Angel Yarns Knitting Forums UK

KNITTERS WE NEED YOUR HELP - PLEASE
The baby pack project is a charitable project supporting some of the poorest families in South Africa. Newborn babies are being sent home wrapped in newspaper. We now provide margate child welfare dept in Kwa Zulu Natal with packs that can be given to new mothers living in the most destitute of conditions. Each pack contains the basic baby items for a newborn baby.

Can you help us ? Are you good at knitting ? Please knit and send us baby items if you can. Anything would be appreciated, even wee sweaters knitted from scrap wool, are welcome. We have had some very “Colourful” items sent to us eg. Blue arms yellow back & multicoloured fronts!! But if they keep a new born baby warm then they serve the purpose for our cause. Sweaers, hats, mittens, bootees, all items are required. Spread the word about the project, donate unwanted towels, cloth nappies or diapers and pins, waterproof pants, soap etc. However small your help, it will be greatly appreciated and make a real difference to a newborn baby's start in life.

The postal address for the Project to send items to is:
Gill Richardson
Baby Pack Project,
P O Box 401,
Port Shepstone,
Kwa Zulu Natal 4240,
South Africa

I would be more than happy to "whip" a few things together for this, I will tell my mum as well I am sure she will help out too.

I'm going to donate all Lilly's grown out of things as they're all in such great condition anyway as well as knit a few quickies for them - awful to think the wee ones don't have anything at all!

That's a great idea. Wee baby things are quick to knit so I can manage that. How awful to think newborn babies are going home wrapped in newspaper

I know - maybe it's post baby hormones but I was in tears when I read that and thought how much we have over here and how little they have that they have to resort to paper for the babies. Frightening.

I think that will be my charity for the baby shop when we open it too - will have to pop my thinking cap on as to how best to help them

I think I'll promote this on BellaOnline Tess if it's OK with you - I did start a baby knit along in my forum but it wasn't a great success, this seems to be a very good cause.

Gillie - the more the better I think

A print off of the description online would touch most people, I'm sure - and a couple of sample items ready made, just to show how simple it can be to help??
Maybe a basket for peoples leftover yarns, if they don't want to knit it up themselves, so people who are happy to knit for the cause have some easy access/affordbale yarn to use? [At Cuddles we used to have a share out of yarn every now and again, as a sort of thankyou and encouragement for the knitters]
I think one of the things that puts some people off is postage charges - maybe it's worth having a deposit box, too so that people can leave what they make[ and maybe buy from the shop at the same time??]. A little money box left in the box could be used to collect contributions towards the postage, perhaps??
I'm blathering, now - sorry. I'm hopeless when I get fixed on a project!!

Its truely heartbreaking.
I have thought this all through and am already committed to my Romanian orphans and can not let them down as I have been doing this for years. I do hope you get lots of people to help.

That is so sad, i'll certainly try and knit a few things after the christmas rush is over. If anyone finds any nice online patterns that are suitable could we link them to this thread, if thats ok? I'm just a bit clueless when it comes to sizes/suitability of things for a newborn baby.

Rachel, if you look at http://www.knittingpatterncentral.com you'll find links to oodles

Hiya
im new to knitting but reading this has made my heart swell, i will definatly be knitting a few little things to send
i was thinking of knitting for charity so this is now my chose charity
ammie

I am definately going to knit some things for this charity, its so sad to think of babies being wrapped up in nothing but newspaper. Sometimes we don't realise how lucky we are.

after yesturdays brush with the thugs and his trip to our local A & E I am valueing our National Health Service more and more. We really are very lucky in this country to have what we need so readily available to us.

This will project for babies in SA wil be my charity for 2007 and I will try to send at least one item per month.