Crocheters, knitters needed to knit purple caps for babies

This information emailed to me from Penquis Early Childhood, Youth and Family Services, 262 Harlow St. in Bangor, will be of interest to those who like to knit and crochet for a good cause:

Every year, thousands of infants are shaken and abused at the hands of a frustrated parent or caregiver. Frustration with a crying infant is the number one trigger for the shaking and abuse of infants. In an effort to educate parents and caregivers about normal infant crying and reduce frustration, the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome is partnering with knitters and crocheters throughout North America to make purple-colored baby caps.

The Period of PURPLE Crying initiative in Maine is coordinated by the Maine Children’s Trust and the Click for Babies campaign is coordinated locally by each of the 13 Child Abuse and Neglect Councils. To access a  list of the Child Abuse Councils in Maine go to mechildrenstrust.org.

Supporting new parents and keeping infants safe from harm can seem like too big a task for any one person to take on. The CLICK for Babies campaign offers a small but significant way for knitters and crocheters to do both those things.

CLICK for Babies: Period of PURPLE Crying Caps, invites knitters and crocheters across Maine to make purple colored baby caps which will be delivered to families in November and December with the Period of PURPLE Crying, a program that educates parents about normal infant crying, ways to cope with the crying and the dangers of reacting in frustration by shaking or abusing an infant. PURPLE is an acronym that describes the characteristics of a developmental stage of increased crying.

Now in its third year, CLICK for Babies: Period of PURPLE Crying Caps is organized in 13 States, four Canadian provinces and one U.S. military Installation with the intent of collecting tens of thousands of knitted or crocheted purple colored baby caps. Knitters and crocheters are being recruited by organizers to make the purple caps and to become ambassadors of the Period of PURPLE Crying program and educate parents, caregivers and others in the community about normal infant crying, ways to cope with crying and the dangers of reacting in frustration by shaking or abusing an infant.

“There is a common misconception in society that an infant who cries excessively must have something wrong with them,” said Ryan Steinbeigle, co-director of the national CLICK for Babies campaign. “However, all babies go through a period of increased crying in the first few months of life. Some infants cry more than others, but that doesn’t necessarily mean something is wrong.”

All of Maine’s birthing hospitals are now sharing this important program with parents. A variety of health care providers, home visitors, family resource centers and other supporters of parents also bring this important information to parents. The Maine Children’s Trust leads the effort by supporting the hospitals and agencies implementing the program and working to expand it.

Caps will be collected from now until the end of September and distributed to babies born during November and December.

Caps should be made of purple baby yarn with a soft texture, and they should not be exposed in any way to tobacco smoke.

Knitters and crocheters are invited to send finished caps to: the Wendy Pace, Penquis, 262 Harlow St., Bangor ME 04402.

For information about the CLICK for Babies campaign, including patterns for caps, guidelines and details about the campaign are available at CLICKforbabies.org.

For those who don’t have access to computers and who want to knit or crochet caps, send a business-sized, stamped, self-addressed envelope to: Ardeana Hamlin, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor, ME 04402, and I will send you a copy of one of the patterns posted at CLICKforbabies.org.

Wendy Pace also will make copies of patterns to send to those who don’t have access to computers. Call Wendy at 973-3674 or mail your request for a pattern, along with a stamped, self-addressed envelope to: Wendy Pace, Division Manager, Penquis Early Childhood, Youth and Family Services, 262 Harlow St., Bangor, ME 04401.

 

Snippets

 

The Moosehead Quilters will present the Summer In Moosehead quilt show 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 31, at Union Evangelical Church, located at the blinking light in Greenville. On display will be quilts representing new techniques as well as the old favorites of traditional design. Admission to Summer In Moosehead is by donation.

Vendors from area quilting shops will be on hand and the Moosehead Quilters will staff a craft and consignment table.

In a joint effort, members have made and assembled a Summer In Moosehead quilt that is being raffled. Raffle tickets will be available at the door the day of the show. Advance tickets may be purchased at the Crazy Moose Quilt Shop on Pritham Avenue where the quilt is displayed. The drawing for the raffle quilt will take place at 3 p.m.

 

The artisans of Mount Desert Island will show its work 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 31, on the Village Green in Bar Harbor. The free craft fair is sponsored by the Island Arts Association and will feature jewelry, pottery, photographs, woodcarvings, quilts and more. For information, go to islandartassociation.com or call the YWCA at 288-5008.