Torquay & District Soroptimist International have been busy knitting long sleeved and short sleeved ‘fish n chip shop’ baby vests, and hats for children. Over 100 garments are helping to support SI Tiverton who will send to the International Aid Trust, to be distributed to Sierra Leone, India, Ukraine.
In many African countries these vests can mean the difference between life and death for newborn babies. Born to impoverished families, these children, who often suffer from Aids, come home wrapped in just a newspaper to keep them warm. As temperatures dip during the night, they are at risk of a number of health problems and even death as a result of the cold.
The vests are easy to knit and are knitted in one piece using simple patterns, often in one or two evenings, and need to be either a dark or a bright colour the stripes look really good. The clothes can’t be white, as it is considered a colour of mourning in a lot of African countries. Baby colours are also no use, as these jumpers won’t be washed they are worn until they fall off the kids’ backs.
Members of Torquay & District Soroptimist International would like to thank everyone who have donated wool and knitted the vests.