The Big Knit 2018-19

The Big Knit is back! Grab your needles and help us be there for older people with no one else to turn to.

What is the Big Knit?

Every year, we ask you to knit tiny woollen hats, and each one gets placed on an innocent smoothie bottle.

For every smoothie sold, we receive 25p, and that money helps us fight loneliness among older people.

Since 2003, you've knitted over 7 million hats, raising more than £2.4 million for Age UK and our vital work.

How to join in

1. Choose a pattern
   Design your own hat or have a look at our patterns and choose your favourite to download.
2. Knit away
   Knit in front of the telly, or gather a group of friends and chat over the click-clack of needles. Some local Age UKs even hold their own knitting groups.
3. Send us your hats
   Pop your hats in the post to:
   
   Age UK
   The Big Knit
   Fruit Towers
   342 Ladbroke Grove
   London W10 5BU
   
   Or find an Age UK near you and drop your hats off there – see which local Age UKs can take your hats.
4. Tell us your story
   innocent and Age UK would love to send you a thank you card in the post and tell you about the next Big Knit. If you'd like that too, include a note with your hats telling us your name and address. Let us know your knitting stories and why you're taking part in the Big Knit!
   
   We'll be acting as joint controllers of your info, and we promise to keep it safe. Read innocent's privacy policy and Age UK's privacy policy. You can change or stop how we contact you by emailing contact@ageuk.org.uk or DPO@innocentdrinks.com, or by calling 0800 169 87 87 (Age UK) or 020 7993 3311 (innocent).

Download a knitting pattern

Stripe pattern for beginners

Intermediate apple pattern

Advanced duck pattern

Knit a mini santa hat

Yarn: Red and white

Needles: 4mm

Hat
Cast on 31 stitches in white
Knit four rows in garter stitch
Change to red and begin with a knit row. Continue in stocking stitch for 11 more rows.
Next row: k2tog to last stitch, k1 (16 sts)
Next row: purl
Next row: k2tog to end (8 sts)

Cut the yarn leaving approximately 10cm length. Thread this onto a sewing needle and bring through the stitches. Pull to tighten.

Make up the hat

Sew the side seams together using a sewing needle.
Make a small white pomp om and sew to the top of the hat.

Drop your hats to an Age UK near you

Click on your region to find which local Age UK can take your knitted creations. Click on the Age UK name to see their address.

How does the Big Knit help?

The money we raise from the Big Knit helps us be there for older people who have no one else to turn to.

Watch our video to see just how much this means to people like Jean and John.