Jerseys for African babes
BY MAIKE VAN DER HEIDE
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Kaikoura
Africa's newborn "fish `n chip" babies who are sent home from hospital wrapped in newspaper, will soon have something more comfortable to wear thanks to the busy hands of four Kaikoura ladies.
Marion Hendry, Adele Smithson, Daph Middleton and Patsy Buttle have knitted more than 25 tiny woollen jumpers for newborns in some of Africa's poorest countries.
Many of the babies suffer from AIDS.
They were dubbed "fish `n chip" babies because they were sometimes wrapped in newspaper like a packet of fish and chips.
The knitting began after the cover of the Women's Institute publication Home & Country featured a picture of a baby jumper destined for Africa and explained the good cause behind it.
Mrs Hendry and Mrs Buttle are both members of the Hapuku Women's Institute.
A subsequent article published in Home & Country late last year included a pattern for the jumpers and asked that they be made in dark but bright colours rather than pastel baby colours, as they may never be washed.
The Kaikoura jumpers are sent to Napier and then freighted to several African countries, wherever they are needed.
Each jumper takes between an afternoon and evening or, in Mrs Buttle's case, just an evening to make.
The jumpers are knitted in one piece.
The ladies say that as they knit, they think of the babies who will eventually wear them.
"When I knit anything I think of who it is for," Mrs Buttle said.
The ladies said they used leftover wool for the jumpers and could use their imagination when it came to the colour schemes.
All the jumpers were just one piece, knitted from the waist up.
They said it was very satisfying work.
Anyone wishing to donate knitted jumpers or wool can call Marion Hendry on 319 5390.
- © Fairfax NZ News
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Anyone wishing to take part in knitting jumpers should contact MARION HENDRY in Kaikoura on 03 319 5390
Hi there, my mother lives in Alexandra & saw the article in the Southland Times and wondered where the nearest club/organisaion is to Central Otago to join & knit for these babies.
Regards Judy
like the post on aug 30th from Penny i too have jumpers for fish and chip babies but our church has stopped the appeal and dont know where to send the ones we have so far
Can anyone advise if this project is still current, I am knitting jumpers for the 'fish'n'chip" babies but don't have clue on where to send them, HELP!
I live in England. A knitting group - part of our local Townswomen's Guild meeta at my house once a month. Some of us are knitting jumpers for fish and chip babies, but we don't know where to send them. Can you help? We also knit dolls which are used as packing in boxes of drugs sent to Africa from Canada for children with aids and are given to the children. I could give you more information about this. The Marlborough Express responds: Anyone wishing to donate knitted jumpers or wool can call Marion on 0064 3 319 5390
Mari Norman