Cuddles

At the moment I am knitting again for Cuddles, a UK based charity which knits tiny garments and small blankets for still-born babies and which supplies gowns, blankets and wraps to maternity units all over the UK.

Here my latest blanket (knitted in 4 ply), with another on the go.

Edit: The second blanket is now finished. It is larger in size with a pattern around the edge.

Save the Children baby hat appeal

Save the Children have launched a new appeal for people to knit baby hats for children in developing countries.

Knitting a hat for a newborn baby can help save its life. Telling politicians to do their bit could save the lives of millions of newborns each year.

A newborn baby can't regulate its own body temperature. It loses lots of vital body heat through its head which make it more prone to pneumonia - a disease which still kills around 2 million children each year.

We want 10 million people to take action by 2010 for the 10 million children. Be one of them. Make sure the very poorest children aren't left to die.

You can download the knit kit and a sample pattern here.

Cuddles

I just finished another three blankets for Cuddles.

"We are a volunteer, non-profit organisation based in the UK. We attempt to support the families dealing with the loss of their baby through miscarriage or stillbirth. We supply gowns, blankets and wraps to maternity units all over the UK."

I always enjoy knitting those delicate little items in 3-ply or 4-ply, and only ever knit them when I have peace of mind and nothing else going on.
I particularly like to knit blankets, because I know that parents often take them home as keep-sakes ... and that there are one of the few things to remind them of the little time they had with their son or daughter.

Here are some comments which were made by parents who lost their baby. I am sure they speak for themselves:

"We would like to thank you for your donation of a
beautiful blanket which we were able to use to wrap
our baby who was stillborn. Our little Hero passed
away last 26th April 2007. He looked peaceful and warm
wrapped in your knitted blanket."

"The midwives were fantastic and supportive. This is an extremelyhard and sad time. Knowing that there are people like you that care, makes it that little bit bearable."

"We kept the clothes that S... was dressed in. We will keep themsafe and cherish them."

"Thank you so much."

Baby booties

Yesterday I finished a new pair of baby booties.

I love these, because of the rim running around the base of the bootie - making it look like a 'proper sole'.

These booties are make from 100% new wool, and they are beautifully soft and warm.