Fish and Chips babies
Adactus staff and their families came together this March to knit jumpers and hats for a worthy cause. In total, staff at the Leigh based association knitted 28 jumpers and hats to help new born babies in Africa born with “Anti body Immune Deficiency” (AIDS). The new-borns are called “fish and Chip babies” because they literally leave hospital wrapped in nothing more than paper.
The appeal started from Pennington House, Adactus’s sheltered housing scheme in Leigh, in partnership with The Ladies of Wigan and Leigh Soroptomist Society. Jacqueline Calderbank, scheme coordinator at Pennington, has been working closely with the Soroptomist Society in various projects and is soon to be a fully fledged member. The fact that there are family members from the soroptomist society living at Pennington has helped even further to build this close working relationship with Adactus.
The jumpers and hats will be sent of straight away as part of a larger shipment of nearly 15,000 knitwear to help these babies get a better start in their lives. Adactus thanks all those who got involved.
Paul Lees, Adactus Housing Group, Chief Executive said “We are very proud of our staff that supported such a good cause. We hope that these jumpers and hats will make a positive difference to the babies’ start in life and we will remain committed to supporting good causes around the world”.
Photo from left to right: Margaret Molyneux from the Sorptomist Society, Jacqueline Calderbank from Adactus, Marion Smith and Sue Kennerley from the Soroptomist Society.
Hi and thank you for your enquiry. Unfortunately, we have closed our appeal for knitwear from here. You could try and contact the Soroptimist Society, a worldwide woman’s organization, and they should be able to advise you.
http://www.soroptimist-ukpac.org/
We trust this helps.
Hi I have several jumpers knitted and ready to be sent off. Can you tell me where I could possibly send them to. Thankyou H. MacKinnon
Hello Elsbeth
Thank you for your enquiry. The Soroptimist Society would be the best point of contact. They are a worldwide woman’s organisation and will have representation in your borough. They also currently have several other global projects going on.
The website address is:
http://www.soroptimist-ukpac.org/
We hope this helps.
Hello, I am knitting the jumpers for fundraising for my trip to uganda, I am asking people to sponsor them and as I’m going to Uganda I could probably take them to a drop off point-do you have any idea who I would contact about this? Thank you
Hi Rosemary and thank you for your enquiry. As far as we know ‘Tools with a Mission’ had their last shipment ready to go and therefore the reason why they are refusing any further collections.
We have now also closed our appeal from here and further enquiries can be passed onto the Soroptimist Society. They are a worldwide woman’s organization and will have representation in your borough.
http://www.soroptimist-ukpac.org/
We trust this helps.
We have been knitting for Tools with a Mission and they no longer accept knitted goods. Have you anyone in the Cambridge area where we could deliver our knitting goods.
Hi Lesley, Joy and Jo
Firstly, thank you for your enquiry. ‘Tools with a Mission’, a charity supported by many churches and other groups across the UK, are theorganisation responsible for providing the containers and covering the cost to send our woolly vests and beanie hats to babies suffering from aids and born into sheer destitute. The container loads are shipped out to Zambia, Uganda and Rwanda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Nigeria.
If you would like further information regarding the ‘Fish & Chip Baby’ campaign please contact ‘Tools with a Mission’ on 01473 210 220 (www.twam.co.uk) who will be more than happy to provide you with further information.
Are you still happy for folks to send jumpers to
Jacqueline Calderbank, Turner House, 56 King Street, Leigh WN7 ?
I’m interested in knitting fish n chip baby jumpers and beanie hats and would like to know if there is anyone collecting them in or around Cardiff?
Ladies at my church are pleased to knit a number of little jumpers and hats but have asked for more specific information regarding the destination of these items, i.e. which African countries they are bound for and how will they get there? Thank you.
For anyone that wishes to knit jumpers and hats for this worthy cause, here are the patterns and guidance to help you. The jumpers are very easy to knit and can be knitted in one piece.
All in one – Jersey Pattern
Using double knitting wool and No.4mm needles
- Cast on 44 stitches
- Work 18 rows in K2, P2 rib
- Work 30 rows stocking stitch (1 row plain, 1 row purl)
- Cast on 12 stitches at beginning of next 2 rows and at the same time change to K2, P2 (for sleeve)
- Rib 22 more rows
- Next row: Rib 21, cast off 26 stitches, rib 21
- Next row: Rib 21, cast on 26 stitches, rib 21
- Work 22 rows in K2, P2 rib
- Cast off 12 stitches at beginning of next 2 rows
- Work 30 rows stocking stitch
- Work 18 rows, K2, P2 rib
- Cast off
- Sew up side seams
Baby Beanie Hat Knitting Pattern
Using double knitting wool and No. 4mm needles
- Cast on 64 stitches and work 14 rows in K1, P1 rib
- Work 24 rows in stocking stitch or until work measures 11cm from cast on edge.
Shape crown as follows:
- Row 1: *K6, K2 tog. Repeat from * to end of row (56 stitches)
- Row 2: Knit
- Row 3: *K5, K2 tog, Repeat from * to end of row (48 stitches)
- Row 4: Knit
- Row 5: *K4, K2 tog, Repeat from * to end of row (40 stitches)
- Row 6: Knit
Continue decreasing in this manner until (K1, K2 tog) has been completed and 16 stitches remain.
- Knit 1 row. Break yarn and thread through remaining 16 stitches.
Bright coloured stripes look good and use up small amounts of wool. Thank you for your support.
Hi Moira, thanks for your enquiry. You will shortly receive an email with the relevant patterns. We trust this helps.
Where can I get the patterns for the jumpers, vests and hats?
Hi Dee, and thanks for your enquiry. You could send your jumpers to our head office in Leigh for the attention of Jacqueline Calderbank, Adactus Housing Group, Turner House, 56 King Street, Leigh WN7 4LJ.
If you have any problems sending the jumpers please contact us using callconnect 0845 505 3355 or mobileconnect 0300 111 1133 and ask to speak with either Thanasis or Elesh from our Corporate Services.
Hi I have received about 450 of the fish and chip babies vests but am struggling to find anyone who can collect them or even a contact number. Wondering if you know anyone who can help? thank you.
Hi Chris, thank you very much for your enquiry. Please feel free to send your jumpers to the following address marked for the attention of Jacqueline Calderbank, Turner House, 56 King Street, Leigh WN7 4LJ.
Please can you give me an address or phone number for where to send the Fish and Chip baby jumpers. Thank you