It’s been a rough week at our house and the worst part was that my sweet little Zoe broke her arm 🙁 She is doing ok now, but will have to have the cast on for 4 weeks. Not good timing with her birthday coming up and the start of preschool but we are managing. The cast is heavy on her little arm so in order to give her some relief, I crocheted a sling complete with her favorite colors and butterfly buttons!
Here is how it happened: We went upstairs to get the kids into bed. I made a quick stop in the laundry room (it’s next to her bedroom) to put in a load of laundry. I hear her say “Mommy, I am getting into bed!” and then 2 seconds later she is screaming and crying on the floor of her room. I ran in and picked her up, immediately noticing that she wouldn’t move her arm. She has a guard rail on her bed that she likes to use as a ladder (you know, it’s more fun that way). I imagine that she got her arm caught in the slats and fell. There was no swelling or bruising so I thought maybe it was just dislocated, but an x-ray confirmed a break in the ulna bone. The next night as we were getting into bed she said “Mommy, you help me in bed so I don’t fall back.” So it sounds like she indeed fell backwards off the guard rail 🙁 I feel terrible that this happened and that I wasn’t there to see it or catch her fall. It is one of those things that you never expect to happen in her carpeted bedroom as she is getting into her toddler bed.
This what her bed/guard rail looks like:
After she got her cast on she asked to go to her favorite store: Michaels! Yep, that’s my girl! 🙂 We spotted the new Caron Cakes yarn and she picked out the Funfetti color! And as you can see she loves this purple Elsa shirt and insists on wearing it often. Caron Cakes yarn is worsted weight and comes in a variety of vibrant variegated colors. It comes in 383 yard yarn cakes and in my opinion is most comparable to Red Heart Soft yarn. It’s currently exclusively at Michaels Craft Stores and is already sold out online but still available in local stores. I am sure with the high demand, they will restock as soon as possible!
Materials:
– Caron Cakes Yarn in Funfetti
– Size H Crochet Hook
– Butterfly Buttons (purchased HERE on Amazon)
– Tapestry Needle
– Aluminum Sling Rings (I took mine off an older sling but you can purchase similar HERE)
Main Sling Form:
Chain 41, SC in second chain from hook and the rest of the way down chain making 4 SC in the last chain. Now working on other side of chain, SC in each chain. DO NOT JOIN, chain 1, turn. (82 SC)
Row 2-26: SC in each stitch across, chain 1, turn. (82 SC)
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Small straps (make 3):
Chain 7, SC in second chain from hook and the rest of the way down, chain 1, turn (6 SC)
Row 2-12: SC in each stitch across, chain 1, turn (6 SC)
Fasten off and leave a long tail.
Sew small straps onto sling form as show in pictures below. Make sure you insert the strap into the aluminum ring before sewing down!
Long straps (make 2)
Chain 7, SC in second chain from hook and the rest of the way down, chain 1, turn (6 SC)
Row 2-4: SC in each stitch arose, chain 1, turn (6 SC)
Row 5: SC in first two, chain 2 and skip 2 stitches, SC in last two, chain 1, turn
Row 6: SC in each stitch across making 2 SC over the chain 2 space, chain 1, turn (6 SC)
Row 7-100: SC in each stitch across, chain 1, turn (6 SC)
Row 101: SC in first two, chain 2 and skip 2 stitches, SC in last two, chain 1, turn
Row 102: SC in each stitch across making 2 SC over the chain 2 space, chain 1, turn (6 SC)
Row 103-105: SC in each stitch across, chain 1, turn (6 SC)
Fasten off.
Sew both long straps together, making sure the button holes match up.
Sew button onto place in strap where you want strap to pin up (this will be longer/shorter depending on person who is wearing it).
Sending healing thoughts and prayers to my little princess! I am keeping her in good spirits and we are attempting get this busy (almost) 3-year-old to take it easy 🙂
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I am so sorry that your sweet, beautiful Zoe broke her arm. She sounds like a brave little girl! The crochet cast/sling is very cute and clever. Sending prayers your way for a fast healing! I have an almost 3 year old granddaughter and I can only imagine how you felt to see your little one hurting….you’re both troupers Sarah! And an early Happy Birthday Zoe!
So sorry about Zoe’s broken arm. What a beautiful sling though!
Hello Z. : So sorry to see you broke your arm and wish you a speedy recovery. What a beautiful color for your cast and even better, a great, cheerful-looking sling that Mom made for you. Aren’t you lucky to have such a sweet and clever Mom. Flowers for you P.
S. These things happen and could easily have done so even if you were in the room with her. Of course you feel badly but do not for one monent be hard on yourself. Great idea for the sling and thanks for sharing the pattern (much prettier than the scarf sling I made for my daughter years ago). P.
This is AWESOME. My daughter needed one of these a few months ago for a strained shoulder and I couldn’t find anything her size. So thank you! And don’t feel too guilty. My daughter (yes, same one) fell off her bed, when I was sitting right there, and broke her arm too. I was just about to tell her to stop horsing around too. AND she tried to pretend everything was fine as she fought not to cry and her arm hung there all WRONG. Talk about guilt. Your baby will bounce back from this no problem. And you will hopefully forgive yourself for not being Wonder Woman this one time. 🙂
Elena
Oh! I cringed as I read your description of her getting her arm in the slats and falling. Ouch! As much as we’d like to, we can’t be there 24/7 protecting them. She’s such a cutie!
I have four grown children (1 girl, 3 boys) & four grandchildren (1 girl, 3 boys-13,9,6,3). I don’t know but I think I’m glad I no longer have children full time-my nerves couldn’t handle it anymore.
I love your website & I thank you for all you post. Blessings to you & your family.
I’m so sorry your daughter broke her arm.
Question, though… wouldn’t this be too stretchy to be effective? I’ve never had good luck with things like this (not slings, but purses, which aren’t so different – a “pocket” for heavy things on a strap) holding their shape.
What a fantastic idea! I think that will go a long way toward helping the healing process as Zoe will feel very special with what Mummy made for her 🙂
I would not be surprised if you are called on any time one of her friends has an injury…
Hugs to Zoe and Sarah (cos Mum’s hurt too!)
aww… So sorry about your sweet little girl. Great that she has a loving and talented momma to take good care of her.
I’m sooo sorry to hear about your sweet girl. Those things happen in a split of a second, you are the best mom she could possible asked for and I’m sure she feels that love. Sending you and your family positive vibe. All the best on the days to come!
I am so sorry that your daughter broke her arm and at such a young age!! Zoe will definitely be in my prayers. I will even share this story to my Bible study group and we will pray for her. Please keep me updated on her recovery. Thanks for the pattern. So sorry for you.
That poor sweetheart. That’s gotta be rough. I know I have a 3 year old and having her be down with a broken arm or leg, I know she would be bored out of her mind, not being able to use it. I love that she’s so into Michael’s! My daughter’s favorite store is Hobby Lobby! I love this yarn, I must try it. I haven’t purchased yarn in over 3 months (I’m horrible!) Sending healing thoughts to your Zoe!
I am sorry that your little monkey broke her arm. Last year, my very active daughter broke her arm while playing in the field at school, not even on the jungle gym. I quickly crocheted her a sling so she could start back at dance comfortably the very next day. I didn’t write down the pattern, but I will. It was super easy and only used a button to make it look pretty on the front, not for functionality.
I hope and pray that Zoe’s arm heals fast.
So I was coming back to your site for ideas and saw that your baby broke her arm 🙁 Feel better soon. I also have a 3yr old and if anything happens to her it breaks my heart.
Poor girl! 🙁 I hope her arm is all healed up now and she is back to her old self! 🙂
what a cute idea! i can relate to your daughter. when i was 5 i was riding my bike (with training wheels!) on a sidewalk in our neighborhood. one of the training wheels got stuck in the wet grass between the side walk and edge of a neighbors yard. i toppled over and stuck my arm out to break my fall and ended up breaking my radius and ulna bones! ouch! i had a pink cast just like your daughters but for 8 weeks! on the plus side i learned how to write left handed and am still ambidextrous to this day! i look back at pictures of myself with the cast on and think what a cute lil cast it was haha i wish my mom had to crocheted me this cute sling, the 5 year old in me is so jealous! 🙂
With a little modification, when she no longer needs a sling, she can have a cute bag for pre-school. This is very cute. I got six Caron cakes for Christmas and am currently looking for a good pattern.
I am currently making this sling for my 5 year old granddaughter who fell off from a tricycle and broke her elbow. She will be in a cast for 6 weeks and then we will know if she needs surgery. Her cast is also pink her favorite color and am making the sling in variegated pinks.
My grandaughter broke her arm so I made a sling for her, using your pattern as inspiration. It’s adjustable with a button on one end and velcro on the other. Thanks!
Love it! Hope Zoe is doing well. A friend of my granddaughter’s just had a backyard mishap — no break, but still needed a cast. I’m trying to figure out if I can fit one more project into my schedule . .. . . Also think it might be a good pattern to tell people about at our charity knitting group. Many thanks, and hope your little one heals rapidly!
You are such an amazing crafter and love all of the patterns you have up. This one is very touching and compassionate. I love the idea of beautifully hiding the cast and the ease of the pattern. You’re very talented and thank you for sharing all!
Thank you for sharing! As my orthopedic put it I shattered my shoulder. I am going to make this for myself. I am also going to line it with cotton fabric. My shoulder was operated on. It won’t be put in a cast. I still wear a sling. I want a prettier sling. I have a Caron cake of that same color. I also have.the same butterfly wood buttons. I have had them a few years.
Oh no!!! Poor Zoe! I’ve been trying to figure out how to sew or crochet one, and I might use just this! How is Zoe now? I have 3 brothers and 1 sister. I’m the middle child and I have two younger brothers, one older brother who is the oldest, and an older sister, and my oldest brother just severely broke his shoulder, so I might just make this for him!