As we proceed throughout class you will make a 6 inch by 6 inch gauge swatch with a border which can be used to help size your larger blanket and serves as great practice. I'd love it if you could make 2 squares for a special cause that I'll explain below.

Yay, you made a square, now what the heck can I do with it? Use it to help size your actual blanket and or use if for a special cause. You can donate these squares in pairs and they are used in the NICU help preemies and newborns bond with their parents when they can't be together. How? Through scent!

One bonding square can be worn against the parent’s skin, and one can be left with the baby in the isolette. Each day, the squares can be swapped so that the baby has the parent’s scent and the parent has the baby’s scent. It can be incredibly meaningful to take “a piece” of your baby home with you each day, and possible benefits include bonding and improved lactation.

After you've completed your square post a picture of it in the project gallery. If you go on to make a larger blanket, I'd love to see that too, please post it in the gallery as well. Even if you don't finish your square please submit a photo of your work in progress so I can send some words of praise and encouragement back at you!

I've included some terrific resources to guide you along the way. Be sure to download the attachments. You'll find:

PDF of the Pattern with blanket sizing guide
Crochet abbreviations cheat sheet
Bonding /Snuggle Square info cards

Arielle Strope

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