Josie Gibson calls on readers to knit for premature babies as she backs The Sun’s Knit A Lot, Help A Tot appeal
AS her tiny son lay desperately ill, Josie Gibson sat crying on a labour ward, surrounded by mums and their newborns.
The This Morning presenter was terrified for little Reggie, who was born a month early weighing just 4lb due to pregnancy complications.
In an exclusive interview, Josie, 35, who is backing The Sun on Sunday’s Knit A Lot, Help A Tot appeal, said: “It was hard seeing other new mums cuddling their babies.
"I was happy for them, but knowing Reggie couldn’t be with me was really difficult.
“I’m not normally one for crying but I cried buckets.”
We are asking readers to knit a blanket which we will distribute to some of the 8,000 premature babies in hospital this Christmas.
How to make your blanket
Pattern for 24in x 30in baby blanket
YOU NEED: 250grams double knit yarn and 4mm needles (size 8). Cast on 128 stitches and knit 17 rows.
At the beginning and end of next and each following pattern rows you will knit 9 stitches for border to prevent curling up.
1st row: knit 9 (knit 10, purl 10) repeat to last 9 sts, knit.
2nd row: knit 9 (purl 10, knit 10) repeat to last 19 sts, purl 10, knit 9.
Repeat these rows 6 times.
15th row as 2nd row.
16th row as 1st row.
Repeat 15th and 16th rows 6 times to form the pattern (28 rows).
Repeat the above 28 rows of the pattern a further 6 times, the blanket should now measure approximately 28in.
Knit 17 rows then cast off.
And we have teamed up with East London Textiles Ltd and The Big Yellow Self Storage Company to help store your blankets.
While Reggie was cared for at Bath’s Royal United Hospital for three weeks in September 2018, Josie was grateful for donated baby blankets to keep him cosy.
She is now fully behind our campaign, launched last Sunday in collaboration with premature baby charity Bliss.
She said: “Blankets are so important to premature babies. Often their clothes don’t fit but the blankets are like a proper cuddle and keep them cosy but let them wriggle around.
“They hold scent too, which is important when it comes to bonding, especially if you can’t hold your baby as much as you’d like or if they’re in an incubator.
“That feeling of holding your baby when they are all wrapped up and warm in a blanket is like nothing else.
“Reggie always rested better when he had a blanket to keep him warm and he loves a good snuggle with one now.”
Sadly, Josie split from Reggie’s dad four months after he was born, but they continue to raise the two-year-old together.
She said: “Reggie has bags of energy now and runs around all over the place. But he’ll do anything for a cuddle, and I’m sure it’s because he didn’t get them when he was born.”
Reggie is now taller than his nursery school pals and has caught up in every way.
Josie added: “We are fortunate Reggie has thrived. So if you’ve ever knitted, please get your needles out and make a blanket for a baby this Christmas.
“Reggie and I know it will make a family somewhere feel very special.”
Where to send your finished blankets
PLEASE post blankets to: The Sun on Sunday’s Christmas Blankets for Babies Appeal, East London Textiles Ltd (E.L.T.), Unit G4, Gallmans End Farm, Manor Road, Abridge, Essex RM4 1NA.
Bliss is unable to accept blankets sent directly to its office.
All blankets will be quality controlled. We will only be sending out blankets to units in line with their infection control policies and at such time as access to units is possible.
You can also make a donation at bliss.org.uk/donate.
Tell us how you are helping the campaign with this hashtag: #SoSBlankets4Babies
Celebrities support Sun campaign
KYM Marsh had to spend time on a neonatal ward in 2011 after giving birth to daughter Polly seven weeks early.
It was a terrifying time for the former Coronation Street actress, as she and former husband Jamie Lomas had lost their son Archie two years earlier after he was born at just 21 weeks.
Kym, 44, who calls nine-year-old Polly her “little miracle”, last night backed The Sun on Sunday’s Blankets For Babies appeal.
The host of BBC’s Morning Live said: “It is a wonderful idea to give babies in hospital this Christmas comfort and help keep them warm when they leave the unit.
“To have a keepsake like this, to keep for ever, to show how hard they have fought after such a tough start, is amazing. I hope everyone gets their knitting needles out.”
Her ITV morning TV counterpart Phillip Schofield, 58, said: “These blankets are vital – just like this fantastic campaign – in helping to keep these little ones warm.
Most read in News
"I’m sure readers will get behind this and help these mums and babies who are in desperate need this Christmas”.
Read More on The Sun
Strictly host and mum of three Claudia Winkleman, 48, said: “During lockdown it’s harder than ever for mums going into labour because their family can’t be with them on the wards.
"Blankets are such a comfort to little babies, who need to keep warm. It’s brilliant what The Sun on Sunday is doing to help.”
GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL [email protected]