Kiwis knit for pregnant Prime Minister’s baby

Wellington, January 24

A woman from New Zealand has begun a “knitting movement” following the news of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s pregnancy.

Heather McCracken called on Kiwis on Twitter to #KnitForJacinda and donate their creations to charity after Ardern announced last week that she and her partner Clarke Gayford were expecting their first child in June, the BBC reported on Wednesday.

The hashtag quickly spread online as people shared their knitwork. New Zealand MP Deborah Russell said she had made a couple of tiny hats and was working on a third one. She also plans to make crib blankets.

McCracken, who currently lives in the US, told the BBC she had no idea that so many people would join her.

“I was just happy about the news and felt inspired to make a little gift. It was immediately followed by the idea that it would be more appreciated (by) a baby who was more in need,” she said.

People were encouraged to send their knits to the children’s department at Middlemore Hospital in Auckland.

Ardern and her partner had said they already knew the baby’s gender but planned to keep it a secret. The Prime Minister said she didn’t want to be overwhelmed with “gender-specific clothes”. IANS