PREMMIE KNITTING CLUB’S
School
Resources
Premmie Knitting Club proudly partners with schools across Aotearoa, supporting teachers and students to learn the art of knitting, connect with one another, and make a meaningful difference in the lives of premature babies and their whānau.
Whether you’re new to knitting or a seasoned stitcher, we’ve got everything you need to get your school started: simple patterns, step-by-step guides, planning tools, and ways to celebrate your students’ kindness.
Make a real impact, get your school involved today and help bring comfort to the tiniest Kiwis!
QUICK START: PEGGY SQUARE PROJECT
How your school can get involved in Stitching Together Aotearoa
Gather your materials: You’ll need 4mm knitting needles and DK/8 ply yarn (any colour).
Use our guides: Download beginner-friendly instructions and video links.
Run your sessions: Host lunchtime, classroom, or after-school knitting clubs.
Send in your finished items: Post to PKC for distribution to hospitals nationwide.
Celebrate and share: Download certificates of kindness and showcase your group’s work.
Peggy Square Pattern
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15x15cm squares
20 squares make a blanket
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Size 8 (4mm) needles.
Any colour 8ply wool (double knitting, DK weight)
Wool is preferred by the hospitals but some will accept acrylic.
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Everyone’s knitting tension is slightly different and not all 8ply yarns are created equal. You may need to adjust the number of stitches you cast on so that your square is 15cm wide when it is finished.
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Pattern designed by Natalie Iogha
Cast on 30 stitches.
Work 60 rows garter stitch (knit every row), or until your work measures 14.5cm. Once you have completed your cast off row, the final square size should be 15cm.
Cast off 30 stitches.
Wool is preferred by the hospitals but some accept acrylic.
Step-by-step videos
Video tutorials demonstrated by Natalie Iogha
Help!
I’m a
beginner
Teacher Planning Resources
DOWNLOADS FOR YOUR CLASSROOM:
We’ve finished our squares.
Thank you so much. We really appreciate your support!
FREE POSTAGE
Premmie Knitting Club is a recipient of NZ Post’s Delivering for Good programme. This means that you can send your knitting back to us for free.
Click the button below, fill out our form, and we will send you a prepaid postage label.
FROM SQUARES TO BLANKETS
Our PKC volunteers will stitch together all of the donated Peggy squares into blankets. A collective effort of knitters nationwide! If you’d like to help stitch Peggy Squares into blankets, then contact us below.
Share your progress
Please follow and tag us! Our virtual tribe of knitters can share tips if you get stuck too.
Instagram:
@premmieknittingclubnz
Facebook:
@premmieknittingclub
How can schools support Premmie Knitting Club?
We encourage and appreciate schools supporting Premmie Knitting Club. There are a variety of ways that students of all ages and abilities can participate.
COLLECT KNITTING DONATIONS
Students can knit items at home or at school (and/or encourage their family and friends to join in or help) and organise a school wide drop off point or collection for Premmie Knitting Club.
RUN ‘LEARN TO KNIT’ WORKSHOPS
Hold knitting sessions at school where beginners can learn and experienced knitters (teachers or students) can help guide others.
KNIT FOR PKC AS PART OF
DUKE OF EDINBURGH
Learn to knit or give back to the community for the Duke of Edinburgh award, often run through New Zealand secondary schools.
FUNDRAISE FOR PKC
Run a bake sale, raffle, dress up or mufti day to fundraise for Premmie Knitting Club. Fundraising goals could be to raise money to buy wool for our knitters to knit with or contribute towards hospital equipment that we purchase for neonatal intensive care units.
How can teachers help students
Encourage Students: to learn a new skill like knitting or work together to create a peggy square blanket.
Organise knitting sessions: Help organise knitting workshops or knitting time in the classroom.
Assist with collection of knitting donations: Collect the knitted items and contact us to arrange drop off or sending of items.
Our values
COMMUNITY
We bring people of all ages together, from seasoned knitters to total beginners, creating powerful connections throughout New Zealand.
EDUCATION
We share skills and knowledge, keeping the art of knitting alive and thriving.
INCLUSIVENESS
Everyone is welcome. We encourage creativity at all skill levels, and celebrate diversity in the crafting community.
COMPASSION
Every item is made with love, supporting families during a vulnerable time.
About Premmie Knitting Club
PKC is a registered NZ charity and a virtual tribe of knitters knitting for premature babies and fundraising for preemie related causes. We are an entirely volunteer (and women run) organisation.
Each year, we donate thousands of knitted items to support Aotearoa’s most vulnerable babies in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs), anything from blankets to singlets, cardigans and more, we work directly with the hospitals to understand what is most needed.