The nurses of the St. Joseph Women's Hospital in Tampa (Florida, USA) have a beautiful tradition with an emotional history behind: knit hand hats for newborn babies.
The tradition began with Paula MacDonald, a former nurse who died last year at age 55. He had always liked to give newborns knitted hats, and soon other nurses also wanted to help. That was when MacDonald began teaching other nurses on the staff how to knit, and that's how the Paula Project was born.
More than half of the hospital nurses have joined the project, and receive donations of thread and supplies from friends and family. They weave in their lunch schedule, in their breaks and also at home. Each hat takes about an hour of work, and they hope to arrive one day to weave a hat for every child born in the hospital, which averages about 700 births per month.
They weave all year round, but on Halloween the hats become especially striking. Pumpkins, ghosts, monsters and other terrifying designs made with all love cover the heads of the little ones to celebrate his first Halloween.
They also make themed designs to celebrate special parties like Easter, the Super Bowl and Thanksgiving. This year they even knitted an April giraffe hat and accept personalized orders from parents who wish to take home a special souvenir.
