Guidelines and Yarn List

Thank you for being part of our Knots of Love family of makers!

Our number one priority is the health and well-being of our recipients and volunteers.

Over the last 18 years we have learned a great deal about what people going through chemo need in a beanie, and babies in the NICU need in a tiny blanket. Additionally... we have learned and designed this protocol around what doctors, nurses, and families need from our handmade creations.

Thank you in advance for your commitment to love, quality, and safety in the beanie and tiny-blanket creation process:
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Knots of Love 2025 Maker Safety Protocol:
To protect the health and well-being of our hat and blanket recipients, we instituted an updated protocol, in addition our team in our office with the In-Office Protocol, for people making Knots of Love beanies and blankets:
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1. All makers are required to wash, dry (no dryer sheets or scents please), and bag their creations before sending them in. For bags, we recommend (however, not mandatory) placing all of your creations in an Eco-Friendly Biodegradable Poly Mailer available here from our awesome family-owned partner BubbleFast and be sure to use promo code: KnotsOfLove to receive a 15% discount and start earning cash-back rewards on the BubbleFast site. (Please don't place your creations in a recycled box or bag because the previous contents of the receptacle could transfer chemicas or odors of whatever might have been in the box or bag to your lovingly washed creations. Remember, a baby and someone going through chemo have extremely sensitive skin and reactions can occur depending on their condition.)
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2. Indicate on the submission form that you followed this protocol.
Complete yourKnots of Love Submission Form

3. Please double check the list of Maker Guideline Checklist (below) prior to sending your lovingly handmade chemo cap(s) and/or NICU blankets.
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People going through cancer treatment AND their families, doctors, and nurses appreciate you!!!
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Thank you, everyone, for your love, support, and understanding.
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Love & Blessings,
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Christine Fabiani,
Founder and Executive Director
Knots of Love
❤️ 
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✅ Must follow and certify that you have followed Maker Safety Protocol (listed above, on this page).
✅ Must be made with yarns from our guidelines/approved yarn list: Required + Approved Yarn List (PDF)
✅ Only hand-knit and hand-crocheted beanies and baby blankets.
✅ Thin, seamless, non-lumpy beanies are best for increased comfort and use at night when sleeping.
✅ Please no see-through caps. (Patients don’t like to see their bald heads through the caps.)
✅ Yarn must be fragrance-free, smoke-free, dander and pet hair-free.
✅ Be sure all your ends are tied in well and not showing.
✅ Wash, dry, and bag (bags not not mandatory - but be sure to use promo code Knotsoflove to purchase BubbleFast Bags at a discount) your creations before sending them to us. You can also use a CLEAN box. Please be sure the box is clean!
One bag or box is sufficient for all your gifts of love. (No need to bag each beanie individually)
✅ When drying please *do not* use dryer sheets as they contain chemicals that can cause a reaction to sensitive skin.
✅ We have enough preemie and infant hats -- hospitals tell us they have more than enough baby hats. If you want to help a baby please make a NICU blanket -- it will make a BIG difference for a baby and family in crisis.
✅ We no longer accept LOOMED hats.
✅ We only accept handmade hats with no mechanical creation, assistance or tooling used in the process.
✅ We do not accept fleece hats or blankets, tied or sewn.
✅ Please follow the sizing guidelines below.

Please use this chart to determine what size cap you would like to make.
The height noted is the total height of the hat including the brim.
Size            Circumference       Height
Small         18-20 in.                  6.5-7 in.
Medium      20-22 in.                 7-8 in.
Large         22-24.5 in.               8-10 in.
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The gauge for our patterns, using the yarns on our required yarn list is roughly 5 stitches per inch on a size 7 or 8 needle.
Some worsted weight yarns may give a gauge of 4 or 4 1/2 stitches per inch and be knit on a 8 or 9.

Knots of Love for Baby Neonatal Blankets:
No smaller than 30” x 24”
and
No larger than 34" x 28"
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Please only use yarns on our Required Yarn List for beanies when making your NICU blankets.

Please remember, these blankets are laid over  preemie babies that often weigh as little as 1lb. We want our blankets to become a family treasure after the baby leaves the NICU. Because after all, they are wrapping their precious newborn baby in your blanket.
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Over the last 18 years we have researched, tested, listened, learned, and maintained this list for the good of the beanie and blanket recipients.

Please make sure to use yarn from our tested and yarn list when making Knots of Love and NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) Blankets.  All of our yarns and the yarn on this list was tested by people undergoing cancer treatment and families of fragile tiny lives. All yarns have been deemed soft enough for the extremely sensitive and often blistered bald heads of cancer patients and Mom and Dad's who swaddle their newborns.

👉  Required & Approved Yarn List

Please Note: Though some of the yarns on the list have been discontinued, they can still be found on-line or in some retail stores and websites.
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See our helpful tips for knit and crochet makers. Great for all skill levels.

There are many patterns available for free here on our web site, but you can use any pattern of your choice. We look forward to seeing your creations!

Try Pirate Ship! It's a fantastic way to print shipping labels from the comfort of your home, using USPS, saving both time and money—no more trips to the post office needed.
We don't have any official association with Pirate Ship, we just use it and love it.
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Questions asked and answered:
Q: Does each item have to be bagged individually?
‍A: No, Each item does not need to be bagged individually. One bag after you
wash and dry your gifts of love is sufficient.
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Q: What do you mean we bag them?
‍A: After you wash and dry (make sure they are completely dry after they cool) your creations,
place them in a small trash bag, ziplock bag, or a simple plastic bag with a tie. (We recycle bags!)
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Q: Can the submission slips be enclosed with the newly washed and sealed items
or do they need to be taped to the outside of the bag(s)?
‍A: Please tape the submission forms on the outside of the bags.

‍Q: Do we need to use non-scented soap for washing our items?
‍A: It is recommended but not required to use non-scented soap.

‍Q: How do I send beanies and/or blankets?
‍A: Visit this page to send your creations.

‍Q: What if I don't knit or crochet?
‍A: You can buy an awesome Knit or Crochet starter kit from our shop here
and use the learning resources we include to get started making impactful creations, right away.
(These also make a great gift that keeps on giving!)
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Have questions? Contact us here.
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Thank you!
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Have fun and happy making!!!
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❤️
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