Knit for Feed The Children

Professor Mick Aston,
Time Team

For several years now I have received various coloured jumpers knitted for me by members of the public - all unsolicited!  What I usually do with them is pass them on to different people for charity auctions with a picture of me wearing the jumper. 

I would much prefer it if people could knit jumpers for Feed The Children.  This would be a real bonus - I don't really need them, but these children do.  Get knitting now.

We gladly accept the following knitted or crocheted items:

Blankets:

Approx 90cm by 120 cm, or 3' by 4'

or approx 180cm by 120cm, or 6' by 4'

They can be knitted or crocheted, and as plain or as creative as you like!

Blankets are the first thing to be asked for in emergency situations; even where the climate is warm at night, a blanket is better than the bare ground for sleeping on.

A blanket is also one of the first things we give a child arriving in one our programmes.

Jumpers for school:

Children at an FTC-supported school in Kibera, Kenya

Plain V-neck jumpers for ages 6-14, or chest sizes approx 22" to 32".

Colours:  Royal blue, navy blue, maroon, bottle green, pink or yellow

Families in poverty struggle to give their children the basic necessities for school.  School uniform gives children a sense of pride and belonging.

Jumpers for babies and children:

Babies at our Abandoned Baby Centre, Kenya, model jumpers made from our pattern

Jumpers and cardigans, from premature size to about 32" chest (approx age 14)

There are more older children than babies in our programmes, so we appreciate a spread of sizes.

Even in Africa, children need knitted clothing and warm blankets at night.  The temperature at night can drop by several degrees, and a small child who is under-nourished is at particular risk from hypothermia over night.

Colours and yarns:

Most colours and yarns are acceptable, however:

• yarns with some natural fibre content (wool or cotton) are preferred. 
• yarns don't need to be machine washable!
• babies like soft clothes and blankets.
• white is the colour of mourning and sadness in many African countries, so we ask that knitted items are not predominantly white.

Children at an orphanage in Moldova, eastern Europe, wear their colourful new jumpers, made by supporters in the UK

Where to send your knitting

Download our FREE jumper pattern from our online shop

Order our knitting pattern book - just £3.50 + p&p