use scraps; size is not REAL critical

19.    crocheted hearts/ crosses

white or purple

 

20.   G-bands

pad with straps for tying around waist; used to cover gastrointestinal tube "button"; toddler to juvenile flannel prints preferred (for boys and girls)

 

21.    Huggie Pillows

9"x12"; cotton or polar fleece fabric; stuffed with Polyfil to a weight of 6 oz.; given to children in stressful situations; instructions for making Huggie Pillows

perky prints/bright solids; Wal-Mart best source for bulk Polyfil (5# boxes for ~$8.50/box)
yield: 15-20 per 5 lb. box of Polyfil

22.   glider-chair pad covers

vinyl cover for pads on glider chair plus ottoman

2.5 yds. of 54" vinyl (10 gauge); Hobby Lobby best source ($2.09/yd.)

23.   bouncy seat covers (both vinyl and cloth), swing chair seat cover, and exersaucer seat cover

vinyl cover for seat pads as well as fabric seat covers

DCMC PICU Fisher Brand Rainforest Bouncer, model K2564

Boppy brand Comfort Travel Swing chair pad cover

CHOA’s bouncy seat cover (vinyl; for NICU & Unit 4):
1 yd. of 54" vinyl (10 gauge); Hobby Lobby best source ($2.09/yd.)

CHOA’s bouncy seat cover (fabric; Unit 4):
1.5 yds. pre-quilted fabric (can't remember source); Extra Loft batting (WalMart good source); .75" wide clips (Hancock Fabrics good source; 1" woven strapping (by-the-yard variety at JoAnn's); 1/2" twill tape

CHOA’s exersaucer seat cover:
1 yd. 10-gauge (or medium) vinyl

CHOA’s bouncy seat/swing chair seat cover (Purple/Blue Unit):
1.5 yds. 10 or 12-gauge vinyl

SDMC #1 (swing chair):
¾ yd. of 54" vinyl (10 gauge)

SDMC #2:
3/4 yd. of 54" vinyl (10 gauge)

24.   boppie cover (round and flat)

nursing pillow; also used as prop for preemies

1 yd. of 54" vinyl (10 gauge) for round boppie

2 yds. of 54" vinyl (10 gauge) for flat boppie

25.   adult hospital gown, embellished

nice item for hospice use

 

26.   knitted adult slippers

nice for nursing homes, hospice use

 

27.   cloth angel pins

 

 

28.   reflux wedge cover

foam block with incline; cover with vinyl

1 ¾ yd. of 54" vinyl (10 gauge)

29.   curtain ties
(SDMC only)

~3"x50"

use scraps; cut with straight of the grain running the length of the piece

30.   Bendy Bumper covers (vinyl and cloth; no photos available)

flat pieces of vinyl to cover foam; flannel cloth cover for foam

31.   privacy screens

for nursing mothers or private moments when a family suffers a loss

32.   backdrop curtains for CHOA's playroom (bingo broadcasts)

used to cover windows and cabinets while broadcasting bingo to rooms at CHOA

33.   heart-shaped pillow
(SDMC only)

used to comfort Mother while baby is transported in an emergency or absorb scent of Mother to comfort baby in hospital

use flannel scraps; stuff with polyfil

34.   lead heart
(SDMC only)

used to shield babies' genitals during X-ray procedure

from flannel, cut out two heart shapes slightly larger than lead heart; spray lead heart with spray adhesive, place heart-shaped flannel pieces on each side of lead heart, lining up the edges of the flannel pieces; encase in vinyl slightly larger than flannel; stitch vinyl edges together

35.   sheet sets
(SDMC only)

special sets consisting of a receiving blanket (30"x33"), 2 or more gel pad covers (rectangular), 2 or more vinyl frog covers, and a few eye covers (lined).

fabric of choice: flannel

36.   Popcorn machine cover (Children's Hospital only)

37.   baby support vinyl cover

when a child needs to be casted, this pad serves as a support for the child; the vinyl protects the pad from the plaster

38.   stuffed shapes (Children's PICU only)

used as small positioning aides for various purposes; for instance, if a child is using a ventilator, the shape is placed under the ventilator tube to support it above the child's body;

100% cotton; bright colors/prints; stuff with polyfil; follow the links below for various shape patterns; the patterns include a 1/4" seam
NOTE: Make a test print of the pattern prior to using the pattern. There are rulers on the patterns as guides. Make sure your printed copy of the pattern matches the size indicated on the pattern.
Circle
Heart
Square
Rectangle
Triangle
Parallelogram
Trapezoid

39.   luggage markers for children attending dialysis camp

bright-colored tassels make good markers so children can identify their luggage when attending camp

40.   cloth bone with pockets
(Wonders and Worries only)

used to encourage dialog with children whose family member is facing cancer treatment

41.   comfort caps

soft cap for cancer patients who have lost their hair

fabric: 100% cotton t-shirt knit

42.   heart monitor fanny pack

belted pouch carries heart monitor providing mobility for heart patients recovering from surgery

material used: kid-friendly flannel-backed vinyl

43.   camisole worn by breast cancer surgery patient

camisole designed to hold drain tubes/bulbs in pockets sewn to inside of camisole's front pieces; detailed instructions for assembly; easy assembly guide

material used depends on season
Patterns:
Small Camisole
Medium Camisole
Large Camisole
2X Large Camisole

44.   vinyl covers for equipment

covers up "scariness" of equipmemnt in a child's emergency room

vinyl backed with flannel (like that used for tablecloths)

45.   surgical hats

surgical hats, made from bright kid-friendly colors, ease the stress of a child facing surgery

bright, kid-friendly fabric, 100% cotton
Size Small Pattern
Size Medium Pattern
PRINT NOTE: You MUST print the pdf files without scaling. In other words, choose the "print actual size" option for whatever print device you use. A simple ruler will print with each pattern piece as a guide to see if your printouts are to scale.

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