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Getting near the end

Over the summer, since May, I have been collecting knitted things for newborn and premature babies in a hospital in Uganda. Now the deadline for sending things to the shipping charity draws near - end of September. What a summer of knitting it has been! I have a huge collection of beautiful garments - all individual, made with care, practical and attractive.

There's a chance for us all to finish off sewing on buttons, darning in ends, etc. at Stash Yarns of Putney on Monday, 10 September, from 7 to 9 pm. I'm going to bring a cake. Do come if you can. You can probably knit a prem hat in two hours, right?

Here are the most recent additions. I have acknowledged their safe arrival to their respective donors, but I have to admit that I've been a bit slow in photographing them and posting them here for you to see. Still, without more ado:

A huge contribution from Pippa Headon, who works in a neonatal unit in or near Wolverhampton. Her unit had been given various items that were too small, so she had the brainwave of donating them to Kisiizi:

(How did I not notice how wonky that sheet was when I was taking the shots?) There's a lot of really nice cosy baby clothes there. Thank you to the knitters of Wolverhampton!

Pat Blain has been very busy:

 

Lovely work, Pat, and very practical for the slightly older babies and children who are malnourished and therefore feel the cold badly. I think those bright stripes will be popular!

Then, all the way from Hong Kong:

(I love those crochet slippers!)

From Siow Chin (Little Purl of the Orient), who as well as knitting has sewn a couple of very elegant patchwork blankets (they're very soft, too).

Don't forget Stash on Monday, 10 September at 7 pm!

Rowanspun 4 ply

I'm on the lookout for some skeins of Rowanspun 4 ply in the colour 'Eau de Nil'. I would be willing to buy or swap three or four skeins. Any spares out there?

Update on Kisiizi

Poor neglected blog. My excuse is that I've been away a lot (Bath, Monmouth, Berlin and Norfolk!) but I suspect the real reason is the complete lack of structure and routine as the summer holidays near their end. The chief economist starts back at school on Tuesday and the boys go back on Friday (weird day to start term). Then I'll have a more regulated life and the blog will benefit I hope.

In the meantime: I have received more lovely things for Kisiizi Hospital and the deadline is extended till the end of September. On Monday 10th September Stash will be holding an evening knit-in for us to finish off items or use up ends of yarn in the cause. It should be fun - and knitting for Kisiizi is not compulsory! I'll post more details as I hear. I've promised to bake a cake...

I will do a proper photoshoot and acknowledgements in the next couple of days, but for now I just want to say thank you once again to everyone who has knitted for the hospital.

Monkey

I've recently joined Ravelry. It's taking me a while to explore its potential and so far I have just put up a couple of projects. One of them is new: I'm knitting the famous Monkey socks from Knitty. In theory my project page on Ravelry should now link to this post!

I'm using some very nice Yarn Yard hand dyed yarn that I bought at Woolfest in a peach-pumpkin colour blend. Since taking this photo I have finished the first leg and am working on the heel flap.

After a very busy few weeks I've managed to knit at both Liberty's and Stash this week! It's been very nice being with knitters again!

Kisiizi update

Usual excuses about being busy ... camping in the rain ... visiting and being visited ...

Now that's over, look at the beautiful things that I have been sent over the last few weeks for the babies and children at Kisiizi Hospital in Uganda. I have just heard from the charity which ships the parcels that the next shipment will actually be in October. I'll therefore leave the appeal up and will carry on myself.

Polly's EZ set:

More lovely things from Polly:


Cardigan and hats from Dawn:


Snuggly socks by Dawn:

Some of Jan's hats...


More of Jan's amazing hats!


Anne's cosy log cabin blanket and surprise jacket set:

Amy's pretty cardigan:


Luisa's beautiful jacket, hats and bootees: 

They're fabulous, all of them. Thank you so very much.

Now I'm off to Buckingham Palace!