The Big Knit campaign involves making tiny woolly hats for Innocent Smoothie bottles which are sold in Sainsbury's.

15,000 hats are needed to raise vital funds for work with older people in Northern Ireland and for every bottle with a hat sold, Innocent and Sainsbury's donate 50p to Age Concern. Last year Age Concern NI received a staggering 10,000 hats, and this year the target is even higher.

The patterns are simple, the hats are small and quick to make, and best of all a little knitting goes a long way to helping Age Concern NI continue to work on behalf of the older population in Northern Ireland so there's no excuse not to take part.

There's no time to waste - all hats must be returned to Age Concern Northern Ireland, 3 Lower Crescent, Belfast, BT7 1NR by 1st October 2008.

So whether it's watching the soaps, waiting for the bus, or during a boring lunch break, it's time to pick up the knitting needles and get the woolly hats on the go!

The Big Knit

Before you start…

You will need

Double Knitting Yarn
Small Knitting Needles (3 ¼ mm - 4mm)
A Sewing Needle
1 Pair of Scissors
Some Bobbles

Beginner

1. Using double knitting yarn and some small needles cast on 28 stitches.

2. Knit 2 rows. Then starting with a knit row, work in stocking stitch (knit 1 row, purl 1 row, knit 1 row etc) for 12 more rows.

3. For the next row, knit 2 together to the end (14 stitches). And for the row after that, purl 2 together to the end (7 stitches).

4. When you've finished cut the yarn leaving about 25cm .Thread the cut end through a sewing needle, then run it through the loops and remove the knitting needles (fig A).

5. Tighten the yarn (fig. B) and sew the little hat together at the side (fig C). Once finished, turn it the right side out so that the seam you've sewn runs up the inside.
6. Sew the little bobble onto the top of the hat. If you didn't learn to make bobbles at school - ask your local wool shop or department store - they'll be able to help you.

Be creative with colours!

Intermediate

1. This time you need two colours. Using your main colour double knitting yarn and some small needles, cast on 28 stitches.

2. Knit 2 rows. Then, starting with a knit row and working in stocking stitch throughout (knit 1 row, purl 1 row, knit 1 row etc) do 2 rows of your second colour followed by 2 rows of your main colour. These 4 rows set your stripe pattern. Do 8 more rows in the same stripey fashion.

3. For the next row knit 2 together to the end (14 stitches). And for the row after that, purl 2 together to the end (7 stitches).

4. Follow points 4-6 as per beginners' hat to finish off.


Advanced

Be creative as you like! Here's an idea for a ladybug one!

1. Use black and red yarn. Because they are the colours of a ladybird! Using your black knitting yarn and some small needles cast on 28 stitches.

2. Knit 2 rows. Then, starting with a knit row and working in stocking stitch throughout (knit 1 row, purl 1 row, knit 1 row etc) do the 12 rows as shown below.

3. For the next row knit 2 together to the end (14 stitches). And for the row after that, purl 2 together to the end (7 stitches).

4. Follow points 4-6 as per beginners' hat to finish off. But don't forget to give the bobble antenna just like a bug!