Sunday was WWKIP Day. That's Worldwide Knit in Public Day to those of us who aren't great at the whole acronym thing. I knit in public most days on the bus and have had more than my fair share of conversations about how random people on the bus remember their grandmother/wife/sister knitting socks when they were younger etc...
For the last few years, Innocent Drinks and Rowan have got together to get people to knit little hats for the Innocent Smoothie bottles.
For those of you who don't live in the UK, Innocent Drinks make delicious fruit smoothies and greatly contribute to allowing me to get my government-recommended 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day. Without Innocent Drinks, I'd be around 1 or 2. Possibly lower.
So, for each Innocent Smoothie bottle sold with a hat, Innocent Drinks will donate 50p to Age Concern (a great charity that takes cares of old people). You can read about how this all came about and the great work that they did last year here. (They receieved over 220,000 hats and raised over £110,000 (which is roughly $220,000).
So, I think it would be great to knit some hats for these Innocent bottles and raise some money for charity. Especially as the hats are teeny (we're talking casting on 28 stitches in DK weight yarn and knitting about 16 rows with a few decreases). I've received a 'kit' from Rowan which includes some 10% discount vouchers as well as some pattern leaflets with some ideas as to the hats that could be knitted. So, how about it? Wanna join in and knit a few hats?
Just to give you that little bit of encouragement:
- For every hat that I am sent I'll put a name in a draw so if you send me 4 hats, I'll put your name in the draw 4 times etc. I'll then get someone to draw 3 names out of the hat. And those 3 persons will get a present from me.
- The first 30 people to tell me that they are going to send me two or more hats (leave a comment or email me at the address below) will get a 10% discount voucher to spend on Rowan or Jaeger yarn. I am doing this trusting that if you say you will knit two or more hats, you actually will. These vouchers need to be used by the 30th of July so I don't want to wait until I have collected all the hats – after all, you are going to need time to work out what to buy. These vouchers are only valid in the UK sadly so if you live outside of the UK, and because I want you to play too, let me know and I'll put your name in a special draw for "People outside of the UK" so that you have a chance of getting something nice too.
- The instructions on how to knit these hats are here. It's worth looking at these just to make sure that the hats that you knit actually fit the bottles. I also have 30 or so leaflets with other patterns on them so if you'd like one and you are willing to pledge to knit at least two hats, let me know and I'll pop it in the post for you.
- You can see some of the hats that were knit last year here.
- I don't have a deadline for this yet but I think some time around the end of August might work well.
You can email me with questions or anything else at ameliajjones AT yahoo DOT co DOT uk (If you can't work the email address out from that, leave me a comment) if you would like a pattern, if you want my address or if you have any questions.
Let's see if we can make a bit of a difference with a bit of our spare time.
Updated to add: Diane pointed out that the vouchers are only good until the end of June but I am trying to see if I can get some vouchers with a later expiry date! Thanks for letting me know Diane!
Posted by Amelia at June 11, 2007 10:32 AMI know I'm a year too late but my Girl Guide Unit and I are going to knit some hats for Innocent and Help the Aged this year. Would you be able to send me some of the alternative patterns please?
Loving your blog! Rachel x
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Posted by: free mp3 ringtones motorola v400 at October 24, 2007 11:26 PMAmelia, just catching up on your blog and I would love to knit some hats! I'll pledge 5, but may end up making more. They look a bit addictive and we have many long car rides this summer. It will be nice to have something that will give me almost instant finishing gratification, and I am a sucker for a good cause.
Posted by: Shirra at June 21, 2007 07:37 PMOh Yes, I'll take the pledge, 4 if not more, I should think, great way to use up odds and ends. I would love a leaflet too if there are any left.
Mmmm, love those Innocent smoothies, they make me feel like a better parent, all that goodness in one glass.
Posted by: Rebecca at June 15, 2007 07:52 PMHi Amelia. One hat done, and I'll do some more. They're a good distraction from the intricacies of the lace stole I'm doing! Thanks for inspiring us to do something. Love Helen.
Posted by: Helen at June 14, 2007 09:50 PMI've already made 2!! They are soooooo easy and strangely addictive.
Posted by: Carol at June 14, 2007 12:59 PMPledging to make 7, I each day next week:) A change from the hospice shawls and a little quicker
Posted by: ambermoggie at June 14, 2007 12:50 PMI pledge to knit at two or more hats.
FYI: we met once at Liberty's about three years ago (you brought your friend who was a new knitter and she was taught by Nancy).
Well done for organising this.
Patricia
Posted by: Patricia at June 14, 2007 10:26 AMOh, I hereby pledge to knit at least 2 hats and hopefully much much more. I am due mid July with my second babe and was looking for a very simple project to distract me during labor. I think this might just be it.
Posted by: Trish at June 13, 2007 10:05 PMAmelia:
I am a Canadian novice knitter living in Montreal, Quebec. I think these little hats knitted for charity purposes look gorgeous. I would undertake to knit at least 4 of them before August but would appreciate receiving a leaflet (or is it possible for you to numerize it and show a pdf copy on your blog.) I will try to reach you through your yahoo email address.
Thanks for sharing.
Lise
Posted by: Lise at June 13, 2007 03:52 PMOn second thought, I could probably use the rowan voucher at the Yarn House since I still buy yarn there over the phone!
Posted by: Carol at June 12, 2007 03:00 PMCount me in! My husband has 2 trips to London next month so I'll send over as many hats as possible by then. I'm sure that will be 2 :). Obviously can't use the discount voucher though...
Posted by: Carol at June 12, 2007 12:48 PMThis is great as I got to Bluewater too late on Saturday to take part. I'll pledge to knit as many hats as I can manage in the next few months, it'll be at least 2. I can't do anything like the fancy ones from last year but could you send me a pattern leaflet to help me. I'll email you with my address. Thanks.
Posted by: Eilidh at June 12, 2007 12:36 PMCount me in!! I pledge as many hats as I can muster.
Posted by: Jacinta at June 12, 2007 09:21 AMI'll knit at least 4 hats although I can't promise they will look as fantastic as those that were knitted last year! I wouldn't mind a leaflet if you've still got one but don't worry about the Rowan voucher. Sadly there are no shops around here selling Rowan so I have to order it online and GetKnitted give 10% discount anyway
Posted by: Marie-france at June 11, 2007 11:27 PMCount me in too! We are off visiting family this week... a 400 mile car journey so I should be able to make a few ;)
Posted by: Sally at June 11, 2007 07:54 PMI pledge to help you knit up to whatever number you want to hit as a target. It might allow me to put off working on the forest path stole a bit longer ;-)
Posted by: polly at June 11, 2007 07:26 PMCount me in, I'll do you half-a-dozen....seeing as I am old enough to actually benefit from Age Concern!
Posted by: Jill at June 11, 2007 05:25 PMCount me in Amelia - I will bring them over when I come home end of July and if I don't see you will give them to Jill to pass on. Age Concern UK have been fabulous recently during my elderly aunts illness and I would love to help contribute in a small way.
Posted by: Carol at June 11, 2007 05:00 PMI am sure that I have some dk weight odds and ends hanging around here somewhere. (I am not going to put a number on my pledge as that would require me to actually go and find them, lol!)
I remember hearing about this campaign last year and I think that it sounds great! :)
Posted by: Holly at June 11, 2007 04:02 PMI'm coming back to the UK this autumn, and when I do, I'm going to have to try an Innocent Smoothie.
I'll knit up some hats. It's about time I did some good knitting for charity, and it's not as thought I don't have the yarn to spare! I live outside the UK, however, so no voucher for me. (Even if I did live there, though, I'm on a very strict yarn diet, so I wouldn't be able to buy new yarn anyway. :p )
I'm not sure how many hats I'll knit, but I'm sure I'll be able to knit more than 2. I have plenty of time at work to knit in between phone calls.
Shall I send the hats to you, or just send them straight to the address listed on the Innocent Drinks page?
Posted by: Ria at June 11, 2007 03:12 PMPlease, please look more carefully at those vouchers. I have one of those, it expires on 30th JUNE. The yarn shop where it is used, must return it to Rowan by 31st July. I just don't want people to miss out on bargain yarn.
Posted by: Diane A at June 11, 2007 03:11 PMI'll knit you some hats - I'm always up for a challenge ;-)
I hesitate to put a number on my pledge (it will be at least 2) but I'll try for a half-dozen or so!
Posted by: Diane at June 11, 2007 02:45 PMOh, that is great! I pledge to knit at least 2 hats but will use up all my DK odds and ends, so who knows how many will appear!! My email Amelia is queenofthefroggers at yahoo dot co dot uk.
xx
Ok, Ok, seems like madness but yes I hereby undertake to knit 6 little hats before the end of July. Keep up the good work.
Posted by: Helen at June 11, 2007 11:03 AM