Largest knitted hat in UK made to raise funds for charity

Needles were put to the ultimate test as knitters came together to make the largest knitted hat in the UK for charity.

This week marks the 20th anniversary of the Big Knit, which sees people knit mini hats for the tops of Innocent smoothie bottles to help Age UK provide services and support to older people.

Adam Rostom who sparked the Big Knit idea was one of the participants and said that the experience was exciting and required “a huge amount of co-operation and participation” from the volunteers.

The BIGGEST Knit
Big Knit creator Adam Rostom attends the event in Nottingham (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

“I think it took two million yards of yarn to make it – so a huge amount of yarn.”

Mr Rostom added that the Big Knit has a huge social element to it, which helps to bring people together.

“The Big Knit has enabled groups of people to come together and knit together, in particular as part of Age UK schemes, and I think that’s a lovely thing”, he said.

“The process of knitting is something that you can really focus in on and it is really beneficial for someone’s mental health, and is sort of hypnotic.

“It really does bring a degree of calmness and a sense of satisfaction through making a hat.”

The BIGGEST Knit
Workers assemble a 23ft high bobble hat (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

“I thought ‘wouldn’t it be cool if we could knit woolly hats, put them on bottles and give money raised to elderly people’.

“If you look now, the idea has spread to 10 different countries around the world.”

Since it launched in 2003, the Big Knit has seen more than 11 million tiny hats placed on smoothie bottles and raised over £3 million to support the elderly.

Maisy Voice, a 20-year-old retail worker from Bexley, Kent, spoke to PA about her grandmother Lorraine Burnette who used to knit hats for Innocent bottles, before her death in August 2019 at the age of 60.

Woman carrying a dog
Lorraine Burnette (Maisy Voice)

“So, taking on knitting myself and knitting these hats for the Big Knit campaign makes me feel wholesome, as I am carrying on something that my nan enjoyed doing quite a lot.”

She began knitting around the time her grandmother passed after being given a lot of her knitting equipment – which coincided with the Innocent Big Knit.

“I thought I would start making the hats myself,” she said.

“It wasn’t very easy at first because when I used to knit, I would always get my nan to start the projects for me, so not having her there – I had to pick everything up myself.

“But I had a lot on the Big Knit Facebook group helping me learn how to knit and it definitely wasn’t easy, but with the help of others I did get there eventually.”

The retail worker has since gone on to make over 120 hats, which usually take her around half an hour to an hour to make.

“I thought I would make one or two but when I finished my first hat, I was so excited to make another one and then it turned into an avalanche of making tons of hats and it also contributes towards a great cause.”

Miss Voice added that knitting has helped her with her anxiety and depression.

Girl with glasses smiling at the camera
Maisy Voice has made over 102 hats for Innocent bottles (Maisy Voice)

“And it is something I genuinely enjoy and will plan for weeks.”

She hopes that the Big Knit will continue to bring people together and raise awareness for the elderly people in the UK who “struggle to get by daily”.

The BIGGEST Knit
Workers place a giant bobble on top of a 23 foot high bobble hat (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

“Today’s amazing turnout shows that despite the hardships and uncertainty that 2022 brought and 2023 will likely bring, the community spirit is still alive, and it’s incredible to see so many people still eager to help out those that need it most.”

A total of 25p from every behatted Innocent bottle sold goes to Age UK.

The Bit Knit bottles are in store nationwide now.

– Advertisement –
– Advertisement –