Who says conservation can’t be chic too?

Okay okay, I get that the Rugby World Cup is done-zo, and the last two words anyone wants to hear anymore are “New” and “Zealand,” but bear with me.

Here in SA, we’re no strangers to the ecological dangers posed by oil spills to local marine flora and fauna, especially sea birds like penguins and cormorants that get caught in the oil sludge.

Conservationists in New Zealand have come up with a novel way to help combat the damage to a penguin colony caused by the stricken cargo vessel, Rena, which ran aground on the East coast of North Island, carrying over 170 oo0 tonnes of crude oil.

They’ve appealed to the public to help keep the oil-soaked penguins clean by knitting them little penguin jerseys that keep them warm until they can be cleaned, and also stop them picking the toxic sludge off their feathers.

You can check out more about the call for penguin knitwear here.

Meanwhile, for those of you adept at the old knit one, purl one, here’s a handy pattern so you can get cracking on some cute conservational penguin jumpers. You never know, SANCCOB might find them handy next time an oil slick threatens our own Cape penguin colonies.

Penguin Jumper in 8ply – Must be 100% Wool Yarn
1 pair 3.25mm , 1 pair of 3.75mm needles , 1 set of 3.25mm dpn’s or circular
Cast on 36 stitches using 3.25 needles.K1, P1 to end of row. Repeat this row 7 times.  Change to 3.75mm needles and K2, P2 rib. Work 4 rows increasing at each end of every row. (44 sts)
Continue until work measures 15 cms.
Decrease 1 st at each end of every row until 28 sts remain.
Decrease 1 st. in middle of next row (27 sts.)
Leave on needle.
Make second side the same.
Transfer the 54 sts from both pieces to 3 of the set of 4 3.25mm needles.(18 sts on each.) and work a round neck in K1 P1 rib for 10 rows.
Cast off.
Stitch up sides to decreasing to 27sts (opening for flipper). Add elastic to the top and bottom to prevent the penguins getting out of them. Top: 15cm of elastic; bottom 17 cm (knots allowed). Flat elastic OK.

[Source: Guardian, Grist.org]