My Experience Making Bridget's Cradles

About six weeks ago I saw a television piece that got my attention.  It was about knitting small cradles for families who have lost babies between 14-26 weeks gestation.  Many of these women want to hold their babies but because they are so small and fragile, it is very difficult to wrap them in a blanket.  These knit or crocheted cradles make it easier.  http://wbay.com/2015/04/23/woman-knits-special-cradles-for-stillborn-babies/

I contacted the Bridget's Cradles website and applied.  Soon I received the specific instructions and the acceptable yarns to use.  I bought pink, blue and yellow yarn and began making them.  I reacted to doing this in a very unexpected way.  I had a very hard time at first.  As I was knitting all I could think about is that some day a dead baby would be laying in the cradle.  The first night I even dreamt about babies who have died.  I miscarried my first child, but I don't think that was the reason this was so hard for me.  I think it was just the upsetting idea of why these cradles are important.  I almost didn't continue and took a short break.  Then I got an email from them thanking me for doing this.  It is getting a little easier because I know it is helping families during a very difficult time.  I am almost ready to mail my first batch.  I will continue for a while.  There are no expectations as to the number of cradles, so I will make as many as I am comfortable with.

Each set consists of the cradle, a small prayer square and a tapered blanket.

The cradle is to hold the baby.  The blanket is for inside the cradle to cover the baby and the prayer square is for the family to keep as a keepsake knowing it touched their child.  Prayer squares are also given to those who lost their child in the 1st trimester.

I crocheted some and knit some in different pattern stitches.

If anyone else is interested in doing this, either search Bridget's Cradles on Facebook or go to their website http://www.bridgetscradles.com