If I had to vote for my favorite video of this year, it would have to be the one below because it contains most of my favorite things in the world: grandmothers, thrifting, knitting, charity and awesomeness. There are also motorcycles, which I don’t like, but a lot of people do. They are also “cool.”

BUT WAIT! What are they knitting? Hats for penguins? Spoon covers? Nope. They’re knitting hats for bottles! The Big Knit, an Innocent Drinks project now in its 6th year, to raise money for the UK charities for the elderly, Age Concern and Help the Aged. The funds raised go to help older people during the winter months, supporting them to adopt healthier lifestyles and eating habits.

As if the video itself wasn’t amazing, The Big Knit has a Hatometer!

Wondering why the elderly might need a little extra help in the winter months, as your grandmothers are all nice and snuggly this winter? Well, not everyone’s grandmother. Given their age (and apparently lower body fat on average), the elderly are more prone to get illnesses like hypothermia and pneumonia there are a few links below to articles that show just exactly why they need a little assistance. Interestingly, there is a lot of information from the UK press about this, but not in the US press… although it happens both places.

*“67% increase in elderly deaths in Wales due to cold weather”
*“Elderly are at a high risk for hypothermia, frostbite, and influenza”
*“Extra 36,700 deaths in England and Wales from December 2008 to March 2009, compared with the average for non-winter periods”
*“This summer was deadly, but winter could be even worse.’


Apparently the women singing the song above first sang it in 1980 when they were kids. You can see the original video of their smashing Top of the Pops performance here. Sadly, there is no knitting or thrifting. There are, however, lots of adorable kids wearing adorable pink dresses that I want.

Additionally, there is also a really great Pulp song called Help the Aged.