At the last local WI meeting we were asked to knit jumpers for “fish and chip” babies in Malawi. Apparently some of the new mothers are so poor that their babies are wrapped in newspaper. I was a bit sceptical about the story, then remembered all the little naked toddlers I had seen running about when I visited the Gold Coast, (Ghana), as a child. In a tropical village which lacks the basic facilities for laundering clothes it makes sense for the babies not to wear any. Malawi gets cold at night, so the babies need jumpers.
I accepted a pattern and went home to start knitting. The garment is very simple. The jumpers are knitted all in one, using a size larger needle for all the casting on/ casting off to ensure that the edges stretch easily.
When I finished my first jumper I decided that I did not like the way the ribbed sleeves refused to lie flat. I wanted the sleeves to look like sleeves, so I worked the sleeves of the next jumper in stocking stitch with moss stitch borders, (i.e. cuffs). When I reached the stage where I had to cast off stitches for the neck I then appreciated why this section was worked in rib. It stretches better and allows the baby’s head to pass through the gap. So I unpicked eight rows and modified the pattern further to allow eight rows of Knit 2, Purl 2 rib each side of the neck slit.
Of course the babies require hats as well. I found a “beanie” pattern online then I tied the hat to the jumper with a length of yarn in order to keep the matching items together.
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I have 8 sets of jumpers and hats ready for the Fish & Chip babies, but my contact can no longer take them. Do you have an address I can send them to.
My colleagues at Westlciff Women’s Institute were unable to help. I have looked online and the only place I could find currently taking jumpers appears to be “Hand in Hand for Syria”. Contact details: info@hihfad.org
Did you find somewhere to send your jumpers to?
Has anyone found an address that accepts these jumpers?
Jane would you please send me the pattern for the knitted jumpers. I would love to make some.
I have emailed the pattern to you, Alison.
A church in Oxford takes them to Uganda
I’m a member of Norfolk knitters & Stitchers (almost 3!000 members). Our February 2020 newsletter states :
“We can no longer accept Fish and Chip Jumpers – regrettably we do not have an outlet for them.”
Perhaps someone knows of an alternative outlet?
Have you tried searching using “Google”?
Long before I discovered how the jumpers should be knitted I knitted size 1 in the usual way and now that the charity cannot take any more and are fund raising for a container I am stuck with a load of jumpers!
Do any of our charities take them e.g. salvation army, red cross, christians against poverty??
I do not know any groups currently taking the jumpers. Do you have a nearby Salvation Army shop where you could enquire?