Charity of the month: Knit For Peace

Knit For Peace began as an initiative which encouraged people from different, sometimes hostile, communities to come and knit together.

A representative from the charity said, “Based on our experience of developing Knit for Peace over the last few years, we have learned that knitting is extremely important as an activity that can be carried out right into extreme old age and helps improve long-term health.”

There are several different projects and campaigns on the go [LINK: http://www.knitforpeace.org.uk/projects-and-patterns/], so you will have no problem finding a pattern to suit you! The organisation is currently taking donations of handknitted layettes for newborn babies, including those who are born premature. Why not try knitting the matinee jacket designed by Debbie Bliss and featured above?

The clothes are never sold, but are sent direct to wherever they are needed most, with tens of thousands of items delivered each year to refugee centres, homeless shelters and hospitals.


Image: Rob Farrow/geograph

Most recently, Knit For Peace has launched an appeal to help small, independent knitting shops that are suffering from the recent floods in the UK. Some may be directly affected by water damage, while others may have suffered financial losses due to the terrible weather and travel restrictions.

Dame Hilary Blume, Director of the Charities Advisory Trust, the charity which Knit for Peace is part of, says “we have seen such a fall in the number of wool shops over the years, that we should nurture those remaining. We hope people will rally round.”

You can donate to the appeal here.

Look out for a new “Back to School” campaign coming soon, which will encourage knitters to donate jumpers to young children starting school in the UK and abroad. Go to www.knitforpeace.org.uk to find out more about the initiative.