A "knit and natter" group has made dozens of outfits for premature babies after months of work - while also bringing ladies at a retirement home closer together.


The club, at Village Heights in Chingford Lane, Woodford Green, meets every Thursday for afternoon tea.


The pensioners decided to embark on a new project after news broke in December that the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, was pregnant, with the group settling on the idea of knitting baby clothes for a needy charity.


But soon after picking up their needles the ladies discovered to their dismay that charities were largely unwilling to accept their donations.


"Money was welcome, but not baby clothes – unless this was turned into money by selling it in their charity shops", explains Maryanne Snyman, who helps run the home with her husband Garth.


However after discussions with staff at The Children’s Society shop in Chingford it emerged that North Middlesex Hospital in Edmonton was desperate for just such clothes for premature babies.


Knitter and Village Heights resident Eileen Dowding, 82, said: "We just wanted to make something which would be useful and go to the right place, so we're very pleased.


"It has been very enjoyable meeting these last few months having a natter, while also doing this for such a good cause." 

She added: "It was not too difficult knitting the clothes, but it was hard to find the patterns.


"The hats are so small they look like egg cosies, while the outfits are for babies weighing 1.5 pounds - not even the weight of a bag of sugar. You just can't get them in shops, some of the clothes would be too small even for a doll".
 

Such clothing is especially in demand at hospitals for premature babies, as medical tubing and other equipment can easily be attached and put through woollen material, unlike with synthetic manufactured outfits.

Ms Dowding added: "There's been about a dozen of us and even those who are unable to knit have been involved raising money to buy items for the hospital as well. It's really brought us together."