About Bridie's Blossoms

Bridie's Blossoms is a project  launched in January 2014 and managed by a small group of friends from the NW Coast of Tasmania to honour the memory of baby Bridie who was born sleeping in April 2013.

Bridie's Blossoms packs have garments and signature items specially handcrafted and embellished with machine embroidery for varying gestational ages ranging from 0-16 weeks to full term gestation as a gift to parents who have experienced the tragedy of miscarriage or stillbirth of their baby. These have been delivered to the four major hospitals in Tasmania and stocks of these are replenished as and when requested by the hospitals.

What is in the packs?

All packs have a quilt and/or blanket, an outfit or pouch in which to dress the baby and a small teddy to give to them. There is also a  keepsake quilt, teddy, diaper, hat and French lace trimmed heirloom infant loss remembrance hankie.

The quilts are backed with flannelette and both sizes of the pouches are also lined with flannelette.

The booties for the smaller ages are open heeled for easy dressing. The hats are also made from rib trim so are easy to get your fingers in and stretch over the baby's head. All outfits are open down the back.

All items in the packages are fabric and colour co-ordinated. All items in the package are designed around specific fabrics and colours especially chosen for that particular package. The packages contain the following items:

There are two little ITH embroidered stuffed teddies. The design is from Moosebstitchin.

An heirloom hankie edged with French cotton lace and embroidered with the free infant loss design From the Needle of Anne

There is a larger flannelette backed quilt and a smaller keepsake quilt. Each of these quilts have a 6 1/2 inch square embroidered centre using the free Cuddle Bear design from Bunnycup Embroidery. 

For 0-16 weeks we only make the 12 inch square flannelette backed quilt

For 17-25 weeks we make a  16 1/2 inch square flannelette backed quilt and a 12 inch square keepsake quilt.

For 26-36 weeks we make a  24 1/2 inch square flannelette backed quilt and a 12 inch square keepsake quilt.

For 37-40 weeks we make a  30 1/2 inch square flannelette backed quilt and a 12 inch square keepsake quilt.

The pattern I used as a base for my quilts is the Bear Quilt, Infant to Child from Arizona Blankets For Kids. You can find it in the pattern links down the left hand side of the page. As the bear is stitched on a block that is trimmed to  6 1/2 inches square I have changed the sizes of the pieces. There are different requirements for  blankets to be used for preemies as opposed to angel babies.

If there is a need I will write a tutorial for all three sizes of quilts in the near future when time permits.

There is a diaper and a small keepsake diaper. The diaper pattern is originally from Teeny Tears and you need to email them for the pattern. I added machine embroidery to my diapers/nappies. The pattern for the smaller micro  keepsake diaper is available as a download from Utah Share. I used this as a basis to digitize an outline and embroidery pattern closet to the largest of the micro size as an ITH pattern. The small keepsake diapers are fastened with a size 2 safety pin.

Some examples of the packages we provide are below

For 0-16 weeks

 We also make  packs for 0-16 weeks that are not gender specific

17-25 weeks

For 17-25 weeks we have an open backed tabard style dress that ties at the sides for easy dressing  and a tie wrap in which to lay the small angel

  

Other packages we make and distribute are appropriate for

26-30

31-36 

37-40 weeks gestational ages

The older gestational ages have a bonnet and/or knitted hat as well as a rib hat