Get your knitting needles at the ready

Save the Children is appealing to all knitting enthusiasts to support their new Christmas fundraising initiative.

On 14 December 2012, Save the Children is calling upon the UK public to take part in a time-honoured Christmas tradition by wearing a festive jumper to raise money for their life-saving work. Save the Children is asking for a £1 donation from all who take part in their new Christmas Jumper Day and expects people across the country to join in the festive fun, whilst helping vulnerable children across the world. 

To ensure that there’s enough Rudolph and Santa jumpers to go around Save the Children is calling on knitters across the UK to make and donate jumpers to fuel the winter demand. Jumpers for all ages and sizes can be donated to any of Save the Children’s 120 charity shops across the UK, or can be sold via eBay with donations gifted to Save the Children. All designs are welcome – and the brighter and bolder the better.  

Leading knitwear designer Debbie Bliss has created a special reindeer knitting pattern for children available in three different sizes - 2/3 years, 4/5 years and 6/7 years. The unique knitting pattern will available to download for £2 from Save the Children’s website www.savethechildren.org.uk/jumpers.

Debbie comments: “I was thrilled to be asked to support Save the Children’s Christmas Jumper Day. It sounds like a fantastic fundraising initiative. Classic Christmas jumpers are definitely back in fashion so I encourage everyone to get knitting ahead of December 14^th to help improve the lives of children around the world.”

All money raised from the knitting pattern and from Christmas Jumper Day will help save the lives of the world’s most vulnerable children. In the world's poorest countries more than 7 million children die every year from easily preventable causes like diarrhoea and malnutrition. Simple solutions, like vaccines and mosquito nets, save lives – so your knitted jolly jumper can make a real difference.

Here in the UK, one of the world's richest countries, millions of children are growing up in poverty. Without warm clothes, a proper bed or nutritious meals, it's no wonder they struggle to fulfil their potential.

To find out more about Christmas Jumper Day please visit www.savethechildren.org.uk/jumpers

For media enquiries, please contact:

Rosie Budhani: Tel: 0203 215 3429 Email: r.budhani@savethechildren.org.uk

About Save the Children;

Save the Children works in more than 120 countries. We save children's lives. We fight for their rights. We help them fulfil their potential. For more information please visit: www.savethechildren.org.uk 

About Debbie Bliss:

Debbie Bliss is the foremost knitwear designer for children. With a string of bestselling titles to her name, she regularly tours the US, Canada and other countries, giving lectures and doing workshops and has her own Debbie Bliss branded yarn range which is sold worldwide. For more information, please visit: www.debbiebliss.freeserve.co.uk