Knitting for Newborns

At Queensway Carleton Hospital, some of the smallest patients are being wrapped in a whole lot of love, one stitch at a time.

This holiday season, our Birthing Unit received a beautiful donation of handmade car seat blankets and festive Christmas and Hanukkah hats for newborns born at QCH. These thoughtful gifts were lovingly created by Shirley Arnold, a family friend of one of our team members, a passionate knitter, and a proud member of the West Carleton Knitters North Group.

She began knitting the holiday hats and blankets just under a year ago after receiving donated yarn and wanting to use it in a meaningful way. With three grown children, two of whom are nurses, she thought it was only fitting to give back in this way.

Left, Shannon Adams, Director - Patient Care - Maternity/Newborn Care, with Nancy Smolkin (right), dropping off Shirley’s work.

Reflecting on why she knits for newborns, Shirley shared:

“Knitting is a craft that brings me contentment and joy, and I love Christmas and babies! So, when I had the opportunity to create hats for the newborn babies at QCH, it was a delight. This was a fun project that has been so warmly received by QCH staff, and I am honoured to be a home knitter for the West Carleton Knitters North Group. This is a way to reach out to the community to share the spirit of the season.”

We are grateful to Shirley for her generosity, time, and care. These handmade gifts may be small, but the love behind them makes a lasting impact for families, babies, and our care teams alike.