Knitting for Uganda

Our church has for some time supported Anne Moore, a British nurse who works in Kisiizi Hospital, south-west Uganda. She visited the church this weekend and described her work there. Kisiizi Hospital is a busy regional hospital with very limited resources. Children and even adults sometimes have to share beds, and if there is no room in the beds then people sleep on the floor. Many patients, including babies, are HIV positive (but fortunately they are receiving drugs and quality of life is improving for them). The point of telling you all this is that she mentioned that knitted clothes and blankets for premature babies would be really welcome. I'm not sure that I'm ready to launch a huge appeal, but if anyone would like to knit baby clothes I would be happy to collect them. A couple of us at church will co-ordinate some kind of box to be sent over. The clothes will be hand-washed, so you don't need to use acrylic if that offends you! Have some fun with soft cosy left-overs or impulse buys (hem hem...). Hats, bootees, cardigans and blankets would be the most useful. Mittens a bit less so, and definitely no leggings (because they don't wear nappies). Anne said that garments of all sizes up to adult would actually be welcome.

I've been thinking about the issue of heat. The low and high average temperatures quoted by the BBC are very different, so I would guess that the nights are quite cold - Uganda is very hilly and has a high rainfall. And of course premature babies need to be extra warm anyway. I might make some adult bedsocks.

So this morning I got out all my random balls of 4-ply and dk and made a selection of the softest yarns and most cheerful colours (I don't really have baby wool as such), and I have started a baby blanket. It's not a traditional baby blanket, but I hope it will appeal to someone who likes bright colours!

I've been experiencing some aches and pains in my hands. I don't feel as though they are specifically knitting related, but I'm giving sock knitting a rest for the moment because I do tend to knit them quite tightly and the dpn's press into the palms a bit. Nice soft 4-ply on gentle wooden needles seems just the ticket!

Comments

[Christine]

My hands used to bother me alot and then I switched to wood needles. And that really seemed to make a difference. Not sure if it is because I knit slower that way or because the wood grabs the wool more that I don't hold as tight. Not sure, but it made the difference between only being able to knit an hour max per day to knitting as much as I want.

[Terri Lynn]

It's a wonderful work you are doing. I love making baby things. I will have to send you a site for some baby hats, later....

[anne]

I'd like to send you some baby items for your appeal. Do we know how premature they are? I remember one site talking about needing hats to fit a lime, not an orange, but perhaps in Uganda they would not survive at this size? I don't seem to be able to get the e-mail to send to your address - not sure why.

[Wibbo]

Oh, I've tagged you as well! Ingrid beat me to it....

[Ingrid]

What a good idea. What about a group project with the knitting group? I'd be happy to join in. I've also just tagged you with the 7 facts meme -play if you want!

[Nic]

Count me in I can't think of a better reason to knit something