LONDON LOCAL JOIN IN THE BIG KNIT 2017
With Christmas only around the corner, many of the team are busy with Christmas markets across London. This time of year can become all consuming and it’s hard being self employed and taking time for yourself amidst the chaos. I really enjoy crafting in my spare time and really try to take break during my busy periods, emphasis on try. I have been taking part in the Big Knit for a couple of years as it’s a nice to craft for a good cause.
What is the Big Knit?
Since 2003 Innocent have dressed their smoothie bottles in mini woolly hats to raise money for Age UK to help keep older people warm and well during the winter. So far knitters have helped raise over £1.9m.
The London Local Team love a craft party and I thought why don’t we get a group together for a knit and a natter before we take time off for Christmas! Wanting to help spread the word, I got in touch with Innocent and we were invited to Fruit Towers to help knit as many hats as we can!
I remember learning to knit when I was about 7, nothing fancy just simple knit and purl. I’ve made my fair share of scarves and a couple of baby blankets. I do enjoy knitting but I find big items quite daunting and because I only know the basics it can get a bit boring. When I discovered a few years ago, Innocent wanted help with their mini woolly hats it was the perfect type of knitting project for me, something small I could complete quickly, mix up colours and have a go at something more complicated. You can find all sorts of patterns on the Big Knit website.
To say the team were excited to be visiting Innocent Smoothie HQ at Fruit Tower in Ladbroke Grove is an understatement! Taking an afternoon off to hang out with some friends and do some crafting for a good cause, what more could you want? The icing on the cake was being joined by 3 of the team from Etsy UK, Ajeet, Emma and Jon.
Between the team we managed to bring a small mountain of odd balls of wool and knitting needles, so we had everything we needed to get started and even mini pom pom makers. We had a lovely afternoon crafting, chatting and drinking an endless supply of Innocent smoothies. Fruit Tower has got to be one of the most welcoming and relaxed office spaces I have ever visited. The chill out area is amazing and fully decked out in Christmas decorations with hundreds, possibly thousands of little hats in all sorts of colours and designs dotted around. There was a massive crate of packages of hats still to be opened. If you want to see some live footage from the day visit the Etsy Success Facebook page.
Since 2003 people from across the UK have made 6 million hats, raising £1.9 million and more awareness for the great work done by charities like Age UK. For 2017 Innocent want to aim for 2 million hats!
Our little group managed to make 21 hats, all with pom poms in an afternoon. It would be amazing to reach the 2 million hat target, so why not take a break, grab a cuppa and knit or crochet a hat or 2. Then pop your hats into an envelope along with a note clearly stating:
- how many you've knitted
- the date
- your name and address
And send them all through by 31st January 2017 to:
The Big Knit 2017
Innocent Drinks
342 Ladbroke Grove
London
W10 5BU
Every hat is important and each one is appreciated. Please make sure you include your details as the team like to personally thank everyone.
For more information or questions email bigknit@innocentdrinks.co.uk or call 0207 993 3311.
Can’t knit? Why not make some pom poms for someone who can knit or crochet then you can add your own flourish to each hat!
Lets reach that 2 million hat target!
Have a great Christmas break and see you in the new year!
