Guidelines for Fabric & Yarn

TO WASH OR NOT TO WASH
Please **wash the items before sending. Use a mild detergent made for baby clothes.

In the second rinse, use about 1 cup of white vinegar. DO NOT use fabric softener in the washer or dryer. It can cause skin irritation.

The white vinegar helps remove unwanted odors, and any detergent residue. It also acts as a softener and helps to remove static.

Any doubts about odors, have someone not living in your home give the items a "sniff test".

Fabric should be washed before cutting. Washing shrinks fabrics such as flannel and other 100% cotton at least 2%, and also removes the sizing, which can be a skin irritant.

Allow for shrinkage when buying your yardage.


** If the items need to be washed and you are unable to do it, just put in a note when you send them to Ginden.
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YARNS TO USE

* 4-ply yarns such as Red Heart Super Saver are ok to use for:

- Blankets for all the units, provided the items are washed in order to soften them.

- Clothing for the Mother/Baby unit provided the items are washed in order to soften them.

- Burial wraps and buntings, if they are lined with a soft fabric, such as pre-washed flannel.

- Full term loss items that are lined or washed to soften.

It is NOT suitable for next-to-the-skin items for the NICU, (hats, booties, etc.).

* 4-ply Caron Simply Soft:

Can be used for any item in any unit

* 3-ply yarns such as Red Heart Soft Baby, Bernat Softee Baby, Lion Baby Soft, Peter Pan DK,
Sirdar DK weight, etc.

Can be used for any item in any unit
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FABRIC

Use 100% cotton for ease in laundering. Burial clothing may be made with finer fabric.

Fleece may be used for blankets and going home clothing such as pants, jackets, tops, buntings. Not for hats in the NICU as they do not have enough stretch to them.

*Keep in mind that the ONLY items that we send that are used in the hospital are blankets, hats, booties, gowns, and shirts. They do not dress the babies until they are ready to go home. The exception is on a holiday when the babies may be dressed for a short time for visits by parents.