The Big Knit

I am sure that I am not the only one who doesn't want to get old. I am not talking about getting a few wrinkles, stiff in the morning and becoming forgetful, that's just life. I mean that old where you are isolated and cut off from society. The time when you seriously can't afford to put the heating on and you survive on the tiniest portions of lunch. I like old people, they just know so much and I think that it is very important to teach my children to respect them. I always to talk to my elderly neighbour and it is a joy although there is a real sadness in his eyes when he talks about the wife he has lost and how his ability to keep on top of the house and garden is dwindling.

Last year I knitted two hats for this Innocent Smoothie's Big Knit so it hasn't been too hard to improve on that. Just in case you have never seen them, Innocent Smoothies wear little hats during the month of November and for each one that is bought, Innocent Drinks donate 25p to Age UK. Age UK do a lot of lovely and very helpful things for old people. They really are fab, just check out what they do here.

On Wednesday at our Jubilee WI knit and stitch meeting I managed to enlist some helpers and although we only made a modest amount of hats, I certainly did better than last year. I did take a few photos at the meeting but the light didn't really do the hats justice so yesterday I entertained myself doing a mini photo shoot. After all who wouldn't rather take photos of cute little hats instead of doing the housework and it is for the old people after all.

Here are all the ones that were finished by yesterday but a few more were added to the envelop before it was posted earlier.

 I based this hat on the simple pattern from the Big Knit website although I did only read the first line and made the rest up myself so it is not a true representation. I hadn't really given pompoms a huge amount of thought in the past but I have a feeling that I might be a fan of the over-sized version and that I could end up making myself a hat just like this.

Influenced by the Scottish Bonnet, this one is totally made up but works ok. It does actually match my bike and the children have suggested that I make one for myself / for them / even for Daddy.

Finally here is a family portrait of the four little hats I made. Please look out for them in the shops in November and buy one if you see it or just buy any of the Innocent Smoothies wearing little hats, the old folk need your help.