Massachusetts church collects crocheted, knitted octopuses to comfort premature babies
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Framingham, Massachusetts, collects crocheted and knitted octopuses for premature infants at Boston Children’s Hospital. Medical studies show that babies who have an octopus to cuddle are less likely to pull out their tubes and monitors. Cuddling an octopus can also help regulate breathing. Photo: Joanne Prentice
[Episcopal News Service] Joanne Prentice, a parishioner and Sunday School teacher at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Framingham, Massachusetts, fell in love with crochet as a teenager. And as a retired nurse who supports both traditional and holistic medicine, she was excited to participate in her parish’s new Crocheted Octopuses for Preemies ministry when it launched in the spring of 2023.
“When I think about how a little baby is in that incubator with all the lines and tubes and monitors, separated from their mother so quickly before they’re really ready to be born … It feels good to be able to provide them with something that allows them to latch on their little fingers and feel loved and comforted,” Prentice told Episcopal News Service. “Touch is very important to the healing process, especially in a baby, so providing something that’s tactile and soft can really help make a difference.”
Carol Esbig, St. Andrew’s vestry outreach representative, told ENS that she was inspired to start the crocheted octopus ministry after learning about the volunteer organization Spruttegruppen – the Danish Octo Project – which since 2013 has distributed crocheted octopuses to neonatal units in Denmark. Medical research shows that the soft octopus tentacles mimic the umbilical cord and can help somewhat replicate the sensation of being in a mother’s womb. Babies who have an octopus to cuddle are less likely to pull out their tubes and monitors. Cuddling an octopus can also help regulate breathing.
“The purpose of our outreach is to help our neighbors wherever they are, whether they’re in our local community, they’re in our general area or around the world,” Esbig said.
In 2022, 380,548 babies – 10.4% – were born prematurely, or preterm, in the United States, according to data collected by March of Dimes, a U.S.-based nonprofit committed to improving the health of mothers and babies nationwide. Babies born prematurely, or before the 37th week of pregnancy, are at higher risk of developing health issues and disabilities, including breathing and feeding difficulties, developmental delay and cerebral palsy, as well as vision and hearing problems. In 2021, preterm births and low birth rates accounted for nearly 15% of infant deaths, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
St. Andrew’s leaves a designated collection bin in its memorial room for people to donate crocheted and knitted octopuses. When the bins are full, all the octopuses are blessed during a worship service before they’re donated to Boston Children’s Hospital. So far, more than 200 octopuses have been donated over the past year-and-a-half. Octopuses are also given to babies who get baptized at St. Andrew’s.
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Framingham, Massachusetts, collects crocheted and knitted octopuses to donate to premature infants at Boston Children’s Hospital. All the octopuses are blessed during a worship service before they’re donated. Photo: Carol Esbig
“It’s amazing to know that such a small stuffed octopus can have such a positive impact on a baby’s life by helping their development, by keeping them calm and providing comfort,” Esbig said. “I think just knowing that we’re helping a baby have a better life is something that brings joy to people.”
Two separate crochet patterns and a knitting pattern are available for free on St. Andrew’s website. Non-mercerized, or hypoallergenic, 100% cotton yarn with no added fluff or glitter is preferred. Polyfil to stuff the octopus’ heads is available at St. Andrew’s. For the babies’ safety, the octopuses don’t have beads or buttons sewn in for eyeballs.
Crocheted Octopuses for Preemies doesn’t have designated meeting times, but Prentice said the ministry has served as a bonding opportunity between her and her daughter and sister, who are also parishioners and Sunday School teachers at St. Andrew’s. Prentice said she and her family enjoy comparing their knitted octopuses when finished because they’re all different.
“I like to use variegated colors, but my sister will make the head one color and all the legs different colors. We all have our own little technique and how we do it. It’s fun,” she said.
While knitting each octopus, Prentice said she prays for each recipient to live a “healthy and good life.”
“It only takes a couple hours while watching TV or a movie to make an octopus,” she said. “It doesn’t take much to help other people.”
-Shireen Korkzan is a reporter and assistant editor for Episcopal News Service. She can be reached at skorkzan@episcopalchurch.org.
