Calling all Mumsknitters - would you like to help Oxfam raise awareness of maternal mortality

[carriemumsnet]

I posted this on Site stuff, but it was suggested we post it here too...

As part of the Health and Education For All campaign, Oxfam have launched an appeal for knitted squares to create a giant baby blanket, with each square knitted representing a mother who did not survive pregnancy or childbirth to be able to care for her baby, because she couldn't access the medical care she needed.

Oxfam are aiming to get 250,000 squares by September, which is the number of mothers who could have been saved in that time if decent healthcare had been available.

They need knitters to make 9 inch squares for the giant blanket, which will be handed into the Government as a sort of 'patchwork against poverty petition', to demand a world where everyone has access to free basic healthcare.

We were just wondered if all you Mumsknitters would be interested in teaming up with Oxfam to help out.

Ideally we'd need some folks to volunteer as Local/regional coordinators - who could appeal on their local sites for knitters, maybe organise a local knit -in/meet-up, wouldn't mind being contacted by non mumsnetter oxfam supporters to coordinate collection of squares

And then we just need folks who wouldn't mind unravelling an old sweater and knitting some squares (they're v keen on folks recycling old knitted stuff).

In May they're planning on holding Knit-ins at local MP's offices - so they're also looking for folks happy to teach their MP how to knit while talking about the issue of maternal mortality and hopefully picking up some local media coverage.

Basically it's not about raising money but raising awareness.

Let us know what you think/if you would be interested in helping out.

Thanks

MNHQ

Has this been linked to Ravelry yet?

Would love to help, let me know how.

hi all

well it's official Mumsnet and Oxfam are working together on this, so all we need to do now is get knitting

here's the link to the page with all the info

If anyone would be happy to act as regional coordinator ie collecting squares or organising knit ins, please stick a hand up now as folks from Oxfam are being directed to this thread and it would be great if there were some volunteers ready.

If you have any further questions, Sarah at oxfam is happy to be contacted - her email [email protected]

Thanks to everyone who's volunteered so far. This is such a worthy cause, we really hope we can make a difference.

Happy to do whatever you ask me to do. Have enlisted the help of our MP as in my previous post.

Look forward to hearing from you

I'll post this across on other crafty forums too

Thanks - I will be a co-ordinator for Caithness if you like (collate and send off knitted squares, plus publish locally) - I will contact Sarah and let her know

Have you read some of the comments on the Oxfam release? They clearly haven't read the article properly

I've been in touch with the organisers and asked a couple of questions, so I thought it was worth sharing the answers on here:

"To answer your questions: people can knit in any colour and any type or yarn, patterns or plain knit would be brilliant and so are crocheted squares. Just as long as they are all the same size so we can fit them together!"

I have been in to my local wool shop and they are going to support the campaign (as long as the big boss agrees, which they think is likely!). As soon as I have printed literature (which I have been promised) I will blitz the other local craft shops, plus our local website. I am contemplating holding a "knit-in" session locally as well if I can.

oh yeah! I can only knit squares and scarves! I leanred to knit for Maude's pink blanket but never progressed

Also will talk to members of our mum's group at work as we are holding a knitting workshop soon...this would be a lovely project!

I have had some contact with Oxfam over this. E.mail Sarah Blakemore, address on their website and she will send you all the info you need. Very helpful.

Hey cat64 I am the sarah from oxfam working on this project. You can drop off squares in our Birmingham office (contact Georgia Stokes [email protected]) and she will be able to help you locally. But do get in touch with me if you have any more questions ([email protected])

Sarah, I have contacted you direct about this.

I am happy to do some coordination work for central London as per my e-mail, but don't want to "out" myself in my workplace

I'll be happy to co-ordinate for Cardiff ... but I'm a crocheter, rather than a knitter ...

Knittingsarah has said that crochet is fine, ejt - as long as the squares are the right size it doesn't matter!

Hey everyone, just to let you know there is now a ravelry group for this project.

fab, fab, fab - and I've joined the ravelry group!

Hi I just wanted to make sure people know that Oxfam Manchester is launching the knitting campaign in town tomorrow (Saturday 12th April)..

Just turn up at 12noon in front of Urbis, tell as many people as possible. And as part of the publicity we are urging people to knit 1400 squares which will be made into a blanket, and be used as a campaigning tool to encourage world leaders to take action.

Imagine thousands of people knitting at the same time trying to raise awareness on this matter, this is what this flashmob would be.
4.5 by 4.5 inch squares in any colour you like to symbolise your voice.

? In many parts of the world, what ought to be a wondrous event in a woman?s life can be equivalent to a death sentence. This is nothing short of an emergency, and we must address it right now.?

No, you dont have to knit thousands of squares on Saturday but we?ll pose for photos with knitting needles etc. Hope your male friends wont be dissuaded by the thought of knitting!

PLEASE COME ALONG AND INVITE YOUR FRIENDS, PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS AND ANYONE YOU KNOW WHO CAN AND WILL KNIT!!!!

Am happy to knit a few squares too, let me know what to do.

BTW I am in Selby, near York, is there a local group?

Hi, I'd be happy to help as a co-ordinator for Peterborough area - unless there is a volunteer already.

There is an independent yarn shop near to me, I will ask there about organising a knit-in and for knitted square etc.

Will sort through my yarn stash and get started!

Just to claify on sizes. The appeal is actually asking for 9-inch squares (the large size is to minimise sewing up, which will be an enormous task!). Some knitters find 9-inches too big, so the Manchester group is doing 4.5 inch squares which they will later sew together.
Unless you are sewing up your own squares (like the Manchester group), 9-inch squares are easier for the Oxfam volunteers to handle. Thanks very much everyone!

blimey, that grin icon is a bit scary LOL

Anything happening in the tunbridge wells/tonbridge area????

Hi. What would I have to do as coordinator for an area? I would love to help, even if it is just knitting a square.