Frequently Asked Questions

WHAT IS THE PREMMIE KNITTING CLUB?

Premmie Knitting Club (PKC) is a registered NZ charity (CC57485) providing knitted items for NICU’s in NZ and Australia. We are a virtual tribe of knitters knitting for premature babies and fundraising for preemie related causes.

We welcome sharing of patterns, ideas and love the community that we are creating with like minded knitters and people who have a connection to the NICU.

ARE THERE ANY RULES WHEN KNITTING FOR PREMMIE KNITTING CLUB?

  • PKC accepts both 100% merino and acrylic wool items

  • 4ply wool is preferred as 8ply can be rough on preemies skin

  • Please don’t make items too small, see below for more info on sizing

  • You do not need to wash items as hospitals will do this

  • We accept crochet items, Middlemore Foundation have some great patterns for crochet on their website

  • We accept larger babies items and knitting also, a number of organisations we donate to also gives items to full terms babies and children in need

HOW CAN I SUPPORT PREMMIE KNITTING CLUB?

You don’t have to knit to support PKC, here’s a list of ways you can help and get involved.

WHEN AND WHERE DO I DONATE MY KNITTING TO?

Our official annual appeal is open from March-June each year. While we encourage most of the donations during this period, we do gratefully accept knitting all year round.

We encourage donations directly to our organisation and also to your local NICU. Addresses for donations can be found here.

WHAT SHOULD I KNIT?

Preemie singlets, cardigans, blankets and beanies are all great items to knit. Remember not to make them tiny, we are knitting for smaller babies but we often receive really tiny items that the NICU won’t be able to use. Check our our patterns page for more info on sizing.

We partner with Natalie from KidSet who designs custom patterns for preemie items that knitters can knit then donate back to Premmie Knitting Club.

WHERE CAN I FIND FREE PATTERNS?

We have a page with a range of links to free online patterns.

If you have patterns to add please get in touch as we love to share a range of patterns with our community.

There is also a Facebook Group dedicated to sharing ideas and patterns, you can join here.

CAN I KNIT PEGGY SQUARES?

Yes, details below!

Size:

  • 15x15cm squares.

You will need:

  • size 8 (4mm) needles.

  • Any colour 8ply (double knitting, DK) wool.

  • Approximately 20 squares make a blanket

Tension: everyone’s knitting tension is slightly different and not all 8ply yarns are created equal. You may need to adjust the number of stitches you cast on so that your square is 15cm wide when it is finished.

  • Cast on 30 stitches.

  • Work 60 rows garter stitch (knit every row), or until your work measures 14.5cm.

  • Cast off 30 stitches

WHAT TYPE OF WOOL SHOULD I USE?

The general consensus is that both natural and acrylic wools are acceptable (machine washable wools, acrylic-wool blend or 100% acrylic yarns) and this has been verified by multiple hospitals across NZ and Australia who we have checked with. That said, there is differing info available online as some hospitals have different processes for washing and distributing the knits so we encourage people to check with the hospital they are donating to if they want to be 100% certain. If you are donating directly to PKC, we will accept both natural and acrylic and distribute to the hospitals depending on what they prefer.

 I CROCHET, CAN I JOIN THE PREMMIE KNITTING CLUB?

Yes, we have plenty of crocheters involved.

The Middlemore Foundation have some great crochet patterns available here.

WHAT HAVE PAST DONATIONS TO PKC ACHIEVED FOR NICUS?

In 2018 and 2019, we donated funds raised on Givealittle to the Well Foundation who are helping the Waitakere Hospital Special Care Baby Unit build more rooms so families can stay together. This will mean families -particularly mums with premature babies - can stay together in hospital and bond during a very vulnerable time in their lives. The foundation’s aim is to build six new rooms (from 12 to 18) so families can stay close to their baby and create a welcoming family-centred environment: designed around mums and bubs to support rest and recovery, and family bonding.

In 2021, we donated $1000 and $900 respectively to Well Foundation and Middlemore Foundation to put towards buying specialist chairs for their NICU/SCBU units.

In 2022 we donated specialist chairs to Christchurch Hospital NICU and a whanau bed to Waitakere Hospital SCBU.

In 2023, we hope to donate furniture to two additional hospitals in NZ.

WHEN IS THE NEXT APPEAL?

We accept knitting all year! Please knit and donate whenever you like. We do have an official winter appeal that begins in March and goes until June as hospitals have a need in winter.

HOW DO YOU THANK KNITTERS AND SUPPORTERS?

Saying thanks is important to us, after all knitting for PKC takes time, effort and often $. We are so appreciative to everyone who knits for us, your support is literally what keeps PKC going.

Since 2021, thank you cards have been virtual. I hope you understand and still get the same sense of satisfaction and sense of appreciation.

When you send knitting directly to PKC, please provide a mobile number so we can send a quick text message to say thanks too!