Angel Yarns Knitting Forums UK

I got a load of wool by placing an ad on my local freecycle group (http://www.freecycle.com) They have groups in/near most places now. I just posted to say I was doing some knitting for a baby charity and did anyone have anything suitable. It'll take a while to work my way through it, but it's nice to think it was just languishing and never to be used, but now will be knitted up to wrap up some of the wee mites

Hi everyone

I have been knitting like crazy for this charity and am just parcelling up the following.

3 blankets
2 cardigans
2 pairs of bootees
6 new bibs
4 new pairs of socks
4 bars of baby soap

In between I have completed a couple of dog coats for another charity I saw on here called "The Oldies Club". Hope to now start on a cardigan for myself for the summer. Then I will go back to the charity knitting. Its quite nice doing things for babies again. They knit up so quickly. I had completely forgotten this fact since my baby is now 30 years old

Best wishes to you all and happy knitting.

Hi, Esther, I sent my first parcel off a few weeks ago. I don't know how long surface mail takes, but with luck they should have it soon.

My contents were not unlike yours:

3 knitted jackets
1 knitted blanket
3 sleep suits (bought in Sainsbury's sale!)
1 bar of soap (I didn't put in more, because I thought it might send the postage up too high)
1 towel
1 changing mat (freebie that came with a magazine we get at work)
2 small teddies (Sainsbury sale)

This all neatly fitted in a medium size posting box from the local Post Office. I am currently making up another jacket, so I shall soon begin looking out for a few bargains to include, along with what I manage to knit over the next few weeks. I'm fortunate enough to have very young grandchildren to knit for, but it is still very satisfying to be able to contribute to this project.

Hi Juliette

Yes the four bars of soap whacked up the postage to £5.60. Still never mind all in a good cause.

I have started a cardigan for me but couldn't resist putting the stitches on the needle for another little baby jacket.

They are just so quick and simple to do when you can't be bothered to concentrate on anything big. Which is quite often in my case .

Best wishes to you

If you only have small amount of yarn - please also think of Bonnie Babies

http://www.bonniebabies.co.uk/index.html

They are happy to accept samller items, as it's often tiny teenies they are helping, and sometimes less fortunate wee mites.

The website is heartbreaking at times.

I am trying to contrinute to both causes, depending on the yarn and the item(s) I would like to make.

Linda

I'll certainly try to help with that one too, Knittingnanny! I have one of the Sirdar 'Early Arrivals' books, so I expect some of those patterns would be suitable. Any advice on yarn, size, most useful garments, etc?

We supply knitters with yarn to make stuff for premmies at our hospital and suggest cotton or acrylic as some babies are very tiny and too sensitive to put most wools on unless they are the very soft baby wools like patons etc

Mostly what they need are simple (not too many buttons) cardigans (easier to put on than jumpers) little hats, bootees and mitts

We also suggest a small knitted square which mum carries round on her next to her skin for a couple of days to get her scent then it's placed next to the wee ones in the incubators - it helps the baby bond and feel more secure

Thanks, Tess, it helps to make sure before getting the needles out that you are not doing the wrong thing! Some of these tiny sizes seem no bigger than dolls' clothes, so shouldn't take too long, or need a great deal of yarn. I have lots of very small quantities which would certainly make mitts and hats etc., even if they might not stretch to a full cardigan.

This really tugs at the heartstrings. Can't wait to get knitting for these babies and preparing packs to send.

Hi Sarah,
my mum and I are trying to get to this page, but it won't let us access it. Can anyone pass on a new web address, if there is one.
Thanks.

Sorry everyone, was trying to juggle DD, DS, not to mention Nana, while looking on this post for an address to send to, and didn't read it properly.
Have just found the correct post now, and I too will prepare a pack for the bubs in South Africa.

It`s not just you - I can`t get on to their blog either.
I was just checking as I have a few bits made and decided to send them off soon, but now I am wondering if the charity is still going ok since their blog has disappeared.

Anyone know anything?

The blog was written by the lady who retired from the organisation earlier this year. Info about the Baby Pack Project can still be found at:

http://www.freewebs.com/babypackproject/


I emailed the contact address and received a lovely reply, as follows:

Hi Alison, thanks for your offer of help. Yes BPP is still up and running. The best way to post items is to use the cheapest surface mail service and any post office can advise you on that. We have not experienced any probs with mail from UK, but be sure to put a note inside with your address so the package can be acknowledged in writing. Following info may help you too. Please feel free to put our address on your yarn website etc.
Post donations of baby items/wear to:
The Baby Pack Project c/o Val Bailey
Box 654, Shelly Beach 4265,
South Africa.
Website : http://www.freewebs.com/babypackproject/
INFORMATION ON THE PROJECT:
Gill lives in Kwa-Zulu-Natal. Upon learning that newborn babies at a local clinic were sent home wrapped in newspaper, she sprang into action. The Baby Pack Project has grown out of that seed of compassion sown by that lovely lady back in 2005. The Baby Pack Project make up “baby-packs” for mothers of newborn babies who are destitute or living in abject poverty . Each pack contains a cloth nappy/diaper, 1 pin and waterproof pants, a towel, soap, hat, booties or mittens and one babygro, a jumper or sweater, a small blanket & a little knitted toy.
The Baby Pack Project was contacted by Margate Child Welfare Dept who had heard about the Project. They requested baby-packs to distribute to mothers of newborns in some of the poorest areas of the province. Approx 30 packs a month now go to Margate Child Welfare Department. The Baby Pack Project also continue to supply Margate Parish with baby items for the Ntabeni clinic.
The contents of the baby-packs are items donated to the Baby Pack Project from as far away as Ireland, Britain, America, Canada and Spain. Our supporters work tirelessly knitting, crocheting & sewing babywear, cloth nappies, blankets etc and then post them to Val Bailey at Box 654, Shelly Beach 4265, South Africa. Val makes up each pack in her own time. Everyone involved in, or associated with, the Baby Pack Project is a volunteer and no-one gets paid.



I hope this helps everyone!

Hello to you all,

Been a while since I have visited the site. Busy knitting!!

I would just like to tell you all that I sent a large parcel of baby things and knits to this project and have just received an email from them to say that the parcel arrived and they were delighted with it.

I was so pleased that it had arrived safely(I did have my doubts) and that they were so thrilled with the contents.

I have to confess that I have been selfishly knitting for myself for a while now but I will return to the project as soon as I have finished the jacket I am at present doing for myself.

Love and best wishes to you all
and of course happy knitting

Esther x

Do you know if they are still accepting items? I like to knit baby blankets. Can they use them?