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Kisiizi

Crossing the Thames by one of the big crossings always makes me feel as if I'm going abroad (Essex is like another country ...). Today I actually gathered my courage and drove through the Dartford Tunnel and then back again over the Dartford Bridge (in high winds, 30 mph speed restrictions - yuck). It was all fine, of course, and I was at last able to fulfil my obligation to get the Kisiizi baby clothes packed up and delivered.

Here are the statistics. We made:

121 hats

52 cardigans

36 pairs socks/bootees

6 blankets

2 dresses.

Now they are all safely packed up and awaiting shipment in the warehouse of Medical Missionary News. It will be a little time before the container is full enough to make up the shipment, and I will pass on news of progress when I have some.

It's funny how, all through the autumn it just seemed impossible for me to drive to Essex. Then suddenly, last week, I knew that I could easily do it! I think I'm emerging from a bit of a low - not depression, just a loss of motivation. Hope so, anyway!

A little more Kisiizi

Liz Marley sent a delightful Baby Surprise Jacket knitted in Trekking

which I think is a brilliant use of this yarn. I wondered if she used two strands together, but she assures me not. (It has made quite a small jacket.) Liz also sent a nice hat:

I phoned the charity that ships out to Uganda. They don't set dates - once the container is full it goes - but they're still aiming for October some time. I don't want to miss the boat, so I'm going to start packing everything up and will probably take it to Essex next Monday. If anything is hanging loose on your needles, now's the time to get it finished off! My problem now is to find 'banana' boxes. I don't think supermarkets have proper cardboard boxes with lids any more. It seems that this particular size (about a metre long) is the best for filling the container sensibly. Any ideas?

More lovely things

for Kisiizi Hospital.

Tina's (aka Misplacedpom) collection of hats and socks together with a pretty, star-shaped blanket (sent from New York):

Erin's very effective jacket and slippers (all the way from Singapore!):

and more slippers:

Ingrid's judiciously sized (it's perfect) beanie, locally grown:

Thank you, thank you to you three and all the other knitters for your wonderful contributions. Next news will be the packing up and shipping...

autumn draws on ...

and that means it's nearly time to send off the baby things to Kisiizi in Uganda. Tonight a few of us are meeting at Stash in Putney to finish off some of our knitting and eat cake (family fruit cake fresh out of my oven). I'm packing all the stuff up at the end of the month so that it can be shipped out to Uganda in October. So, if you have anything waiting for that last darned-in end, or little button, you know what to do!

Again, thank you to everyone who has knitted for this appeal. Here are a few new pics: Nic has done some lovely hats and jackets, despite having her own Peanut Peter to knit for.

A mystery knitter left these excellent hats and a cardigan at Stash. Thank you, mystery knitter!

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!

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.

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!

So much

I've got several blog posts in my head. It's been really busy round here (end of term, applying for a new job, general stuff) and the boys have been hogging the computer with a long-running medieval war game.

Before I post about Woolfest and what's on my needles (and a hook) I want to show you what Annette has knitted for the babies at Kisiizi hospital. In no particular order:

And my favourite:

Aren't they fantastic? Thanks once again, Annette. And thanks to everyone who's knitting away. I'm making some progress myself but need to do some finishing.

Update

Just a quick note. I have finally got the computer after no. 1 son has spent all afternoon and evening on a macroeconomics essay.

The mystery hat knitter is Jill, who is known to many knitters at Liberty's and Stash. Thank you again, Jill!

Waiting for my on my return from Cumbira was a squashy parcel containing the most wonderful baby clothes knitted by Annette. Do go and see what she has sent me. When I can organise a clean space and daylight I will put pictures up here too. Thank you so much, Annette!

The mystery hatter

A lovely surprise awaited me at Stash: someone had donated five colourful hats to the Kisiizi appeal. Here they are. Aren't they splendid?

I'm afraid the photo is less than splendid, but you get the idea. Thank you very much, anonymous knitter. Please leave a comment to identify yourself if you read this blog. I suspect one of the Wednesday morning knitters might know who you are. Do let us know!