Practice crocheting the Jasmine Stitch by working up this free and quick NICU Bonding Square crochet pattern.

This pattern holds a deeper purpose, as it will be featured in the Preemie Crochet Challenge hosted by Sunflower Cottage Crochet. Let’s dive into the details of this meaningful project and discover how we can use our skills to make a difference for preemie babies and their families.

Note: Affiliate links are found throughout this post, meaning if you make a purchase after clicking one of those links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!

Understanding the Importance of NICU Bonding Squares

In the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), the significance of NICU bonding squares cannot be overstated. These small crochet squares provide comfort and connection to preemie babies and their parents during a challenging time. The presence of a bonding square, infused with a parent’s scent, can help soothe and calm a baby, promoting a sense of familiarity and security.

The mother places one of these squares inside her shirt or bra so that it can be covered in her scent. Later, Mom places the square near the baby in or around the crib or incubator. Doing this ensures that the baby can smell its mother to feel safe and secure. It helps the baby bond with its mother.

Pro Tip: Crochet TWO of these squares so that there’s always one handy for the baby.

Introducing the Jasmine Stitch

The Jasmine Stitch, with its intricate and textured design, is the perfect choice for creating a soft and cozy bonding square. This stitch creates a beautiful combination of loops and clusters that not only adds visual appeal but also enhances the tactile experience for the baby. The Jasmine Stitch is both elegant and versatile, making it an excellent option for this project.

Can’t work up this pattern right now? Pin this for later!

Here are some of my other NICU-friendly crochet patterns:

• JJ’ Bonding Square
• JJ’s Baby Blanket
• Piper’s Blankie
• Heart in a Basket Wall Hanging

Another Jasmine Stitch Pattern

The Yarn

The yarn used for this pattern is worsted weight yarn from High Desert Yarn in the colorway Malvas for Piper. This is hand-dyed 100% Superwash Merino Wool yarn.

Substituting the Yarn

• If you aren’t a fan of the color pink, don’t let that stop you from trying out High Desert Yarn! Joanna has a variety of other colorways to choose from.
• If you aren’t a fan of hand-dyed yarn for whatever reason (fiber-type, price point, etc). You can use whatever worsted weight yarn that you’d like. Just note that you will need about 100 yards to make this square, depending on gauge/tension/all that. Here are some yarn substitutions you can use:
  • Caron Simply Soft in “Victorian Rose.
  • Wander Acrylic by Furls Fiberarts in “Dragonfruit”.
  • Paintbox Simply Aran by LoveCrafts in “Vintage Heather”.

The Hook

Share your work!

I love seeing other crocheters crochet my patterns! You can share WIPS and finished photos. Get creative! Some ideas of where to share:

• Instagram
• TikTok
• Facebook
• The J&O Crochet Community Facebook Group
• In Ravelry as a project.
• Reddit
• Please include @juniperandoakes #juniperandoakes and links to this page where applicable.

Anyone who shares a Reel on Instagram or TikTok and tags me (@juniperandoakes) so that I can see it, will get bonus points!

Featured Stitch

Practice the Jasmine Stitch

The featured stitch in the Desert Flower Pillow is the Jasmine Stitch. This is a seemingly complicated stitch that creates a 6-petal flower, all using puff stitches. I just love it! Once I learned the Jasmine Stitch, I knew I had to create more and more patterns featuring this stitch.

NOTE: This stitch requires a bit of tension to keep the flower shape condensed and elegant with a small hole in the middle of the petals. You may need to take breaks after a few rows and stretch your hands. If you have arthritis, this stitch may be difficult for you.

Jasmine Stitch NICU Bonding Square

Skill Level: Intermediate

Materials

• Yarn: Kaibab Worsted, hand-dyed Yarn from High Desert Yarn in “Malvas for Piper” 220yds/100g, worsted weight #4 yarn (100% Superwash Merino Wool; 220yds per 100 g hank), 660 yards/3 skeins.
  • or any other worsted weight yarn
• Hook: G/4.00 mm Laurel Streamline Wood from Furls Fiberarts
  • or whichever hook is needed to meet gauge
• Yarn needle
• Scissors

Gauge

7 ½ stitches x 8 rows = 4” x 4″ square (using Jasmine Stitch – unblocked)

Finished Size

Approximately 12 “ x 12” 

Stitch Abbreviations (US Terminology)

• ch – Chain
• sc – Single Crochet
• sp – Space
• st – Stitch
• yo – Yarn Over

Special Stitches

Puff Stitch (ps):

Lengthen loop to desired length (about ¼-½ inch), yo (keeping the same length for all loops), insert hook into indicated sp, yo, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), yo, insert hook into same sp, pull up a loop (5 loops on hook), yo, insert hook into same sp, pull up a loop (7 loops on hook), pinch working yarn to secure, yo, pull through all 7 loops on the hook, insert hook into pinched st, yo, pull through both loops on the hook, similar to a slip stitch.

Jasmine Stitch (js):

Lengthen loop to desired length (about ¼-½ inch), yo (keeping the same length for all loops), insert hook into indicated sp, *pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), yo, insert hook into same sp, pull up a loop (5 loops on hook), yo, insert hook into same sp, pull up a loop (7 loops on hook),* yo, insert hook into next space (see images), repeat stitches between *, which adds 6 loops (13 loops on hook), yo, insert hook into next space, repeat stitches between * yet again (19 loops on hook), pinch working yarn to secure, yo, pull through all 19 loops on the hook, insert hook into pinched st, yo, pull through both loops on the hook,  similar to a slip stitch.

Pattern Notes

• There is no foundation chain for this pattern, the foundation row is made up of puff stitches.
• Think of the Jasmine stitch like 3-puff-clusters, working an incomplete puff into each of the 3 indicated spaces, then finally pinching the yarn and pulling through all 19 loops. 
• Gift one of these squares to a NICU baby with a board book or a blanket in matching yarn color.
• This pattern was used in the Desert Flower Pillow CAL in May 2023.

Pattern

Click here for a video tutorial.

Row 1: Ch 1, ps into first ch, ch 1, [ps on top of previous puff, ch 1] repeat for a total of 10 puffs.

Row 2: Ps on top of last puff of Row 1, ch 1, js across, turn. 

Rows 3-11: Repeat Row 2.

Fasten off.

Weave in ends.

Check gauge. You should have 7½ js and 8 rows in a 4” x 4” square.  

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The complete, ad-free, printable pattern is available for sale on directly from me, or on Etsy and Ravelry.

Preemie Crochet Challenge by Sunflower Cottage Crochet

This pattern was featured in the Preemie Crochet Challenge in 2023. Participating in the Preemie Crochet Challenge hosted by Sunflower Cottage Crochet allows us to contribute our handmade Jasmine Stitch NICU Bonding Squares to preemie babies and their families. By sharing our creations, we can bring comfort and warmth to those who need it most.

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The Fine Print

This pattern and its images are the property of Juniper and Oakes ©2023. The pattern is for your personal use only. Please do not copy/paste, distribute, or alter and claim as your own. You may sell products made by this pattern, but please credit @juniperandoakes and remember to link back to juniperandoakes.com or credit Juniper & Oakes on the craft fair tag. 

If you make this pattern, please email a picture to [email protected] and I will include it in a gallery on my website. You may post pictures on social media and tag @juniperandoakes and use the hashtag #juniperandoakes. You can also post pictures on my Facebook Page, or in the Juniper + Oakes Crochet Community Facebook Page.

Let me know if you run into a problem. I respond quickly and will help any way I can to clarify any confusion or challenging stitches.