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Saturday, 17 May 2025

'Penguins get knitted jumpers to keep them warm after oil slicks'

Every now and again I like to post/share something completely different,
and this story is a little different!


Did you know that little knitted jumpers are being used to prevent penguins caught in oil spills from getting ill while trying to clean their feathers.

"A group of knitters based in a care home in Teesside, UK - calling themselves the Knitting Nannas - have been sending their creations to a penguin charity in Australia.

The woolly tops are used as a barrier to stop the birds swallowing toxic chemicals when they try to clean themselves after swimming through oil.

One of the Knitting Nannas, Joyce who is 94, explained that she has knitted jumpers for both her children but she had "never knit for a penguin" before.


When penguins get caught in oil they often need a clean

Phillip Island, south of Melbourne in Australia, is home to 40,000 penguins and preparation is ongoing to help look after them in the event of an oil spill.

Jumpers can be temporarily placed on an affected penguin until its feathers can be cleaned by rescue workers.

Thanking the Knitting Nannas, Rebecca Passlow from the Penguin Foundation- which is based there - said "generous knitters and groups from all around the world" have been making jumpers to help.

Speaking to BBC News reporter Tom Burgess, care home activities coordinator Sharon Lewis said that she loves finding worthwhile projects for the knitting group.

"The residents love getting involved and using their lifelong skills to support others.

"It's always incredible to receive pictures of cute animals wearing their knitted items."

In the past, the nannas have also knitted blankets for baby rhinos, which were sent to a wild rhino sanctuary in South Africa."
Images and words from article here

I would just like to add my thanks to the 'Knitting Nannas' and indeed all the other wonderful groups of knitters that so often get-together and knit for charity.

Wishing all readers a happy weekend.

All the best Jan

51 comments:

HappyK said...

Oh they are the cutest little things in their knitted sweaters!!!

Norma2 said...

Jan, In Mar del Plata, my city, oiled penguins usually appear and this is how they clean them at the Mundo Marino Foundation.
https://youtu.be/GZ7zVD5nmk8?si=qzbDYL1HNJ5794U2

roentare said...

There’s something profoundly heartwarming about lifelong hands finding new purpose in helping distant creatures

J.P. Alexander said...

Uy hay que cuidar a la naturaleza No sabia que había que ponerles suéteres. te mando un beso.

Anonymous said...

So heartwarming to read.
Have a great weekend Jan.

Tina

Tom said...

...when we end oil spills?

Anonymous said...

How lovely -Christine cmlk79.blogspot.com

doodles n daydreams said...

What a wonderful idea, so innovative.

Linda's Relaxing Lair said...

This is absolutely precious 💖 ❤️ 💜

Mari said...

This is so cute! And so sweet of those ladies to knit for the penguins.

Granny Marigold said...

Those penguins are so cute all dressed in their little sweaters knit by those sweet grannies.

Jules said...

Oh my! They look so sweet. It's just a shame they're necessary. X

Rustic Pumpkin said...

A heartwarming story, much needed joy and kindness in a world gone astray.

Margaret D said...

Bless those people knitting for the penguins.

Victor S E Moubarak said...

Thank you for this wonderful post. God bless, Jan.

Iris Flavia said...

I admit. I have tears. So sad they get into oil in the first place. Glad there is help...

chica said...

Que interessante e ficam lindinhos! Pena o óleo que nunca deveria até eles chegar!!! beijos, chica

jabblog said...

What a wonderful thing to do and so gratifying for the knitters to have their skills appreciated and put to good use.

Jeanie said...

This is very cool. Maybe the most fun and heartwarming post I've read in a bit. I love it.

My name is Erika. said...

They look so cute, and what a great thing for those knitter to make.

Giorgio said...

Great to hear Penguins Foundation would be ready to help penguin population of Philip Island in the event of an oil spill or other environmental disasters caused by humans.

eileeninmd said...

They are so cute, I am glad they were rescued and well cared for.
Take care, have a great weekend.

kathyinozarks said...

sooooo sweet thanks for sharing

Anne (cornucopia) said...

What a great idea.

ashok said...

Cute things

CJ Kennedy said...

Such a sweet story. Thanks for sharing.

♥ Łucja-Maria ♥ said...

Making sweaters for penguins is a great cause. I also thank Knitting Nannas and all the other wonderful knitters.
Dear Jan, I hope you have a wonderful Saturday and Sunday.

Debbie said...

ooooooh this is sooooo great, i would love to be a part of this or something similar!! have a great weekend jan!!

Visits With Mary said...

What a wonderful thing to do! God Bless the Knitting Nanas ♥

Ananka said...

So very cute and needed. Lovely to help them :-D

Stefania said...

Non sapevo dei maglioni per i pinguini, mi sembra un' idea utile

Bill said...

Well aren't they cute with their sweaters on.

Elephant's Child said...

Brilliant idea and how I mourn the necessity.

DeniseinVA said...

How adorable Jan! These Knitting Nannas are literally life savers. Such an interesting article again and the penguins are beyond adorable. Thank you so much.

DVArtist said...

I did not know this. Thank you for sharing something different

Lorrie said...

Very cute outfits for the penguins. It's just too bad that they need them sometimes because of oil spills.

Linda said...

Oh my! How cute they look!

Mary Kirkland said...

That is just too cute.

Carola Bartz said...

How wonderful! I'm a knitter and I only wish the original article had posted a link to the knitting pattern.

Lowcarb team member said...

REPLY TO
Carola Bartz who said ...
How wonderful! I'm a knitter and I only wish the original article had posted a link to the knitting pattern

Hello Carola ... thank you for your comment, here is the link to the penguin jumper pattern

LINK TO THE PENGUIN JUMPER PATTERN
https://penguinfoundation.org.au/assets/volumes/downloads/Penguin-plush-toy-jumper-pattern-APRIL-2024.pdf

ALSO LINK TO PENGUIN FOUNDATION
https://penguinfoundation.org.au/get-involved/knits-for-nature-2024

All the best Jan

Carola Bartz said...

Hi Jan, thank you so much for the two links!!!

Conniecrafter said...

Oh they are too cute in their knitted sweaters. that is so nice that they can find good to do with their love for knitting!

Elkes Lebensglück said...

What a wonderful idea!!!
hugs elke

Crafty Green Poet said...

The penguins look so cute in their jumpers and it's a great solution to the oil slick damage. It would be much nicer though if penguins never got caught in oil slicks and never needed little jumpers...

carol l mckenna said...

Sad to hear of the oil slick ~ glad the little ones were helped with the adorable knitted sweaters ~ thanks, hugs,

Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
A ShutterBug Explores ~ clm
aka (A Creative Harbor)

This N That said...

Awwwww

Marco Luijken said...

Hello Jan,
Very special to see how they clean these pinguins.
A nice sweater to protect them.
Nice post!!

Greetings, Marco

baili said...

Awe ,this is so sweet of heartwarming indeed 🥰

The knitters group is very kind and helpful which makes it happy for the penguins 🥰♥️

Back2OurSmallCorner said...

This is a heartwarming story of acts of kindness, using creative skills to help these beautiful creatures. Thank you, wherever and whoever you are, if you have been involved in this or similar projects.

William Kendall said...

That is wonderful.

Teresa said...

Una noticia muy interesante. Besos..