Tenly Monroy-Bowden is not your standard 16-year-old. She's passionate and wants to make a difference. She spends her spare time knitting baby jumpers for children in Africa.
The jumpers are for infants she calls ``fish'n'chips babies' - born into a world of poverty.
To keep warm, the babies go home from hospital
wrapped in newspaper because they have no clothes. The nuns at her school, Baradene, suggested students make the jumpers for those children in a class project.
The school picked up on it and soon dozens of students and staff were making them. If they did not know how to knit, they were taught.
Then Miss Monroy-Bowden decided more were needed, so she is taking the idea to the wider community by placing notices in churches and community halls.
``It is something that really benefits them. It's not like money. You know that you can give this and it will all make it over there for the children.'
She reassures anyone who thinks their knitting skills are not up to scratch by saying: ``If I can make one, anybody can.'
She has knitted only one so far but, between other students and the staff, dozens of baby jumpers are ready but her eyes are on the horizon.
``In the next month or so, the goal would be to get around 2000 of them to send over. This is something that people can do at home while watching TV or whatever.'
If you would like to make one of the jumpers there are a couple of things to keep in mind - no baby pink, blue or white as they might never be washed. Use only 8-ply yarn.Post garments to 854 Mount Eden Rd, Three Kings, Auckland.
Baby jumper knitting pattern (Knitted all in one)
8 Ply Yarn Size 5mm needles (tight knitters) Size 4.5mm needles (loose knitters)
Cast on 44 stitches
Work 18 Rows in K2, P2 rib
Work 30 Rows stocking stitch (1 row plain, 1 row purl)
Cast on 12 stitches at beginning of next 2 rows and at the same time change to K2,P2 (for sleeve)
Rib 22 more rows.
Next row: Rib 21, cast off 26 stitches, rib 21
Next row: Rib 21, cast on 26 stitches, rib 21
Work 22 rows in K2, P2 rib
Cast off 12 stiches at beginning of next 2 rows
Work 30 rows stocking stitch
Work 18 rows, K2, P2 rib
Cast off
