People dont want these anymore.

“People don’t want these anymore” I’m talking about hand-knitted baby cardigans and blankets.  What they really mean is, today’s grandmothers were not taught to knit. I remember a time when my kids were small and their two grandmothers started creating an abundance of shawls, booties and matinee jackets. I treasure those items and have never thrown them away. They represent the welcome of love as my kids entered the world.

When we say people don’t want them anymore, this is not about what is fashionable, it is about a quiet loss of time, skills, and the passing down of love made by hand. 

When we get these pieces donated at Daadi we are passing on something special.  Pre-loved items mean just that, the hands that made these did them with love, and we are passing that on.  When new parents become aware of this, they do want them: why wouldn´t they? and we sell them quickly. 

If you are a mum and have nobody available to knit for your new baby, at Daadi we will find you somebody to make that gift of love. Please just ask us.

Matinee jacket” gets its name from the word matinée (from the French matin meaning morning). In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a matinée was a daytime social visit or outing—think afternoon calls, gentle promenades, or being wheeled out to be admired.

So why the tiny jacket?

Back then, babies—especially well-to-do ones—were taken out in the afternoon to be “shown” (very much a thing). The matinee jacket was:

   •   Lightweight and warm

   •   Pretty and decorative (often lace-edged, finely knitted)

   •   Designed to be worn over a christening gown or long baby dress

   •   Easy to slip on without disturbing the baby

In other words:

 Not a heavy coat, but a polite, presentable layer for daytime appearances.

Over time, knitters kept the name even though:

   •   Babies stopped doing social rounds

   •   Gowns got shorter

   •   And the jacket became a practical, everyday treasure

But the feeling stayed the same.

A matinee jacket still says:

   •   “This was made with time.”

   •   “Someone cared enough to make this soft.”

   •   “You are wrapped in intention, not just wool.”

Which is probably why they still feel so warm and snuggly—they carry a bit of ritual, love, and history in every stitch.

Old wisdom, gentle care, nothing rushed. 

If you enjoyed this article, and would like to help Daadi Foundation in its mission to promote slow fashion please help us by supporting with a donation. Our fundraising goes to help kids who are trafficked to work in the fashion industry in India. We also offer support to local child initiatives in the Costa Blanca. Please also follow us on Face-Book – Instagram and TikTok – Daadi Clothes Swaps.

You can donate through this website.