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General Guidelines
Please
check, double check, and triple check your blanket carefully for straight pins.
It's better you find that pin
and not the child who receives your blanket.
Don't attach buttons
or similar decorative items to a blanket.
They can be a choking hazard to
children.
Larger items (small books, small stuffed toys, etc.,) are ok.
Make blankets from
new, clean, washable materials
in infant, child or teen friendly
colors.
Remember, these blankets should be
colorful, cheerful, and cuddly.
Crochet, knit, quilt
or tie your blankets, or finish the edges of polar fleece.
Project Linus
chapter coordinators are instructed by
Project Linus National Office to NOT accept blankets that
are not of excellent quality and blankets must be free from contaminants.
Special care should be taken to insure that blankets are free
of smoky smells or any chemicals which could cause problems for a child.
Hospitals will not accept these blankets, and they will most likely be
discarded.
Recent studies
show that laundering these blankets does not remove
contamination, and in some cases can even make it worse.
Again, if unusually strong smells due to chemicals used in detergents, fabric
softeners
and dryer sheets, mold and mildew or smoking products are apparent,
most hospitals will discard the blanket rather than jeopardize the health of a
patient.
Thank you for helping to make sure that Project Linus
blankets are safe and healthy,
and will bring only comfort and security to a
child in need.
A note
regarding fleece blankets: We have received several fringed fleece
blankets
recently with the knots in the fleece tied so tightly that the blanket
would not lay flat - the blankets look more like a bowl or basket than a blanket.
We have had to take the time to cut off all the fringe which reduces the size
of
the blanket and wastes a lot of fabric.
If you
do knot the fringe - PLEASE DO NOT TIE THE KNOTS TOO TIGHTLY.
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Quilts
Please make quilts
from cotton or flannel.
Quilts need to be
washable and durable since they will be laundered many, many times.
Low loft batting is
preferred.
Secure the batting
into outer seams and tie or quilt it every 4". Batting will disintegrate if
quilted
too far apart.
Cut yarn and crochet
thread ties no longer than
1" -1½" in length.
It is
perfectly acceptable to use fleece for the backing for a quilt - you don't need
batting if you do use fleece. |
Afghans
Use small knitting
needles and crochet hooks and soft yarn to make preemie/baby afghans. Little fingers and
toes, and medical instruments, can get caught in big stitches.
If you
prefer using larger size crochet hooks or knitting needles, please consider
making bigger afghans in larger child and teen sizes.
Weave in all yarn
ends on crocheted and knitted afghans, do not just tie and cut them off.
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Fleece Blankets
Click
on How to Finish a Fleece Blanket
for different methods to finish fleece blankets.
You don't have to knot the fringe -
a neat plain fringe looks very nice without knotting. We prefer that the fringe
not be knotted. Knots are very uncomfortable for children to lay on.
Do
not cut the fringe any longer than 2" - 3". Longer fringe tangles in
medical instruments and tubes.
The longer you cut the fringe, the
less blanket there is for snuggling.
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Please Don't
Don't make blankets out of
tapestry, upholstery fabric, burlap, felt, vinyl, wool, wool yarn, or any other
scratchy fabrics or laces. Also, please do not donate these materials, we
cannot use them.
Don't attach buttons
or similar decorative items to a blanket. They can be a choking hazard to
children.
Don't use paint to
decorate a blanket. The thick stuff peels off - we don't want a child
eating it.
Other kinds of paint rub off.
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