Please Can You Help Sweet Peeps?

Hi peeps and hope you are all having a good start to the Easter break :)

Whilst at our card club last week,  one of the ladies there showed me a little jumper and beanie hat she had knitted. It didn't look like a babies jumper / hat that I had ever seen and she told me that it was for the fish and chips babies in Africa. I had never even heard of this before so she told me that these are the really poor babies,  many of whom are born with Aids and that is about all these little souls come into this world with. They are so poor that they are sent home wrapped in newspaper which is why they are called fish and chip babies.

Well those of you who know me will know how I feel about kids, and this just about broke my heart. I am always grateful for where I was born and I know that had I have been born in a different place, then my life would probably have been very different. I said that I would knit some of them for her even though I haven’t knitted for years and years.  And so I wondered if any of you nice peeps out there could spare a couple of hours and a bit of wool to perhaps make one as well.

The jumpers themselves are very easy to knit and they are knitted in one complete piece. For most knitters they take an afternoon or an evening to complete. They are very important because in Africa, the nights are cold and these babies have no clothes.

The only real stipulation is that they are knitted in bright dark colours rather than the pastel shades we may use here (bright stripes look good and use up only small bits of wool)  and this is because these little garments may never be washed. How different our lives are and it is just so sad. I look at my Kyla and everything she has and it makes me feel a little bit ashamed that we have so much and they have nowt.

So if anybody out there can help here, it would be fabulous. If you can help, you can send them to me – email me and I’ll send you my addy – and I’ll get them sent off to the right place. 

Here’s the pattern for the jumper – once I’ve finished mine I’ll put a pic on here (I am the slowest knitter in the world!!)

Baby jumper knitting pattern (Knitted all in one)

Use double knitting wool and 4mm needles

Cast on 44 stitches

Work 18 Rows in K2, P2 rib

Work 30 Rows stocking stitch (1 row plain, 1 row purl)

Cast on 12 stitches at beginning of next 2 rows and at the same time change to K2,P2 (for sleeve)

Rib 22 more rows.

Next row: Rib 21, cast off 26 stitches, rib 21

Next row: Rib 21, cast on 26 stitches, rib 21

Work 22 rows in K2, P2 rib

Cast off 12 stitches at beginning of next 2 rows

Work 30 rows stocking stitch

Work 18 rows, K2, P2 rib

Cast off

 

Baby Beanie Hat Pattern

Use double knitting wool and 4mm needles

Cast on 64 stitches and work 14 rows in (K1 P1) rib

Work 24 rows in stocking stitch or until work measures 11cm from cast on edge

Shape crown as follows –

Row 1: *k6, k2tog. Repeat from * to end of row (56 stitches)

Row 2: Knit

Row 3: *k5, k2tog. Repeat from * to end of row (48 stitches)

Row 4: Knit

Row 5: *k4, k2tog. Repeat from * to end of row (40 stitches)

Row 6: Knit

Continue decreasing in this manner until (k1 k2tog) has been completed and 16 stitches remain.

Knit 1 row.

Break yarn and thread through remaining 16 stitches.

 

Thanks heaps for stopping by  to read this and if you could spread the word and perhaps pop something on your blogs / tell your friends etc   that would be wonderful.

Have a great weekend and see you soon as soon and huggiest of Easter hugs to all xxx

ETA

I managed to get my jumper finished peeps so if it helps, here’s what they look like when they’re done – the beanie is on it’s way!!

PS

OMLife what a wonderful bunch you all are. Even those who cannot knit are helping by putting up links. I cannot say how touched I’ve been. I expected one or two but the response has been amazing.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you all so much xxxxx