Questions & Answers about the Caps to Cap-Haitien Project

Can I send knitted Caps?
Yes, but....this is important! Due to the climate in Haiti, we can only accept hats knit with cotton yarn. (If you have a link to a simple newborn knitted cap, please let us know in the comments of this post.)

Can I send gently-used newborn Caps?
This is a very lovely idea, but I think for right now, the answer is "no, thank you." I'd like to keep the project focused on handmade, repurposed and 'newly-made'. (I have some grand ideas for a Phase II - so stay tuned - this might change!)

Can I send a newborn cap I've made using another pattern?
Yes, of course. We're looking for simple caps - the ones put on right at birth to keep the baby's head warm. It must fit a newborn size head.

Many of my t-shirts have some other fiber content besides cotton - is this okay?
Yes, sticking to a mostly-cotton jersey is best, but many t-shirts do have a bit of something else in them and that should be fine.

I'm having a hard time sewing with the t-shirts - the hats are too stretchy and wonky using a regular sewing machine. Do you have any tips?
I've given a few ideas in the PDF, but would welcome more tips on sewing with jersey on a conventional machine in the comments here if anyone has any to share. Also - you may want to try a different t-shirt - sometimes the very stretchy ones are just too stretchy for working on a conventional machine.

Can I send a hand sewn Cap?
Yes! I don't have any experience with hand sewing jersey so I don't have any helpful tips for you. But if you can hand sew a sturdy-enough stitched newborn cap, send it along!

I don't sew or knit, but I want to help. Is there a way I can donate to the project?
Konbit Sante has a secure server on which you can make a donation in any amount you choose. There's also a mailing address if you'd prefer that.  

How can I spread the word about Mama to Mama and the Caps to Cap-Hatien project?
You can write about it on your own blog, link to the MamatoMama.org website, and use this button as you wish (right click to download to your own computer for hosting, please!). You can also subscribe to the MamatoMama.org website to keep abreast of updates here as well.

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And lastly, on the topic of Haiti in general, please take a moment to read this post on Sew Liberated with some wonderful, informative resources and personal thoughts on the situation there. Thank you, Meg!

And thanks to all of you for your enthusiasm and support of this project! I will keep you posted with updates in this space.

Comments

[Qalballah]

The serger is out. Get ready for some hats!

[robyn]

hey there. i've got a great pattern for a handmade hat for Halloween (but if you substitute any yarn color, it can be for any season) up over at my website. it's under the patterns/tutorials page (http://craftandfound.com/?page_id=916) - i've made them using cotton yarn recently and they turn out super cute (although the pattern calls for acrylic).

[jenny]

Just found this project thanks to Meg. I was excited to see that knit caps are ok (I'm assuming that covers crochet too.) I can carry my hook anywhere, but my 3 little men don't give me much time for sewing.
off to tell others!

[van]

heres a good link for hand sewing stitches.
http://www.hutchal.clara.net/curtains/sewguide.htm
:)

[celine]

there is a French lady doing something similar for premature babies. She has a knitted pattern on the blog (i am happy to translate if necessary) http://premaille.canalblog.com/

[Miri]

thank you, amanda , i'll go find some shirts now that i know it's okay to sew by hand!
i am so glad to be a part of this project!

[lissilulu]

While folding laundry last night I started a pile of t-shirts of my youngest daughters that are stained on the front but the back is perfect.
here we go.....

Put a link in my blog yesterday too :o)
Lori

[megan]

This is such an incredible opportunity to help so many babies with such a basic item (and basic sewing skills, thank goodness!). Thanks for bringing the opportunity to us, Amanda!

I've posted a link to Mama to Mama on my Facebook page. Maybe someone more skilled in Facebook navigation can start a Facebook group? If not, I'll give it my best shot and get the word out there to everyone!

Thanks again!

[Theresa]

when I find myself needing to sew jersey *right now* and the serger is unavailable, I use a sheet of tissue paper on the top and bottom, so that it's the tissue paper hitting the machine instead of the fabric directly. Once the seam is sewn, the tissue paper rips right off, leaving a perfectly sewn seam that isn't all stretched out.

[Nichole]

Thanks Amanda for the helpful info.

[Annika]

I just knit up a super-easy newborn hat. I will write up a more complete pattern after I vote, but for now:

about 50 yards of light worsted yarn (Tahki Cotton Classic would be good)
needles to get you a gauge of 5 stitches per inch (approx. size 6)

Cast on 64 stitches (I like the cable cast on method) and join in the round. Work garter stitch: knit one round, purl one round for half an inch (four rounds total) or to the length you like. Work stockinette, knitting every round, until you have a tube that measures 3 inches from the cast on. Next round decrease 8 times: k6, k2tog, repeat to end. Knit one round plain. Decrease every other round until 24 stitches remain, then decrease every round until 8 stitches remain. k2tog four times: four stitches remain. Work i-cord for three inches. Next round k2tog twice. Last round k2tog, then pull yarn through to tie off. Weave in ends and tie i-cord in a knot.

[robyn]

hey all, i just created a facebook group for this!

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=33881579316

[Amy Eileen]

I think this is a wonderful idea and will be helping out.

I also blogged and linked your site at one of my local digi scrapping sites so I am hoping to help you get the word out. :)

[April M.]

Last night the kids and I gathered up our old t-shirts and made a bunch of caps that we're sending out to you. They loved that their old clothes are going to help mama's and their babies:)

[Sarah]

I am so excited about this new blog of yours - and thanks for the extra craftivism links on the right too! Can't wait to get started.

[Toni]

Just sent out a mass email trying to get T-shirts. I think this is a wonderful idea. Count me in!!!

Toni :)

[Pecos Blue]

Great Idea I will help spread the word!

[cartside]

Hi Amanda, a great initiative. I work for Save the Children and as you will know (you linked to the campaign) we asked people to knit hats for newborns in countries where there is little or no healthcare. There are countries where one in five children don't reach their 5th birthday. We had an enormous response - one small town parish knitted 1100 hats, and were keen to do more, but the campaign is over now (in the UK, which is where I live). There are so many people who would love to help in such a way, rather than lobby politicians and it's hard for large charities (which are into lobbying and big time fundraising) to meaningfully engage the creative talents these people have. I spent my last weeks wondering how to make use of this talent and I'm glad to see your site. Anyway, will blog about my experience around the knitting campaign tomorrow if I get the time in case you're interested.

[Michaela]

Amanda, I posted about it on my blog and link it to here and also to Meg's informations. In the post I added just a couple other ways to spread the word and find resources. I asked for suggestions from commenters, so I will let you know if there are any other ways.
Oh, and thanks Theresa for idea on sewing knits on regular machine.

[stef]

I think this is a wonderful idea, and the cap pattern is easy enough for many people to participate. I'm planning on making some hats too, but before that just one question/suggestion: I have often seen (and used actually) newborn clothes with exposed seams - I mean the serged seams are towards the exterior of the garment rather than towards the interior as usual. That is of course meant to save the newborn's delicate skin from any itching coming from contact with fabric ends/seams. The resulting look is somewaht "inside out" but I think the effect is worthwhile. Would it be a good idea to make the caps with exposed seams? I have no experience with sewing knitted fabrics yet and I don't have a serger, so I would love to hear some advice from more experienced sewers on this topic: are French seams used with knitted fabrics, as for instance would it work to sew French seams on the cap sides, leaving the seamed edges towards the exterior so that the inside of the hat is really smooth while the seams are still neatly finished? I would love to hear some feedback in the comments, thank you!

[stef]

I think this is a wonderful idea, and the cap pattern is easy enough for many people to participate. I'm planning on making some hats too, but before that just one question/suggestion: I have often seen (and used actually) newborn clothes with exposed seams - I mean the serged seams are towards the exterior of the garment rather than towards the interior as usual. That is of course meant to save the newborn's delicate skin from any itching coming from contact with fabric ends/seams. The resulting look is somewaht "inside out" but I think the effect is worthwhile. Would it be a good idea to make the caps with exposed seams? I have no experience with sewing knitted fabrics yet and I don't have a serger, so I would love to hear some advice from more experienced sewers on this topic: are French seams used with knitted fabrics, as for instance would it work to sew French seams on the cap sides, leaving the seamed edges towards the exterior so that the inside of the hat is really smooth while the seams are still neatly finished? I would love to hear some feedback in the comments, thank you!

[stef]

Oops, sorry about the double post!

[Brandie]

I added your link over at the giving back circle at the motherhood. http://www.themotherhood.com/circle.php?l=5575

One concern came up that I wanted to bring up to you and that was given the climate, are hats used by the moms to put on the babies?

Aside from that, great idea and tonight I made 9 hats!!

[Lucia]

Count me in, too! I just put a post on my blog and will be spreading the word today to friends and family members. One quick question, how will the caps get to Haiti? Should we also be collecting money for shipping?

[Jennie C.]

Check out the Alabama Stitch Book for help with handsewing with jersey knit - that's pretty much the whole point of the book!